Our three air quality sensors at Red Hook Farms are now live on Google Sheets and available for public viewing!

We encourage everyone to utilize this data for their own research and advocacy.

Click on the images below to view the live data charts:

AQS 1
Sensor location TBA

AQS 2
Sensor location TBA

AQS 3
Sensor location TBA

What are we measuring?
Our sensors are collecting data every two minutes of ambient carbon dioxide (CO2), temperature, pressure, humidity, and particulate matter (PM 2.5).

What are these measurements? Why do they matter?
CO2 is a trace gas that occurs naturally in the atmosphere. It is also a greenhouse gas, meaning it absorbs heat and warms the planet. While greenhouse gases have allowed human life to flourish and make our planet habitable, our current CO2 levels are becoming increasingly dangerous as the planet warms at a breakneck pace, impacting human health, weather, climate, and various ecosystems. Our current atmospheric CO2 is approximately 420 ppm, higher than any CO2 levels in the past 800,000 years (NOAA).
Trends in atmospheric CO2 from the Mauna Loa observatory can be found here.

PM2.5 denotes fine inhalable particles that are 2.5 micrometers or smaller. These particles can easily infiltrate our lungs and bloodstream, worsen heart conditions, and are associated with worse respiratory/cardiac health effects (including higher hospitalizations and deaths).
More information on PM2.5 and current levels can be found here from the EPA.

In areas of our city that have higher traffic density, lots of construction, house power plants, and/or have less vegetative cover, CO2 and PM2.5 levels tend to be much higher. Because poor air quality from CO2 and particulate matter tends to disproportionately impact poor and POC communities, it is important that citizens and community members are aware of and advocate for equitable air quality standards and environmental justice.
Environmental justice information and a map of EJ areas can be found here from NYC’s Climate Policy & Programs.