Worst air pollution Ulsan, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Ulsan is very poor. AQI and O3 are very poor; SO2 is fair; NO2 is medium; PM2.5, PM10, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 96.1/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Ulsan is poor. AQI improves to poor; PM2.5 increases to fair; NO2 increases to poor; O3 decreases to poor; SO2 decreases to medium; PM1 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (O3: 77.8/100). 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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Ulsan's air quality faces significant challenges from South Korea's largest industrial complex, with the Hyundai automotive and Heavy Industries, SK Energy refinery, and Samsung SDI operations generating elevated industrial SO₂, NOₓ, and PM2.5 alongside vehicle traffic on surrounding expressways. Consistent Korea Strait maritime breezes provide coastal ventilation, while the industrial complex's extraordinary scale relative to the urban population makes Ulsan South Korea's most distinctively heavy industrial coastal metropolitan environment throughout the year.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 15:00
AQI:
Very poor
96.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
16.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
7.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
56.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Very poor
96.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
37.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
13.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
14.8/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 13:00
AQI:
Poor
77.8/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
22.0/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
6.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Poor
63.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Poor
77.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
41.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
14.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
26.1/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Ulsan right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Ulsan is very poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 96.1/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 96.1/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Ulsan?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Ulsan will be better than today, with AQI forecast at poor at 77.8/100. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (O3: 77.8/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Ulsan?
Ulsan usually sees its poorest air quality when vehicle traffic along with heavy industrial and chemical processing coincide with periods when dry spells bring strong winds. Strong seasonal winds can lift dust from the surrounding dry terrain and push particulate levels sharply higher. Onshore breezes usually help clear the air, but pollution can build up when winds are light.
Are air quality levels in Ulsan 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