Worst air pollution Zhaotong, today and tomorrow
Today (10 August): Air quality in Zhaotong is fair. PM2.5 is fair; AQI, NO2, O3, SO2, and PM1 are medium; PM10, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (NO2: 48.5/100).
Tomorrow (11 August 2026): Air quality in Zhaotong is fair. PM2.5 decreases to medium; SO2 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 4:00 AM (NO2: 56.7/100). 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 - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Medium
48.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
35.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
9.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
48.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
46.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
41.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
6.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
40.8/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 11 August | Pollution peaks at 04:00
AQI:
Medium
56.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
43.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
15.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
56.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
43.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
37.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
7.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
46.7/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Zhaotong right now?
On 10 August 2026, overall air quality in Zhaotong is fair. PM2.5 is the main pollutant at 35.3/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (NO2: 48.5/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Zhaotong?
On 11 August 2026, air quality conditions in Zhaotong will be similar to today, with SO2 forecast at fair at 37.8/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 AM (NO2: 56.7/100).
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.
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: 9 August 2026 at 20:27 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.
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