How we measure air quality and what the numbers mean
CBC The wildfire smoke hovering over parts of eastern Canada and the U.S. this week has led many to start pouring over charts and figures to get a sense of the air quality in their area.
But what exactly do these indexes measure, and how should they be interpreted?
Different countries have different ways of measuring air quality, including Canada, said Dan Westervelt, an associate research professor at Columbia Climate School's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
There is some variability between the indices used by countries, but he says they generally measure similar elements in the air.
Here's a quick primer.
WATCH |How bad is air quality and how does it affect your health?
Wildfire smoke and your health: what you should know | About That
3 hours ago
Duration 9:34
Millions of people are under air quality advisories as wildfire smoke blankets large parts of Canada and the U.S. About That producer Lauren Bird explores how it affects your health and what you can do to protect yourself.
