Air Quality
Since 2004, the Northern Territory Government has contracted Charles Darwin University (CDU) to operate two particulate monitoring instruments in Darwin. The particulate monitors are located on the CDU campus, Casuarina. In late 2010 monitoring was expanded to include a full Ambient Air Quality Research Station currently located near Palmerston. Another station will be installed in early 2012 at a more central location in Darwin. Both these stations have instruments in accordance with the National Environment Protection Measure on Ambient Air Quality (air NEPM). Each station houses the following instruments:
- Dichotomous Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance (TEOM) particulate monitor for near real time analysis of particulates less than 10 micron and less than 2.5 micron.
- Carbon Monoxide (CO) analyser
- Oxides of Nitrogen (NOX, NO and NO2) analyser
- Ozone (O3) analyser
- Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)
Charles Darwin University have the contract to operate these stations and provide data and reports to the Northern Territory Government.
In general the primary pollutant in Darwin and Palmerston is smoke from distant and local vegetation burning during the dry season and is represented by particulates less than 2.5 micron. The gasses CO, NO2 and SO2 all occur at very low levels compared to the large cities in other parts of Australia while Ozone occurs at moderate levels and is naturally occurring.
The reports below are divided into three categories:
Monthly Reports
These reports are based on unvalidated data which may contain errors and should not be used for statistical purposes. Unvalidated data has not been scrutinized for instrument errors or insufficient data per day (80%) to allow viable averages. The data includes daily averages of the particulates and gas pollutants listed above plus daily weather information. The monthly reports will be replaced by quarterly reports as they become available.
| Report | |
|---|---|
| NT Monthly Report - December 2011 | 1.1MB |
| NT Monthly Report - November 2011 |
1.1MB |
| NT Monthly Report - October 2011 | 1.1MB |
Quarterly Reports
These reports are based on National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) validated data. Invalid data has been removed from these reports.
| Report | |
|---|---|
| NT Quarterly NATA Report July to Sept 2011 | 889Kb |
| NT Quarterly NATA Report April to June 2011 | 880Kb |
| NT Quarterly NATA Report January to March 2011 | 862Kb |
Annual Reports
These are based on validated data and are as presented to the National Environment Protection Council.
Other Documentation
- Air Quality Monitoring Plan (pdf 1.5Mb)
- Air Quality Study (pdf 1.2Mb)
- Explanation of pollution wind rose charts (pdf 209Kb)
- Reports submitted to the NEPC from the NT and other jurisdictions can be found at