Direct air-quality answer
What is carbon monoxide in an air-quality forecast?
Carbon monoxide, abbreviated CO, is a gas included in outdoor air-quality data. OpenWeather reports modeled CO concentration in micrograms per cubic metre and uses documented CO concentration bands as part of its official air-pollution scale from 1 to 5.
Gaseous component
NO₂
Short answer
Carbon monoxide, abbreviated CO, is a gas included in outdoor air-quality data. OpenWeather reports modeled CO concentration in micrograms per cubic metre and uses documented CO concentration bands as part of its official air-pollution scale from 1 to 5.
An outdoor modeled CO forecast is not a carbon-monoxide alarm, an indoor measurement, or an emergency determination. AirAgora does not use it to decide whether a home, vehicle, workplace, or other enclosed space is safe.
What the number does—and does not—represent
The OpenWeather Air Pollution API returns CO alongside other pollutant concentrations for a modeled location and hour. A concentration in µg/m³ is a physical quantity; the OpenWeather 1–5 value is the provider’s separate communication scale. Neither should be relabeled as U.S., European, or local regulatory AQI.
The forecast value belongs to an outdoor model grid. It cannot identify a source, reconstruct personal exposure, or describe conditions beside a particular appliance, road, garage, room, or sensor.
How AirAgora handles the question
AirAgora preserves the official OpenWeather 1–5 value for display and derives comparable internal CO severity only from OpenWeather’s documented CO concentration bands. That internal severity helps rank complete forecast windows and is never published as a new AQI.
CO can be named as the main pollutant when its derived severity is highest under the deterministic tie rules. That label describes the selected forecast data; it does not establish a local cause or make a health diagnosis.
What to check before comparing
Check whether the screen shows an outdoor modeled concentration, a provider scale, a regulatory AQI, or a reading from a dedicated detector. Align the source, unit, location, valid hour, and update time before comparing numbers.
If a carbon-monoxide alarm sounds or poisoning is suspected, do not use an air-quality forecast page to assess the situation. Follow the detector instructions and the relevant local emergency or public-authority guidance.
- CO is a gas
- OpenWeather concentration uses µg/m³
- Provider scale remains OpenWeather 1–5
- Outdoor grid is not an indoor detector
- Main pollutant does not identify a source
Direct answers
Frequently asked questions
What does CO stand for?
CO stands for carbon monoxide, a gaseous pollutant included in OpenWeather’s modeled outdoor air-quality response.
Does AirAgora detect carbon monoxide inside my home?
No. AirAgora uses modeled outdoor OpenWeather data. It cannot replace a properly installed and maintained carbon-monoxide detector.
What unit does OpenWeather use for CO?
The Air Pollution API documents CO concentration in micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³). This concentration is separate from the provider’s official 1–5 value.
Can carbon monoxide be the main pollutant?
Yes. AirAgora can name CO when its severity derived from the documented concentration bands is highest for the selected forecast window.
Does a low outdoor forecast prove an indoor space is safe?
No. Outdoor modeled data cannot determine indoor conditions or rule out a local enclosed-space hazard.
What should I do if a carbon-monoxide alarm sounds?
Treat the alarm as a separate safety matter: follow its instructions and relevant local emergency or public-authority guidance rather than relying on AirAgora.
Evidence register
Sources and further reading
The links below identify the primary references used on this page. Selection, summary, and presentation are AirAgora modifications.
Keep exploring
AirAgora provides informational planning guidance, not medical advice. Local conditions can differ from modeled forecasts; follow official guidance during severe events.