Worst air pollution Kirkuk, today and tomorrow

Today (16 July): Air quality in Kirkuk is poor. AQI and O3 are poor; NO2 and PM1 are fair; PM2.5 and PM10 are medium; SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 65.2/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Kirkuk is fair. AQI improves to medium; O3 decreases to medium; SO2 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (O3: 58.2/100). 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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Kirkuk's air quality reflects the flat Iraqi Kirkuk oil field plain at 330 metres adjacent to the Kurdistan foothills, with vehicle traffic on surrounding roads and the extraordinary oil extraction infrastructure, gas flaring, and vehicle density corridor generating elevated PM2.5, SO₂, and VOCs. Windblown Iraqi Desert dust generates elevated PM10 during shamal events, while the oil field's pervasive industrial background and the conflict legacy's infrastructure damage maintain Kirkuk among Iraq's more petroleum-influenced major provincial city environments throughout the year.

Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 14:00

AQI:

Poor

65.2/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Medium

44.4/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Medium

45.4/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Fair

38.1/100

O3 (ozone):

Poor

65.2/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

16.0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

14.7/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

34.9/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 11:00

AQI:

Medium

58.2/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Medium

47.5/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Medium

52.1/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Fair

37.7/100

O3 (ozone):

Medium

58.2/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Fair

25.9/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

14.1/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

33.9/100

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Kirkuk right now?

On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Kirkuk is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 65.2/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 65.2/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Kirkuk?

On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Kirkuk will be better than today, with NO2 forecast at fair at 37.7/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (O3: 58.2/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Kirkuk?

Pollution in Kirkuk typically rises when vehicle traffic and petrochemical and refining operations combine, especially once dry spells bring strong winds. These wind events can carry dust in from the surrounding arid landscape. This is most noticeable during spring and autumn wind events.

Are air quality levels in Kirkuk 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