Well-designed information support to facilitate decision-making processes is essential for the deployment of measures intended to improve the quality of the air in particular, and of the environment in general. In respect of air quality control regular, nation-wide assessment of air quality based on systematic measurement and subsequent evaluation of air pollution data, precipitation quality data and emission data has become part of the standard service provided by the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. An extensive set of tools for monitoring and objective assessment of air quality and its development in the territory of the Czech Republic has been created, and is being constantly upgraded. In addition to assessments, studies, research reports and other documents prepared to meet specific purposes and requirements, it is the set of instruments for objective assessment, as developed and made available on a systematic basis, which constitutes the fundamental part of information support for the air quality control.

One of the key components of this set of air quality monitoring and assessment tools is the database Air Quality Information System (ISKO); the priority output of processing, on an annual basis, the measured data and other information collected over the year in the ISKO database consists of the summary annual tabular survey �Air Pollution and Atmospheric Deposition in Data, the Czech Republic� (hereinafter the Tabular Survey), and this Yearbook, �Air Pollution in the Czech Republic�. These annual publications contain the measured and aggregated data for the respective preceding calendar year and basic data on the respective localities and measuring programmes. The surveys are intended mainly for use by institutions and organisations concerned with the air and environment protection in the Czech Republic. They are provided free-of-charge to state administration bodies concerned with air protection (the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic, Regional Offices of the Ministry of the Environment, Environmental Departments of the regional authorities and of local authorities in basic administrative units with enlarged competencies, and the Czech Environmental Inspectorate, including its Regional Inspectorates), to all agencies that contribute to the ISKO database, including the Regional Public Health Services and Health Institutes, and to other selected entities. Every effort is made to update and extend both the Tabular Survey and the Yearbook every year, with emphasis on information quality, data interpretation and formal aspects, based on our own knowledge and experience and the users� comments.

This Yearbook presents comprehensively in the form of tables, graphs and maps a summary overview of the status of air quality, including assessment of atmospheric deposition. While the Tabular Survey, which is published regularly before the Yearbook, provides an objective presentation of verified air pollution data and data on the chemical composition of atmospheric precipitation at individual localities, this Yearbook is focused mainly on map presentation showing the country�s territory loads caused by air pollution.
The assessment of ambient air quality is treated pursuant to the valid national legislation (Clean Air Act No. 86/2002 Coll. as amended [7] and Government Order No. 597/2006 Coll.[8]) meeting the EU directives. The evaluation is carried out with regard to human health protection and the protection of ecosystems and vegetation respectively. This is the necessary prerequisite for the definition of areas with deteriorated air quality for which programmes aimed at the improvement of air quality or regulatory codes are required by the new legislation.

The evaluation of spatial distribution of air pollution characteristics presented in the Yearbook serves as the basis for mapping and listing the areas with deteriorated air quality pursuant to Clean Air Act. The spatial mapping of air pollution characteristics on the territory of the Czech Republic uses 1x1 km grids. The maps are created on the basis of input data (i.e. measured values).

When constructing the air pollution maps for individual pollutants in the localities where there is no measurement the model-based data or experts� estimates are used. The maps are produced in cooperation with the specialists from CHMI branch offices who are acquainted with the detailed situation in the given region. The result maps of individual air quality characteristics are summed up into the maps of overall air quality assessment with regard to health protection and ecosystem and vegetation protection. These summary maps serve for the preparation of background materials for the Ministry of the Environment for defining the areas with deteriorated air quality.

In conclusion, it should be noted that this publication, but particularly the database of the measured data and metadata on which it relies have only been made possible thanks to the efforts of numerous individuals, the staff of the Institute�s branches; of its Air Quality Protection Division�s laboratories; and of cooperating organisations. In addition to the data obtained from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute�s own network and from the health institutes, the ISKO air pollution database and the database of precipitation quality receive and store every year data from ČEZ, a.s.; the Forest Management and Gamekeeping Research Institute; Czech Geological Survey (ČGS); Water Management Research Institute T.G.M. (VÚV), Hydrobiological Institute (HBÚ) and from stations of municipal authorities and other contributors. Since 1996, data for the German part of the former Black Triangle provided by Landesamt f�r Umwelt und Geologie, Dresden, have been stored in the ISKO air pollution database and presented. Since 1997 data from the border area for the Polish part provided by Wojewodski Inspektorat Ochrony Srodowiska in Jelenia Gora have also been stored. Data on the quality of atmospheric precipitation from Poland have been submitted since the second half of the 90�s by the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management.

The responsibility for the collection of data entered in the register of emissions from extra large and large pollution sources, administered within REZZO 1, rests with the Czech Environmental Inspectorate. The collection of data on emissions from medium-sized sources monitored within the REZZO 2, which represents a wide-scope activity, is the responsibility of the municipal authorities with extended competences. The data for inventories of emissions from mobile sources were processed by the experts from the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ), Transport Research Centre (CDV) Brno and Research Institute of Agricultural Technology (VÚZT) Prague. Basic topographic data were made available to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute in a digitised form by the Military Topographic Institute in Dobruška and the Czech Statistical Office. Further important information was received from the Czech Statistical Office and other institutions. For the construction of maps data from vehicle census were used, submitted by the Road and Motorway Directorate of the Czech Republic (ŘSD) and the Institute of Transportation Engineering of the City of Prague (ÚDI).

The Yearbook has been prepared and edited by a team of authors and editors of the Air Quality Protection Division of the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, particularly from the Air Quality Information System Department, the Department of Emissions and Sources, the Department of Modelling and Expert�s Reports and the Department of Impact and Risk Assessment, including the colleagues from CHMI regional offices. Assistance and important technical support have been provided by IDEA-ENVI, Ltd.

Prague, August 2008

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