Amazon Environmental Research Institute

Air pollution is a growing challenge in the Brazilian Amazon, where large areas still lack reliable information about air quality. Our project will expand RedeAr, an open network of affordable air quality sensors, to provide continuous information on fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) in regions that are currently underserved by monitoring systems. By combining new sensors with existing monitoring infrastructure, we will make air quality data freely available and easier for communities, researchers, and public agencies to access and understand. We hope to improve our understanding of pollution, particularly during periods of intense fires, while helping decision-makers identify where action is most needed. Ultimately, we aim to strengthen air quality monitoring in Brazil and ensure that better information leads to stronger policies and healthier communities.

During the project, our team expects to consolidate RedeAr as an open and strategic air quality monitoring infrastructure for the Amazon. We will expand monitoring coverage, generate continuous and reliable PM2.5 and PM10 data in currently underserved regions, and make these data openly available in a standardized, near-real-time format. Beyond generating data, we aim to ensure that this information is effectively used by environmental agencies, researchers, and civil society to strengthen air quality monitoring and management in Brazil. Throughout the project, we will work to translate scientific evidence into concrete recommendations and support the integration of innovative monitoring approaches into national air quality policies and strategies.

Dr. Ane Alencar, Director of Science, Amazon Environmental Research Institute