Worst air pollution Santa Cruz, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Santa Cruz is good. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 16.0/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Santa Cruz is good. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 17.5/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app
Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
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Santa Cruz in Costa Rica reflects the Guanacaste Province's flat Pacific coastal plain position at 50 metres, with vehicle traffic on surrounding roads and the cattle, agricultural, and tourism corridor contributing local sources. Consistent Pacific maritime breezes provide seasonal ventilation, while the tropical dry season concentrates emissions and the tropical climate's convective rain provides effective periodic atmospheric cleansing and Santa Cruz generally maintains moderate Costa Rican Pacific coastal provincial readings throughout most of the year.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 09:00
AQI:
Good
16.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
3.0/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
1.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
16.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
9.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
3.3/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 10:00
AQI:
Good
17.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
1.8/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
0.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
17.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
10.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
2.4/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Santa Cruz right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Santa Cruz is good. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 16.0/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 16.0/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Santa Cruz?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Santa Cruz will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at good at 17.5/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 17.5/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Santa Cruz?
Air quality in Santa Cruz tends to be worse when traffic on the surrounding roads, agricultural burning, and seasonal tourism traffic build up and maritime winds die down. Maritime airflow normally ventilates the area well, though calmer spells let levels rise. This coastal advantage is less pronounced during still, high-pressure weather.
Are air quality levels in Santa Cruz 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