Worst air pollution The Backs & King's College - Cambridge, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in The Backs & King's College is medium. AQI and O3 are medium; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 48.9/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in The Backs & King's College is fair. AQI worsens to fair; O3 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 6:00 PM (O3: 24.6/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Traffic on the A470 is the most significant local emissions source, especially at peak times. The air quality picture in The Backs & King's College reflects a typical Cambridgeshire town, with traffic emissions and local commercial activity as key contributors. The prevailing Atlantic airflow generally provide reasonable ventilation, keeping levels close to typical UK urban averages for a town this size.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 16:00
AQI:
Medium
48.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
12.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
13.3/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
48.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
16.3/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 18:00
AQI:
Fair
24.6/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
4.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
1.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
5.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
24.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
1.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
4.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
3.2/100
Other Landmarks in Cambridge
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in The Backs & King's College right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in The Backs & King's College is medium. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 48.9/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 48.9/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in The Backs & King's College?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in The Backs & King's College will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at fair at 24.6/100. Pollution peaks around 6:00 PM (O3: 24.6/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in The Backs & King's College?
Air quality in The Backs & King's College isn't the same all year round — it really shifts with the seasons. In deep winter, a lack of wind lets A470 traffic fumes and woodsmoke settle instead of blowing through. Summer's more of a mixed bag: ozone can spike in strong sun, but overall dispersion tends to be better than the depths of winter.
Are air quality levels in The Backs & King's College 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: 10 August 2026 at 02:34 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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