#1 Extrem schlechte Luft in Helsinki
Verfasst: 23. Nov 2005 14:24
HS von heut:
Sudden and deep decline in air quality in Helsinki region
Air quality in parts of Helsinki and other areas in the greater Helsinki region was so bad on Tuesday that officials were getting ready to discourage driving by allowing people to use public transport free of charge.
All measuring stations of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council (YTV) showed poor to very poor air quality. The stations are located in the centre of Helsinki and along busy roads.
A phenomenon known as inversion prevailed in the Helsinki area on Tuesday. In such a situation, pollutants, especially those from cars, remain stagnant when the temperature at ground level drops at night, and a layer of warmer air above it keeps the air from moving.
If the weather had remained calm, officials would have issued a recommendation to avoid using private cars, and public transport would have been made free. Residents would also have been asked to limit their use of firewood, and those prone to respiratory problems would have been urged to remain indoors.
"There was plenty of nitrogen in the air from exhaust gases as well as large amounts of small particles. They apparently came from studded car tyres rubbing against road surfaces. Particles are easily suspended in the air in dry conditions", says Jari Viinanen of the Helsinki Environment Centre.
He says that the last time that Helsinki had such poor air was in the spring of this year.
Nitrogen and airborne dust levels rose in the morning, and air quality remained poor all day. Readings showed very poor air quality in eastern parts of Helsinki’s central area, the Tikkurila neighbourhood of Vantaa, and in Espoo along the Ring I bypass. The situation improved somewhat in the centre of Helsinki in the evening.
YTV air quality expert Marjatta Malkki monitored weather conditions all Tuesday evening.
Malkki says that if the forecasts would have been for more of the same, officials would have shifted into a basic readiness mode.
If things had got much worse, driving private cars might have been banned in the centre of Helsinki - after about a week of poor air quality.
The current monitoring system for air quality dates back to the late 1990s. The system was instituted after a long period of poor air in 1995.
Sudden and deep decline in air quality in Helsinki region
Air quality in parts of Helsinki and other areas in the greater Helsinki region was so bad on Tuesday that officials were getting ready to discourage driving by allowing people to use public transport free of charge.
All measuring stations of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council (YTV) showed poor to very poor air quality. The stations are located in the centre of Helsinki and along busy roads.
A phenomenon known as inversion prevailed in the Helsinki area on Tuesday. In such a situation, pollutants, especially those from cars, remain stagnant when the temperature at ground level drops at night, and a layer of warmer air above it keeps the air from moving.
If the weather had remained calm, officials would have issued a recommendation to avoid using private cars, and public transport would have been made free. Residents would also have been asked to limit their use of firewood, and those prone to respiratory problems would have been urged to remain indoors.
"There was plenty of nitrogen in the air from exhaust gases as well as large amounts of small particles. They apparently came from studded car tyres rubbing against road surfaces. Particles are easily suspended in the air in dry conditions", says Jari Viinanen of the Helsinki Environment Centre.
He says that the last time that Helsinki had such poor air was in the spring of this year.
Nitrogen and airborne dust levels rose in the morning, and air quality remained poor all day. Readings showed very poor air quality in eastern parts of Helsinki’s central area, the Tikkurila neighbourhood of Vantaa, and in Espoo along the Ring I bypass. The situation improved somewhat in the centre of Helsinki in the evening.
YTV air quality expert Marjatta Malkki monitored weather conditions all Tuesday evening.
Malkki says that if the forecasts would have been for more of the same, officials would have shifted into a basic readiness mode.
If things had got much worse, driving private cars might have been banned in the centre of Helsinki - after about a week of poor air quality.
The current monitoring system for air quality dates back to the late 1990s. The system was instituted after a long period of poor air in 1995.
. Ausserhalb sieht es schon anders aus. Für 1-2 Haltestellen in Porvoo müsste ich schon 2,50 Euro zahlen, nach Helsinki mit Bus/Bahn wäre total unrealistisch und würde um die 25 Euro/täglich kosten. Von der zeitlichen Flexibilität verbunden mit der heutigen Berufslage ganz zu schweigen. 