Field Museum, Chicago Air Quality Forecast - Today, Tomorrow
Air Quality Today
Today (10 October): Air quality in Field Museum is fair. AQI and NO2 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 6:00 PM (NO2: 27.8/100).
Air Quality Tomorrow
Tomorrow (11 October 2026): Air quality in Field Museum is good. AQI improves to good; NO2 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 1:00 AM (NO2: 18.8/100).
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Air Quality
Today - 10 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Fair | 27.8/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Good | 8.9/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Good | 4.7/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Fair | 27.8/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 13.7/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 0.4/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.5/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 2.6/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 4.1/100 |
Tomorrow - 11 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Good | 18.8/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Good | 12.6/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Good | 6.2/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 18.8/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 13.0/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 0.5/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.5/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 2.8/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 5.7/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
With buildings covering much of the area around this part of Chicago, traffic and other urban emissions are the biggest local influence on air quality. Sea breezes along the coast usually help ventilate the area. In cold weather, wood burning and other home heating become a noticeable source of fine particles. Pollution carried in from the wider region can also raise levels at times.
From November to April, temperatures near -1°C let smoke and particles from home heating and traffic build up, especially on cold, still mornings. By contrast, warm, sunny weather from July to September, around 23°C at its peak, raises afternoon ozone levels. On the plus side, stronger winds around November, about 25 km/h on average, usually bring some of the cleanest air of the year.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Air Quality in Illinois
Is air quality bad in Field Museum right now?
On 10 October 2026, overall air quality in Field Museum is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 27.8/100. Pollution peaks around 6:00 PM (NO2: 27.8/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Field Museum?
On 11 October 2026, air quality conditions in Field Museum will be better than today, with AQI forecast at good at 18.8/100. Pollution peaks around 1:00 AM (NO2: 18.8/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Field Museum?
From November to April, temperatures near -1°C let smoke and particles from home heating and traffic build up, especially on cold, still mornings. By contrast, warm, sunny weather from July to September, around 23°C at its peak, raises afternoon ozone levels. On the plus side, stronger winds around November, about 25 km/h on average, usually bring some of the cleanest air of the year.
Are air quality levels in Field Museum 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.
Understanding the Scale
The 0–100 air quality scores represent risk levels, not direct air pollutant concentrations. Higher scores indicate higher risk.
Air Quality
| Good | 0-20 | Low air quality risk. Air quality is expected to be good, with low levels of pollution. |
| Fair | 20-40 | Generally low air quality risk. Air quality is expected to be acceptable, with some pollution present. |
| Moderate | 40-60 | Moderate air quality risk. Air pollution is elevated and air quality may be less favorable. |
| Poor | 60-80 | High air quality risk. Air pollution is high and air quality is expected to be poor. |
| Very Poor | 80-100 | Very high air quality risk. Air pollution is very high and air quality is expected to be very poor. |