kg/yr = kilogram per year; VOC = volatile organic compound
Source: National Pollutant Inventory
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For the first time, the State of the Environment report includes a strong Indigenous narrative across all 12 thematic chapters, a narrative crafted through recognising the leadership, collaboration and authorship of Indigenous Australians who continue their connection as Traditional Owners to their lands, waters and skies.
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Figure 21 Emissions of VOCs from all sources in Australia, including natural sources
Figure 22 Sources of VOCs in Australia, 2018–19
VOC = volatile organic compound
Source: National Pollutant Inventory
Figure 23 The ‘Dish’ at Parkes, New South Wales, 19 December 2019 shrouded in bushfire smoke and dust
Photo: Richard Smart
Figure 24 Measurements of 24-hourly PM2.5 concentrations in calendar format, Canberra, December 2019 and January 2020
μg/m3 = microgram per cubic metre; PM2.5 = fine particulate matter
Note: PM2.5 measurements have been coloured by the air quality categories (AQC, see Approach). An additional maroon ‘extremely poor’ category has been added to the AQC colour bar to emphasise concentrations that are more than double the National Environment Protection Measures limit for PM2.5.
Source: Health Protection Service, ACT Government
Figure 25 Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership/Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite images on 20 December 2019 showing smoke cutting around the Victorian Alps towards Melbourne (left); and 4 January 2020, showing smoke travelling towards New Zealand (right)
Note: Red spots denote locations of fires.
Source: NASA Worldview
Figure 26 (a) Comparison of PM2.5 measured indoors with outdoor PM2.5 from the nearest fixed air quality monitoring station (Civic) during the summer 2019–20 bushfire season. Both datasets are 5-minute averaged PM2.5. (b) Fraction of total particles 2.5 μm diameter or less
μg/m3 = microgram per cubic metre; µm = micrometre; PM2.5 = fine particulate matter
Note: The red arrow denotes when the indoor sensor was moved to a room with slightly better sealing ability, late in the morning of 1 January 2020.
Source: Health Protection Service, ACT Government
Figure 27 Percentage of coverage of (a) broadleaf evergreen trees, (b) grasses and (c) shrubs in Australia
Source: Emmerson et al. (2020) using European Space Agency plant functional type data
Figure 28 Radar image showing the position of the thunderstorm system at 5:00 pm, and progression of the storm eastwards in half-hourly periods
Figure 29 Example of the Melbourne grass pollen forecast at the peak of the season (mid-November 2020)
Figure 30 Example of the thunderstorm asthma forecast for 23 November 2020
