Worst air pollution Zhaotong, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Zhaotong is fair. PM2.5, SO2, and PM1 are fair; AQI, NO2, and O3 are medium; PM10, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 1:00 AM (NO2: 43.3/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Zhaotong is fair. AQI worsens to fair; PM2.5 decreases to good; NO2 increases to fair; O3 increases to fair; SO2 decreases to good; PM1 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 39.2/100). 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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Zhaotong's air quality reflects the Yunnan northeastern plateau's mountainous basin at 1,979 metres, with vehicle traffic on surrounding expressways and the coal mining, hydropower, and agricultural corridor contributing local sources. The high plateau position aids dispersal on most days, while coal mining dust and residential coal burning generate elevated PM2.5 under basin inversions and the surrounding Yunnan highland topography creates significant variation throughout the year.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 01:00
AQI:
Medium
43.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
21.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
5.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
43.3/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
42.2/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
27.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
27.6/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 12:00
AQI:
Fair
39.2/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
13.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
36.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
39.2/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
12.6/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
18.4/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Zhaotong right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Zhaotong is fair. SO2 is the main pollutant at 27.8/100. Pollution peaks around 1:00 AM (NO2: 43.3/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Zhaotong?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Zhaotong will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 39.2/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 39.2/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Zhaotong?
The biggest local contributors to pollution in Zhaotong are traffic emissions, mining and quarrying operations, along with agricultural burning, particularly once the surrounding valley traps air close to the ground. The surrounding valley terrain holds pollutants near the surface rather than letting them disperse. Strong seasonal winds can lift dust from the surrounding dry terrain and push particulate levels sharply higher.
Are air quality levels in Zhaotong 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.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 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.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app