The Purest Air in the World

The Purest Air in the World is measured in Pallas

While special attention must be paid to low-carbon approaches, reducing the carbon footprint, sustainable use of nature and combating climate change, as well as keeping nature clean, the popularity of nature tourism has increased, thus resulting in the increased use of nature. An effort has been made to help coordinate the above issues in Clean Air projects. Parks & Wildlife Finland, the Finnish Meteorological Institute and Lapland University of Applied Sciences were partners to the Municipality of Muonio in its development projects.

Science has proven that the purest air in the world is measured in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park. The importance of clean air for quality of life and lifespan has been scientifically verified. Air pollution concentrations in Lapland are typically about half compared to southern Finland. According to the Finnish Meteorological Institute, the measured purest air is located within a radius of about one hundred kilometers from the Pallas Research Station. Therefore, you can say with a good conscience, that you are breathing the world's purest air when hiking in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park.

Pallas Atmosphere-Ecosystem Supersite

Pallas comprises one of the most important research infrastructures in Finland. The first weather station was established near Lake Pallasjärvi in 1935. The measurements of atmospheric composition were started in 1991, and the Sammaltunturi station was established in 1994. The Pallas Supersite consists of versatile research infrastructure for monitoring and studying the atmosphere, ecosystems and their interactions. Pallas is contributing to numerous European and global research programmes. Pallas in Muonio is located 170 km north of the Arctic Circle, partly in the area of Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park.

Access to the Finnish Meteorological Institute's research stations is restricted and only a limited number of customers can visit them each year. With the 360-videos, anyone can now visit tthe research stations virtually. In the videos, the researchers explain about the atmospheric research carried out at the station and the everyday life of a researcher. Visit Pallas Supersite remotely (discovermuonio.fi).

Pallas Air Quality Index

The Pallas Air Quality Index, produced in the project, can be used to monitor air cleanliness. It describes the fine particle levels of different areas numerically and visually. It utilizes measurements made at the Pallas Supersite. Fine particles are considered the most harmful air pollution for health. Fine particles are less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter and they can penetrate deep into the human body through breathing. In addition to the mass of fine particles (PM2.5), the index also includes the concentration of black carbon (BC) for the first time. Black carbon is a component of fine particulate matter. It is formed by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, biofuel, and biomass.

These particularly precise measurements make it possible to describe the good air quality of Pallas much more precisely than traditional air quality indices are capable of. Pallas Air Quality Index has three super clean air quality categories below the traditional Good classification. The best is The Purest Air in the World.

Pallas Air Quality Index (discovermuonio.fi).

Virtual Trip to Pallastunturi

The virtual trip to Pallastunturi can be done anywhere. It is ecological and easy to repeat. In the application you get to know the area’s eight seasons, experience the fell’s winter storm or admire the northern lights that illuminate the entire fell. In the application, you can change the small particle concentrations and temperature and see their possible effects on Pallastunturi. You can also change the month, time of day and rain. You can download the software from Discover Muonio’s media bank (discovermuonio.fi). Desktop version is also available (aipi.frostbit.fi).

The website and other The Purest Air -material is produced as part of project that is funded by European Regional Development Fund, Leverage from EU 2014 -2020 and The Regional Council of Lapland.