Wildfire Map and Air Quality Map Now Available

Changes in air quality can have wide-ranging effects – not only on children and other sensitive groups, but on everyone when air quality decreases considerably. In May 2018, we announced the addition of air quality endpoints to the AerisWeather API.  Today, as we continue to expand our air quality datasets, we are announcing a new air quality map layer within AerisWeather Maps.  The layer displays Air Quality Index (AQI) badges for locations globally and allows users to quickly visualize areas of concern.  Additionally, large wildfires can negatively affect local and regional air quality. Therefore, we are also releasing a new wildfires map layer alongside air quality.  Both layers are available today for use by all AerisWeather Maps subscriptions.

Global Air Quality Map Layer

The new air quality map layer displays badges of the Air Quality Index (AQI) as observed by global observation stations and uses the same air quality observations from the AerisWeather API endpoint. Air quality (AQI) values are based on the dominant pollutant reported by each observation station. These AQI values utilize the scale from the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) AirNow organization.

Static Map

To use the new air quality layer, just include the layer name

air-quality

in your map request. For example, the following displays air quality information near Zibo, China:

http://maps.aerisapi.com/[client_id]_[access_key]/terrain-dk,water-depth,admin-dk,air-quality/700x400/zibo,china,6/current.png

Air Quality map layer example

Leaflet Example

The air quality layer can also be used with third-party mapping libraries, such as Leaflet:

var map = L.map('aerismap').setView([44.96, -93.27], 5);
L.tileLayer('https://{s}.tile.openstreetmap.org/{z}/{x}/{y}.png', {
    attribution: '© OpenStreetMap contributors'
}).addTo(map);
L.tileLayer('https://maps.aerisapi.com/[client_id]_[client_key]/air-quality/{z}/{x}/{y}/current.png', {
    subdomains: '1234',
    attribution: '©AerisWeather',
}).addTo(map);

WeatherBlox Example

If you are using our WeatherBlox widgets to add weather and maps to your website, try the following air quality map view example made with our WeatherBlox Wizard:

<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.aerisapi.com/wxblox/aeris-wxblox.css">
<script src="https://cdn.aerisapi.com/wxblox/aeris-wxblox.min.js"></script>

<!--// target DOM element where WeatherBlox will be rendered //-->
<div id="wxblox" class="aeris-wrapper"></div>

<script> 

// set Aeris account access keys
Aeris.wxblox.setAccess('CLIENT_ID', 'CLIENT_SECRET');

// create desired WeatherBlox instance
var view = new Aeris.wxblox.views.MapViewer('#wxblox', {
    map: {
        loc: "minneapolis,mn",
        layers: {
            base: "flat",
            data: "air-quality",
            overlays: "cities-dk"
        },
        offset: "current",
        zoom: 6,
        size: {
            width: 600,
            height: 600,
            factor: 0.75,
            autoscale: true
        }
    },
    animation: {
        enabled: true,
        from: -2,
        duration: 2,
        endDelay: 1,
        intervals: 10
    },
    overlays: {
        title: "Geocolor Satellite",
        timestamp: "MM/DD/YYYY hh:mm A"
    }
});

// load data and render the view for a specific location
view.load();

</script>

Wildfires Layers

Large wildfires can play a significant role in both local and regional air quality.  Therefore, today we are also launching two new wildfire layers alongside air quality layers.  These new fire layers use data from the fires endpoint of the AerisWeather API and the US Forest Service (USFS).  Initial data coverage includes the Continental US, while expansion to other regions, including Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada, continues to be reviewed in the near term. The new fires layer is available in two options: basic circles and fire icons.

Fires Point Layer

To display circles/points for each large wildfire location, use the

fires

(or

fires-obs

) layer code:

https://maps.aerisapi.com/[client_id]_[access_key]/satellite-geocolor,fires,cities-dk/700x400/vernal,ut,6/current.jpg

Large Wildfire Point Layer

In this example, we placed the fires on top of the geocolor satellite layer, which is also good at depicting the smoke plumes from larger fires.

Fire Icons Layer

To display the large wildfire locations with fire icons, use the layer code

fires-obs-icons

:

https://maps.aerisapi.com/[client_id]_[access_key]/satellite-geocolor,fires-obs-icons,cities-dk/700x400/vernal,ut,6/current.jpg

Large Wildfire Icon Layer

The US Forest Service updates the wildfire data daily, usually by mid-morning Eastern time.

Get Started with Air Quality and Fires

The new air quality and fire layers are available today for all AerisWeather Flex subscribers, or you can try them out today with our free developer trial.

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