Background maps
Background Maps
These maps are provided to assist local authorities in support of review and assessment of local air quality.
April 2012: To assist local authorities who need background maps for undertaking their 2012 Updating and Screening Assessments - a revised total 2010 background maps for NOx, NO2,and PM10 is now available below.
Information on the different versions of background maps is provided below in order to ensure you use the correct versions. The most recent background maps based on 2008 should normally be used for Review and Assessment. These provide background concentrations for NOx, NO2, PM10 and PM2.5.
Update for Scotland Background Maps
Mapped background concentrations for use in LAQM Review and Assessments undertaken by Scottish local authorities are available on the Scottish Air Quality Website. These maps are available for NOx, NO2 and PM10 only, and a document setting out the methodology is also available on the website.
NOx, NO2, PM10 and PM2.5 Background Maps
Revised total background maps for 2010 are now available for NOx, NO2, PM10 and PM2.5. These maps should be used for all new air quality assessments. 2010 background maps can be accessed using the link below. This provides information about the maps, and will allow you to download a seperate 1x1km grid file of concentrations for each local authority (per pollutant) for 2010.
2008 based background maps for NOx, NO2, PM10 and PM2.5 can be accessed using the link below. This provides information about the maps, and will allow you to download a separate 1x1km grid file of concentrations for each local authority (per pollutant) for years 2008 to 2020 using drop-down boxes.
The previous 2006 based background maps for NOx, NO2, PM10 and PM2.5 are available using the link below as these may be useful in some circumstances. However, these should not be used for assessment unless necessary, and the 2008 based background maps should be used for all new assessments.
2004 based background maps also available from the following link as these may be useful in some circumstances. However, these maps are no longer suitable for use when undertaking air quality assessments
SO2, CO, Benzene and 1,3-butadiene Background Maps
Background maps for, SO2, CO, Benzene and 1,3-butadiene are based on 2001 base year. These are downloadable from the link below:
Please note that only data for SO2, CO, Benzene and 1,3-butadiene should be used from these 2001 based background maps. Background information on NOx, NO2, and PM10, contained with these maps SHOULD NOT BE USED when undertaking air quality assessments.