OpenWeather Air Pollution & UV API
OpenWeather Air Pollution and UV API is a specialized subset of the OpenWeatherMap platform that provides real-time and forecast air quality data including pollutant concentrations, Air Quality Index values, and UV index measurements for any location worldwide. As air quality concerns grow in Nigerian cities driven by vehicle emissions, industrial activity, open burning, and seasonal Harmattan dust storms, this dedicated air quality and UV data endpoint enables Nigerian health apps, environmental platforms, and smart city projects to integrate pollution monitoring features beyond standard weather data.
The Air Pollution API returns concentrations of major pollutants: carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen monoxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), sulphur dioxide (SO2), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), coarse particulate matter (PM10), and ammonia (NH3). Each pollutant reading is given in micrograms per cubic meter, and the response includes an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) on a 1-5 scale (1=Good, 2=Fair, 3=Moderate, 4=Poor, 5=Very Poor). Nigerian health tech developers building pollution alert apps can use these granular pollutant readings to give targeted advisories — for example, warning asthma patients specifically when NO2 and PM2.5 are elevated, which is common near Lagos highways and industrial areas.
Historical air pollution data is available through the Air Pollution History endpoint, allowing retrieval of past pollution levels for any location with a Unix timestamp range. Nigerian researchers studying the relationship between air pollution episodes and respiratory disease hospitalizations, or environmental lawyers building evidence of industrial pollution near communities, can use this historical endpoint to retrieve pollution records spanning months or years.
UV Index data from the UV endpoint returns current UV Index value and time of day, along with daily forecast UV Index maximum and hourly UV progression through the day. UV radiation levels in Nigeria are high year-round due to the country's equatorial location, with UV Index values frequently reaching 8-11 (Very High to Extreme) during midday hours. Nigerian health apps promoting skin cancer awareness, outdoor workers' safety apps, and tourism platforms can integrate UV Index data to advise users on sunscreen application and shade-seeking during peak UV hours.
Forecast capabilities of the Air Pollution API extend 5 days into the future with 3-hourly pollution forecasts for any location. Nigerian event planners organizing outdoor festivals or sports events can check forecast air quality before finalizing dates, and Nigerian health authorities can anticipate poor air quality episodes in advance to issue proactive public health advisories. During Harmattan season (November to March), when Sahelian dust dramatically elevates PM10 readings across northern Nigeria, the pollution forecast capability is particularly valuable.
The Air Pollution and UV API uses the same OpenWeatherMap API key as the standard weather endpoints, making it easy for Nigerian developers already using OpenWeatherMap for weather data to add air quality and UV features without any additional registration. The free tier includes 1,000 calls/day shared across all OpenWeatherMap endpoints, and the air quality endpoints count toward this shared daily limit. Paid plans increase call limits and are priced the same as the broader OpenWeatherMap subscription, making it cost-efficient to bundle weather, air quality, and UV data under one account. Nigerian developers already on OpenWeatherMap can enable air quality and UV data immediately with no additional API key setup required.