Worst air pollution Parliament House - Canberra, today and tomorrow

Today (4 August): Air quality in Parliament House is good. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 9:00 PM (NO2: 14.9/100).
Tomorrow (5 August 2026): Air quality in Parliament House is good. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (NO2: 16.3/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.

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Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team

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Crowning Capital Hill at the heart of the Parliamentary Triangle, Parliament House sits amid open lawns, low surrounding development and views across Lake Burley Griffin, giving this ceremonial precinct plenty of room for air to circulate freely. The lack of dense traffic or industry immediately nearby keeps everyday pollution low. Canberra's inland, elevated basin setting means the city can suffer wood-smoke inversions on still winter nights, and this precinct isn't entirely exempt, but its open, elevated position generally works in its favour compared with denser parts of the city.

Today - 4 August | Pollution peaks at 21:00

AQI:

Good

14.9/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

4.7/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

1.7/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

14.9/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

14.7/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

3.0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

1.0/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

3.6/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 5 August | Pollution peaks at 08:00

AQI:

Good

16.3/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

2.7/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

0.8/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

16.3/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

14.4/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

2.8/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

1.0/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

3.2/100

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Parliament House right now?

On 4 August 2026, overall air quality in Parliament House is good. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 14.9/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 PM (NO2: 14.9/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Parliament House?

On 5 August 2026, air quality conditions in Parliament House will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at good at 16.3/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (NO2: 16.3/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Parliament House?

Like the rest of Canberra, Parliament House sees its air quality dip most during summer (December-March), when bushfire smoke can blanket the region on hot, dry, windy days. A second dip comes in winter, when still nights trap wood-heater smoke near ground level. Sensitive groups should watch forecasts during that period rather than assume year-round conditions apply.

Are air quality levels in Parliament House based on measurements or forecasts?

It is forecasts derived by downscaling forecasts provided by EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) by taking into account local conditions such as traffic patterns. CAMS bases its forecast on satellite measurements of particles and chemical compounds in the atmosphere. Airmine’s services were developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team.

Why doesn’t the forecast always reflect wildfire impacts?

Airmine’s forecast uses CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) as its background atmospheric model. While CAMS includes wildfire emissions, these are derived from satellite observations and are not available in real time. During rapidly evolving wildfire events, there may therefore be a delay before increased emissions are incorporated into the model. As a result, the forecast may temporarily underestimate PM₂.₅ and other pollutants associated with wildfire smoke.

During rapidly evolving wildfire events, CAMS may lag by approximately 1–2 days before increased wildfire emissions are fully represented, which can lead to temporary underestimation of PM₂.₅ concentrations in Airmine’s forecast.

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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 4 August 2026 at 16:38 CEST (Data is updated four times daily.)

This forecast is produced independently using Airmine's own atmospheric data and models.

Unless explicitly made clear, the content on this site has not been paid for by external organisations and is Airmine's sole responsibility.

Disclaimer: Forecasts are provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as medical advice. Actual pollen and air quality conditions may vary from the forecast. If you have allergies, asthma, or another medical condition, consult a healthcare professional. Please see our Terms of Service for important information about limitations of liability.

For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app