Information and public awareness

There must be a concerted communication campaign to circulate information on Atmo index observations and forecasts, measured pollution levels, and more generally any information raising public awareness of air quality issues. Atmo Auvergne therefore makes use of a number of varied communication media.

Atmo air quality panels
In September 1997, Clermont-Ferrand became the first French town to install urban furniture specifically designed to provide public information on air quality. The two Atmo panels, installed at Place Delille and Place Galliéni, display the Atmo index for the Clermont-Ferrand metropolitan area. This information is transmitted by the association's central unit and is updated daily. The use of the term "pollumeters" is not strictly correct as these panels are only indicators and do not actually measure pollution levels at their location.

Atmo panel - place Delille	Atmo panel - place Galliéni

This urban furniture set-up is supplemented by a variable display panel located at the Place de Jaude, which is updated by the association's central unit and displays general information on air quality. In the event the Prefecture activates its public information and alert procedure, this panel is also used to display specific messages and recommendations relating to the observed situation.

variable display panel Place de Jaude

The media
Daily and weekly reports are mainly broadcast on local television and radio stations and in the local newspapers, (France 3 Rhône-Alpes Auvergne, Clermont Première, Radio Bleue Pays d'Auvergne, Radio Volcans d'Auvergne, La Montagne, etc.). At national level, this information is usually provided by the ADEME (Environment and Energy Control Agency), in particular on its website ("Bul'dair") and in publications of annual national air quality assessments.

Website
The Atmo Auvergne website went on-line in 1999 and acts as an important vector for general information on air quality and more specific information on the monitoring of air pollution in the Auvergne region. Several developments have since improved the content of the website, making it more user-friendly with the main objective being to provide relevant information as quickly as possible. The following key information is available:

• the values measured by all the sensors managed by Atmo Auvergne, updated every four hours (under "Measurements in Auvergne- Measurement results"),
• Atmo indexes for the previous day, or estimated indexes for the actual day or the following day (under "Atmo indexes - Daily indexes).

Information bulletins, annual reports, study reports
Atmo Auvergne publishes an annual report and quarterly information bulletins which regularly review air pollution levels recorded in Auvergne. Various ad-hoc measurement campaigns are also detailed in reports that are made available to the general public.

Various events, miscellaneous interventions
Atmo Auvergne actively participates in a variety of events directly targeting air quality or, more generally, the environment (international "Leave the car at home" days, environmental awareness days, public transport week, among others). We also work closely with the teaching sector, organising events to heighten awareness among young people, mainly in schools but also at universities as part of technical and scientific conferences. At all these events, the public can see exhibition panels on the monitoring of air quality in Auvergne.