Worst air pollution Al Başrah, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Al Başrah is very poor. AQI and O3 are very poor; PM2.5, PM10, SO2, and PM1 are medium; NO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (O3: 87.3/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Al Başrah is very poor. PM10 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (O3: 100/100). 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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Al Başrah's air quality reflects the flat Iraqi Shatt al-Arab waterway position at 5 metres adjacent to the Kuwait border, with vehicle traffic on surrounding roads and the extraordinary oil export infrastructure, refinery, and vehicle density corridor generating elevated PM2.5 and SO₂. Shamal winds deliver intense Iraqi and Kuwait Desert dust storms, while the oil infrastructure's pervasive industrial background and the flat Mesopotamian terrain maintain Basra among the Middle East's more petroleum-influenced major port city environments throughout the year.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 13:00
AQI:
Very poor
87.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
47.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Medium
45.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
19.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Very poor
87.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
45.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
15.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
46.7/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 13:00
AQI:
Very poor
100/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
44.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
30.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
15.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Very poor
100/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
47.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
6.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
41.9/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Al Başrah right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Al Başrah is very poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 87.3/100. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (O3: 87.3/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Al Başrah?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Al Başrah will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at very poor at 100/100. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (O3: 100/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Al Başrah?
The biggest local contributors to pollution in Al Başrah are road traffic, heavy industry such as steel, cement, or petrochemical processing, together with harbour and shipping traffic, particularly once windblown dust events occur. Dust carried on these winds adds substantially to particulate levels. These episodes tend to cluster in spring and autumn.
Are air quality levels in Al Başrah 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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