TURKANA BASIN WEATHER & AIR QUALITY MAP

During the second half of 2020, TBI installed two Purple Air sensors, one at TBI-Ileret and the other at TBI-Turkwel. These sensors measure smoke, dust, and other particulate air pollution, as well as keeping track of local temperature. By installing these sensors, TBI’s facilities will join an international, open-source air quality monitoring network facilitated by the Purple Air platform.

The sensors measure PM2.5 and PM10 – particulates of 2.5 and 10 micrometers or less respectively. The concentration of these particulates has implications for climate change and health, and is influenced by local factors such as localized combustion, as well as global trends in air quality.

By installing these sensors in remote regions, the data generated can act as a baseline for comparison of data in more built up areas of Kenya, which have more pollution from human activity.

Dr. Thure Cerling, Expert in paleoclimates and isotope research

Using the PurpleAir sensor map

  • Once you’ve launched the PurpleAir sensor map, click on either of the icons highlighted: TBI’s Ileret research facility on the upper-east side of Lake Turkana, or TBI-Turkwel on the lower-west side.

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  • Information about that facility’s weather and air quality will pop up.

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  • Clicking the “down-arrow” icon () as shown will allow you to download the weather and air quality data that has been collected for each sensor.

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