Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson Air Quality Forecast - Today, Tomorrow
Air Quality Today
Today (10 October): Air quality in Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is moderate. AQI and PM10 are moderate; PM2.5 and O3 are fair; NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (PM10: 40.2/100).
Air Quality Tomorrow
Tomorrow (11 October 2026): Air quality in Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is fair. AQI improves to fair; PM10 decreases to fair; O3 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 3:00 AM (PM10: 23.3/100).
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Air Quality
Today - 10 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Moderate | 40.2/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Fair | 31.7/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Moderate | 40.2/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 2.5/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Fair | 22.8/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 0.9/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.4/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 1.3/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 1.3/100 |
Tomorrow - 11 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Fair | 23.3/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Fair | 22.9/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Fair | 23.3/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 2.7/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 19.9/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 0.4/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.4/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 0.8/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 1.1/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
This site in Tucson lies in a lightly developed area, where local traffic adds relatively little to air pollution. Dust raised by wind from dry, open ground is a recurring source of coarse particles. Pollution carried in from the wider region can also raise levels at times. Exhaust from nearby roads is usually highest close to busy streets and junctions.
Warm, sunny weather from April to October, around 33°C at its peak, raises afternoon ozone levels. Later, air near roads is often at its worst from December to February, when nights cool to around 11°C and the air turns still. From March to June, hot, dry weather raises the risk of wildfires, and their smoke can cover the area in haze.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Air Quality in Arizona
Is air quality bad in Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum right now?
On 10 October 2026, overall air quality in Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is moderate. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 40.2/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (PM10: 40.2/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum?
On 11 October 2026, air quality conditions in Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum will be better than today, with AQI forecast at fair at 23.3/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 AM (PM10: 23.3/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum?
Warm, sunny weather from April to October, around 33°C at its peak, raises afternoon ozone levels. Later, air near roads is often at its worst from December to February, when nights cool to around 11°C and the air turns still. From March to June, hot, dry weather raises the risk of wildfires, and their smoke can cover the area in haze.
Are air quality levels in Arizona-Sonora Desert 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. |