The Latvian for Environmental Geology and Meteorology Center (LVGMC) warns that air quality has deteriorated across Latvia.

PM2.5 and PM10 particulates are elevated. Pollution is accumulating because the air is dry, the wind is slow and these days there is a condition in the atmosphere called inversion – the air is warmer at an altitude of about one kilometer than at ground level. In this situation, there is no vertical exchange of air, which contributes to the accumulation of pollution.

Iveta Indriksone, head of the monitoring department of the LVGMC Geological Monitoring Department, explained on Latvian Radio that the worst air quality is in Kurzeme – the center’s observations show that the air quality in Rucava and Liepaja is very poor.

Interview with LVGMC Monitoring Department Manager Iveta Indriksone5min

“Pollution is coming from Central Europe, mainly from Poland and Europe. [..] The pollution is basically related to heating pollution and transport pollution. [..] The western part of Latvia is the first to receive such cross-border pollution, the eastern part may receive less,” Indriksone said.

The air will become cleaner as the weather changes, which could happen over the weekend.

“On Thursday [air pollution] will remain, it is difficult to say about Friday. This situation can be drastically changed by the change of weather in Latvia. The weather is pleasant now – sunny – but it is unfavorable for the dispersion of pollution. As soon as the weather changes – wind direction, wind speed, precipitation area – the pollution will dissipate,” Indriksone explained.

The air quality deterioration is more likely to be felt in larger cities, the LVGMC said. Therefore, people at risk, who are more sensitive to dust, are urged to limit their outdoor activities.

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