European Air Quality & Climate Anomalies Viewer
Live European AQI, PM2.5, PM10, NO₂ & O₃ from Copernicus CAMS · temperature anomalies vs the 1991–2020 normal (ERA5) · click anywhere for details & health advice
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European Air Quality Index
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What you see: modelled air quality from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) European ~11 km analysis (via the free Open-Meteo API) and temperature anomalies computed against the 1991–2020 ERA5 climate reference. It is a model, not a street sensor — a busy road can be worse than the cell average. For official measurements see the EEA European Air Quality Index. Not a medical or regulatory tool.
Live air quality across Europe
This free European air quality map shows the European Air Quality Index (EAQI) plus individual PM2.5, PM10, NO₂ and ozone concentrations for the whole continent, rendered as a smooth heat layer from Copernicus CAMS model data. Air pollution remains Europe's largest environmental health risk — the EEA attributes roughly a quarter of a million premature deaths a year to fine particles alone. This viewer lets you see in one glance where the air is clean and where a smog, dust or ozone episode is unfolding.
Climate anomalies — is today unusually hot or cold?
Switch to the Temp anomaly layer to compare today's temperatures against the 1991–2020 climate normal from the ERA5 reanalysis. Red means warmer than a typical day at this date, blue means colder. It is the same way climate scientists visualise heatwaves and cold spells — and clicking any point gives you a precise anomaly computed from the full 30-year record for that exact location.
How to use the viewer
Pick a layer (EAQI, a single pollutant, or temperature anomaly), choose a country to fly there, or open the Worst now list to jump to the major city with the most polluted air at this moment. Click anywhere on the map — or press My location — for a full breakdown: every pollutant with its EAQI band and WHO guideline comparison, band-specific health advice, a 48-hour air-quality trend, and the local temperature anomaly. Press Fullscreen for a wall display.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the air quality data come from?
From the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) European air quality model, accessed through the free Open-Meteo air-quality API. CAMS combines satellite observations, ground-station measurements and weather models into an 11 km pan-European analysis and forecast, updated every day. No API key or signup is needed.
What is the European Air Quality Index (EAQI)?
The EAQI is the official index used by the European Environment Agency. It rates air quality in six bands — good (0–20), fair (20–40), moderate (40–60), poor (60–80), very poor (80–100) and extremely poor (100+) — based on the worst of five pollutants: PM2.5, PM10, NO₂, O₃ and SO₂. It is not the same scale as the US AQI, so a value of 50 here means something different than on American sites.
What are PM2.5 and PM10, and why do they matter?
Particulate matter smaller than 2.5 and 10 micrometres. PM2.5 is small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream and is the pollutant most strongly linked to premature death from heart and lung disease. The WHO recommends staying below 15 µg/m³ as a 24-hour average and 5 µg/m³ annually. Main sources: traffic, wood burning, industry and agriculture.
What do the NO₂ and O₃ layers show?
Nitrogen dioxide comes mainly from road traffic and combustion — it peaks along motorways and in city centres, especially in winter. Ozone is a summer pollutant formed by sunlight acting on traffic and industrial emissions — it peaks on hot sunny afternoons, often downwind of cities and in southern Europe.
What is a climate (temperature) anomaly?
The difference between today's mean temperature and the long-term average for this exact time of year, computed from the ERA5 reanalysis over the 1991–2020 reference period used by meteorological agencies. +5 °C means today is five degrees warmer than a normal day at this date; blue areas are colder than normal. Anomalies reveal heatwaves and cold spells at a glance, independent of the season.
How is the temperature anomaly calculated on the map?
For each grid point the app compares today's model mean temperature against the same calendar date (±3 days) sampled across the 1991–2020 ERA5 reference period. The map layer uses a sampled baseline for speed; when you click a location, the detail panel computes a precise anomaly from the full 30-year daily record for that exact spot.
How current is the data, and how often does it refresh?
CAMS produces daily analyses and hourly forecast steps, so the values shown are the model's estimate for the current hour. The page refreshes the grid automatically every 30 minutes, and every metric switch re-renders instantly from the already-loaded data.
Is this measured or modelled air quality? How accurate is it?
Modelled. CAMS assimilates thousands of official ground stations plus satellite data, but the map value is a model estimate for an ~11 km cell — a busy street canyon can be worse than shown, and a park slightly better. For regulatory measurements, check your national environment agency or the EEA station viewer. Treat this as guidance, not a legal measurement.
Which parts of Europe have the worst air quality?
The Po Valley in northern Italy, southern Poland and other coal-heavy parts of Central Europe, and big-city hotspots like Paris, Madrid and the Benelux motorway corridor regularly top PM and NO₂ rankings. In summer, Mediterranean regions see the highest ozone. Use the “Worst now” list to jump to today's most polluted major cities.
When is air pollution worst — winter or summer?
Both, for different reasons. Winter brings PM2.5 smog episodes: cold, still air traps wood-smoke and traffic emissions near the ground. Summer brings ozone episodes during heatwaves, plus Saharan dust events and wildfire smoke that spike PM values. Spring adds agricultural ammonia episodes in north-west Europe.
What should I do when air quality is poor or very poor?
Sensitive groups (children, elderly people, pregnant women, and anyone with asthma, COPD or heart disease) should reduce prolonged outdoor exertion at “poor”, and everyone should limit heavy outdoor exercise at “very poor” or worse. Keep windows closed during peaks, ventilate when it improves, and follow advice from your national health authority. The click panel shows band-specific advice.
Why does the map show values over the sea?
CAMS models the whole atmosphere, including marine air — which is genuinely useful: you can see ship-lane NO₂, Saharan dust crossing the Mediterranean, and clean Atlantic air moving in behind a front. Sea values are usually the cleanest on the map.
Can I check the air quality at my own location?
Yes — press My location and allow the browser location prompt. The map flies to you and opens the detail panel with your current EAQI, every pollutant compared against WHO guidelines, the temperature anomaly for your spot, and a 48-hour air-quality trend. Nothing is uploaded; the position is only used in your browser.
How is this different from the official EEA or CAMS viewers?
Same underlying Copernicus science, friendlier packaging: one fast page with air quality and climate anomalies together, click-anywhere details, WHO guideline comparisons, a worst-cities ranking, country fly-to and fullscreen — no account, no cookies, no ads.
Does it work on my phone, and is it free?
Yes. It is fully responsive, works in iOS and Android browsers, has a fullscreen mode for wall displays, and is 100% free with no account and no ads. Everything runs in your browser using public Copernicus-based APIs.
Why is my street dirtier than the map says?
The model resolution is about 11 km, so it shows the neighbourhood average. Street canyons with heavy traffic, homes next to a wood-burning neighbour, or industrial fence-lines can be significantly worse than the cell average. If you need street-level data, look for a local monitoring station or a calibrated sensor network in your city.