Lívingston Air Quality Index (AQI)

Loading live AQI data...

Loading weather snapshot...

Loading historical AQI trends...

Lívingston, Guatemala, is a uniquely positioned city in the Izabal department, nestled on the Caribbean coast where the Río Dulce meets the Gulf of Honduras. Its coordinates (15.8300, -88.7500) place it within a low-lying coastal plain, with an elevation barely above sea level. This geography significantly influences its air quality. The city is not a sprawling metropolis, with a population of around 80,249, but rather a concentrated urban center surrounded by dense tropical rainforest and the extensive wetlands of the Río Dulce watershed. The surrounding landscape is dominated by lush vegetation, contributing to high humidity. Lívingston’s location at the mouth of the river means it’s heavily influenced by maritime breezes, which can both disperse and concentrate pollutants depending on prevailing wind patterns. While not a major industrial hub, the port activity associated with tourism and trade, alongside smaller-scale local industries like fishing and wood processing, contribute to localized emissions. The urban-rural gradient is sharp; immediately outside the city limits, the landscape transitions rapidly to undisturbed rainforest. Agricultural practices further inland, including small-scale farming, can contribute to seasonal smoke from land clearing, impacting air quality, particularly during the dry season. The limited natural ventilation due to surrounding hills and the coastal location can exacerbate pollutant build-up.

Lívingston experiences a pronounced wet and dry season rather than traditional four seasons. Air quality is generally better during the rainy season (roughly May to November) due to frequent rainfall which effectively washes particulate matter from the atmosphere. Increased humidity, however, can also promote the formation of mold and allergens, impacting respiratory health. Pollution tends to peak during the dry season (December to April), when reduced rainfall allows pollutants from port activity, wood burning for cooking, and potential agricultural burning to accumulate. The Harmattan winds, blowing from the north, can carry Saharan dust, further degrading air quality during these months. Temperature inversions, common in the mornings, trap pollutants near ground level. February and March are typically the months with the poorest air quality. Sensitive groups – children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions – should limit strenuous outdoor activity during these periods. Fog, prevalent in the early mornings, can exacerbate respiratory issues by trapping pollutants. Monitoring wind direction is crucial; onshore breezes bring marine influences, while offshore breezes can concentrate local emissions. Avoiding outdoor exercise near the port during peak shipping hours is advisable.