first on decorahnews.com: Yes, Decorah's air quality really is worse than Des Moines'

In September, decorahnews.com interviewed Decorah resident Tim Wagner, who has been taking readings of Decorah's air quality since early in 2017.  Wagner's conclusion (http://www.decorahnews.com/archived-stories/2018/09/20257.html), was that "Decorah's Air Quality Index not uncommonly is worse than that of Des Moines."

Wagner says "this bowl we live in" is to blame.  That's especially true during the winter, when there isn't a strong wind to blow away emissions from cars and trucks and other sources.  Wagner said the worst Air Quality Index readings are from 7:00 until 9:00 in the morning--a time when cars and school buses and delivery trucks and construction vehicles all are on the road at the same time.

Results from Wagner's air monitoring are posted live on the Internet, as are results from Des Moines (visit https://www.purpleair.com/map?&zoom=13&lat=43.30110315025201&lng=-91.77890190685741&clustersize=45&orderby=L&latr=0.09194715922355812&lngr=0.092010498046875 for Decorah's results and https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/airquality/ for Des Moines' results.

That's what decorahnews.com has been doing for the past two months—and we can report we've verified Wagner's findings.  Over 25 samples, Decorah's AQI averaged 34, while Des Moines' AQI averaged 20.  The difference is even greater over the last month, when AQI readings have been higher—49 in Decorah and 25 in Des Moines.

In other words, air quality has been twice as bad in Decorah as in Des Moines during the past month.  Here are the readings, with days on which Decorah's reading was higher than Des Moines' reading highlighted in bold:

Wednesday, Sept 26th 9am: 25 AQI Decorah; 8 AQI Des Moines
Friday, Sept 28th Noon: 0 AQI Decorah; 14 AQI Des Moines
Monday, Oct 1st 3pm: 0 AQI Decorah, 10 AQI Des Moines
Wednesday, Oct. 3rd 9am: 38 AQI Decorah, 22 AQI Des Moines
Friday, Oct. 5th 9am: 8 AQI Decorah, 12 AQI Des Moines
Monday, Oct 8th 10am: 8 AQI Decorah, 10 AQI Des Moines
Wednesday, Oct 10th 8am: 8 AQI Decorah, 13 AQI Des Moines
Friday, Oct 12th Noon: 13 AQI Decorah, 19 AQI Des Moines
Monday, Oct 15th 9am: 9 AQI Decorah, 8 AQI Des Moines
Wednesday, Oct 17th 9am: 8 AQI Decorah, 6 AQI Des Moines
Friday, Oct 19th Noon: 25 AQI Decorah, 20 AQI Des Moines
Monday, Oct 22nd 9am: 38 AQI Decorah, 18 AQI Des Moines
Wednesday, Oct 24th 9am: 46 AQI Decorah, 27 AQI Des Moines
Friday, Oct 26th 2pm: 50 AQI Decorah, 36 AQI Des Moines
Monday, Oct 29th 9am: 53 AQI Decorah, 13 AQI Des Moines
Thursday, Nov 1st 1pm: 38 AQI Decorah, 37 AQI Des Moines
Friday, Nov 2nd 8am: 63 AQI Decorah, 27 AQI Des Moines
Monday, Nov 5th 8am: 72 AQI Decorah, 20 AQI Des Moines
Thursday, Nov 8th 9am: 28 AQI Decorah 23 AQI Des Moines
Friday, Nov 9th 8:30am: 53 AQI Decorah 27 AQI Des Moines
Monday, Nov 12th noon: 33 AQI Decorah 24 AQI Des Moines
Wednesday, Nov 14th noon: 50 AQI Decorah, 24 AQI Des Moines
Friday, Nov 16th 9am: 57 AQI Decorah; 32 AQI Des Moines
Monday, Nov 19th 9:00am: 53 AQI Decorah; 17 AQI Des Moines
Wednesday, Nov 23rd 9:00am: 78 AQI Decorah; 34 AQI Des Moines