Calgary Regional Airshed Zone (CRAZ)

This is a data comparison for Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) collected at the CRAZ fixed stations (Airdrie, Calgary Central-Inglewood, Calgary Southwest, and Calgary Varsity) compared to twenty-nine PurpleAir monitors located throughout the boundaries of CRAZ.

The following figure shows the average PM2.5 collected at the fixed stations of CRAZ (4 stations in green) PurpleAir stations (29 station in blue) from January 2021 to June 2022

All PurpleAir data has been corrected based on ECCC and UNBC algorithms (in relation to Relative Humidity). In many cases the PurpleAir are showing higher PM2.5 readings compared to fixed stations.

The following figure shows the stations in relationship to population, dwellings and population density

Average sampling results for CRAZ in 2021 (Jan to Dec)

We can display an annual average like below or any form of timed average (such as hourly, daily, monthly, etc.)

PM2.5 PurpleAir PM2.5 Temperature Relative Humidity Wind Speed Wind Direction
8.1 10 5.4 46 9 285

May 2022 CRAZ comparision of PurpleAir and PM2.5 stations

We can do comparison monthly for PM2.5 from fixed stations (green) and PurpleAir stations (blue)

Historical Polar Plots of PM2.5 CRAZ stations (2019 to 2022)

We can plot the polar maps of the fixed PM2.5 stations to identify the maximums (red) and minimums (blue) by direction of influence.

Summary of two comparisions made between the closest PurpleAir stations within CRAZ

PurpleAir Comparision

AQSU-CD29 and Airdrie

PurpleAir, AQSU-CD29 and CRAZ, Airdrie

Average sampling results for CRAZ, January 2021 to May 2022

Date PM2.5 PurpleAir PM2.5
2021-01-01 3.8 4.1
2021-02-01 6.5 7.9
2021-03-01 3.6 3.8
2021-04-01 5.2 3.6
2021-05-01 3.8 2.8
2021-06-01 4.4 NaN
2021-07-01 20.9 46.4
2021-08-01 14.6 35.6
2021-09-01 5.2 3.8
2021-10-01 5.2 4.9
2021-11-01 3.4 NaN
2021-12-01 5.7 4.3
2022-01-01 4.4 4.8
2022-02-01 4.6 3.9
2022-03-01 4.7 4.8
2022-04-01 3.8 2.9
2022-05-01 3.3 2.9

PM2.5_PA = PurpleAir PM2.5 sampling, PM2.5 = Fixed CRAZ station sampling

Plot to compare PurpleAir and PM2.5 fixed stations

Calgary (Varsity, Central-Inglewood and Southwest) and PurpleAir (20 Slopes Grove SW, AQSU-805D and Calgary Palliser)

CRAZ (Varsity, Central-Inglewood and Southwest) and PurpleAir (20 Slopes Grove SW, AQSU-805D and Calgary Palliser)

Average sampling results for CRAZ, January 2021 to May 2022

Date PM2.5 PurpleAir PM2.5
2021-01-01 6.5 2.1
2021-02-01 8.5 3.9
2021-03-01 5.5 1.7
2021-04-01 5.5 1.6
2021-05-01 4.1 2.2
2021-06-01 6.2 4.4
2021-07-01 25.1 29.1
2021-08-01 15.9 21.4
2021-09-01 5.4 3.4
2021-10-01 6.1 4.8
2021-11-01 4.7 2.5
2021-12-01 7.1 4.3
2022-01-01 7.2 4.0
2022-02-01 5.0 2.9
2022-03-01 5.2 3.6
2022-04-01 4.9 3.4
2022-05-01 4.4 2.5

PM2.5_PA = PurpleAir PM2.5 sampling, PM2.5 = Fixed CRAZ station sampling

Plot to compare PurpleAir and PM2.5 fixed stations