St Nicholas Weather operates an air quality sensor that measures PM2.5 — the most common and harmful pollutant, typically produced by traffic, power stations, and industrial activity.
What affects air quality in the village?
St Nicholas is located to the west of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The A48 runs through the village, which is a major source of pollution. In addition, the major link road that serves much of Cardiff is located less than two miles to the east of the village. When this road gets busy, air quality can worsen, especially if the wind is coming from the east.
The sensor will not be accurate when the air is highly saturated, when the difference between the dew point and the humidity is less than 2 degrees Celsius, because the humidity is interpreted as a small particle by the sensor.