Modeled air data are predictions, or estimates, of the levels of PM2.5 and ozone in the air. These
estimated predictions are applied to areas that do not have air quality monitors and fill in time gaps when
monitors may not be recording data. EPA provided the modeled air data for PM2.5 and ozone by statistically
combining air monitoring data from the Air Quality System (AQS)
Database with data from EPA's Community Multiscale Air Quality
(CMAQ) model, using a statistical method called Hierarchical Bayesian modeling. The CDC used the results from
EPA's Hierarchical Bayesian modeling to derive the modeled
PM2.5 and ozone estimates for each county in the United States. Those county estimates are available on the
air quality data query page.
Data Notes
- Ozone annual average concentration measured only May-October
- ppb= parts per billion
- µg/m3= microgram per cubic meter
Data Sources
- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency measures the level of pollutants in Minnesota's air and reports its findings to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- The data used for MNPH Data Access is retrieved from EPA's Air Quality System (AQS) Database, the national database for air quality data.
- Air Quality Index results are calculated and provided by the MPCA.