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Version: 0.0.3 | Published: 17 Sep 2025 | Updated: 0 days ago

Automatic Urban and Rural Network (AURN)

Dataset

Documentation

Description:
The AURN is the UK's largest automatic monitoring network and is the main network used for compliance reporting against the Ambient Air Quality Directives. It includes automatic air quality monitoring stations measuring oxides of nitrogen (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO) and particles (PM10, PM2.5). These sites provide high resolution hourly information which is communicated rapidly to the public, using a wide range of electronic, media and web platforms.
Is Part Of:
NOT APPLICABLE

Coverage

Spatial

Geographical Levels:
council area

Temporal

Start Date:
01 July 1972
Frequency:
CONTINUOUS

Provenance

Source:
Longitudinal
Purpose:
The major objectives of the network are as follows: Checking if statutory air quality standards and targets are met; Informing the public about air quality; Providing information for local air quality review and assessments within the UK Air Quality Strategy; Identifying long-term trends in air pollution concentrations; and Assessing the effectiveness of policies to control pollution. The data from the AURN are used for: Compliance reporting under the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 Comparison with air quality objectives as laid out in the Air Quality Strategy Providing the public with information through air quality bulletins Forecasting future air quality levels Policy development for human health and ecosystem protection The European Monitoring & Evaluation Programme (EMEP) The UK Local Air Quality Management regime under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 National Indicators on environmental quality
Collection Situation:
Other

Access and Governance

Access

Jurisdiction:
  • England and Wales
  • Scotland
  • Northern Ireland
Data Controller:
Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs

Format and Standards

Languages:
ENGLISH