ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The yearbook ‘Air Pollution in the Czech Republic in 2015’ is the result of a joint effort of a team of members of the air quality staff of the CHMI, including specialists at branches of the Institute.

Data on air quality presented in this yearbook were acquired by the National Air Quality Monitoring Network in collaboration with air protection laboratories. ) In the previous year, the National Air Quality Monitoring Network was comprehensively upgraded using funds from the Operational Programme Environment to ensure that it continues to provide high-quality data on monitored air quality variables. All the data were verified and processed using the Air Quality Information System database, which also contains outputs supplied by cooperating institutions. These were mainly public health institutes, the ČEZ Group electricity conglomerate, the Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, the Czech Geological Survey, the Institute of Hydrobiology, town and city authorities, and other contributors. The database also contains information from adjacent parts of Germany and Poland.

Emission data are processed by the CHMI in cooperation with the Czech Environmental Inspectorate, authorities of municipalities with extended compe tence and CENIA, the Czech Environmental Infor mation Agency. Emission balances are prepared with contributions from staff of the Czech Statistical Office, the Transport Research Centre and the Research Institute of Agricultural Engineering. Other necessary materials were provided by the Military Geographic and Hydrometeorology Office in Dobruška, the Czech Statistical Office, the Road and Motorway Directorate of the Czech Republic and the Institute of Transportation Engineering of the City of Prague.

This yearbook is structured with a focus on text clarity. Emphasis is on the interpretation of measured data with regard to meteorological conditions and other factors affecting ambient loads, and also on the evaluation of the status and trends of air quality in the Czech Republic, which is the main topic of this publication.

I wish to thank all colleagues that participated in the preparation of this yearbook. I also wish to thank the staff of cooperating organizations for their contributions. Special thanks are due to the editor of this yearbook, Mgr. Lucie Kolářová, who coordinated the preparation of the texts and graphics. I hope that these materials will be a useful tool for your work. All suggestions and recommendations on how to improve the services we provide are gladly welcome.

Prague, September 2016

RNDr. Jan Macoun, Ph.D.
Deputy Director for Air Quality Protection