Air, made up primarily of nitrogen and oxygen, envelops the earth and makes life possible. What happens on the ground can have significant effects on the quality of the air masses that flow across an area. As air moves from one region to another, pollution and other compounds move with it. We breathe the air, whether clean or polluted, from air masses that formed upwind of us, and those living downwind of us breathe air into which we may have introduced pollutants. Some forms of pollution bind with water molecules and come out of the air with rain. The quality of air impacts rain and thereby influences an areas forests, agricultural crops and surface waters.

Resources for Exploring your Air Quality

Division of Air Quality Monitoring Data Select a region from the map found on the link to get current data in that region (pollutant concentrations or meteorological measurements available at Air Quality sites).

DENR - Division of Air Quality The Division of Air Quality (DAQ) works with the state's citizens to protect and improve outdoor, or ambient, air quality in North Carolina for the health and benefit of all. To carry out this mission, the DAQ has programs for monitoring air quality, permitting and inspecting air emissions sources, developing plans for improving air quality, and educating and informing the public about air quality issues.

AIRNow The U.S. EPA, NOAA, NPS, tribal, state, and local agencies developed the AIRNow website to provide the public with easy access to national air quality information. The website offers daily AQI forecasts as well as real-time AQI conditions for over 300 cities across the U.S., and provides links to more detailed state and local air quality websites.