Ambient air monitoring

Alberta Environment, air quality management zones, Environment Canada, and industry operate a comprehensive network of nearly 140 air quality monitoring stations across Alberta that measure the ambient air quality. These consist of:
  • nine stations operated by Alberta Environment
  • about 30 stations operated by air quality management zones
  • one station operated by Environment Canada
  • almost 100 stations operated by industry as an Approval requirement

The number of monitoring stations, frequency, nature and duration of monitoring depend on the substances monitored and their emission rates.

Substances monitored are considered significant because of their volume, or effects on health or environment.

Ambient air pollutant monitoring takes two main forms.

  • Perimeter monitoring involves discrete sampling of substances at various locations along a facility's property boundary, over specified periods. 
  • Continuous monitoring uses strategically located permanent monitoring stations.

For substances monitored and analytical methods, see What is monitored.

Air quality monitoring zones (airsheds) allow area stakeholders to identify specific air quality issues to be addressed through monitoring. Their development was led in Alberta by the Clean Air Strategic Alliance.  Air quality data collected by Alberta Environment, air quality management zones and Environment Canada are available electronically at the Clean Air Strategic Alliance (CASA) data warehouse.