Pollen monitoring network

At each of the 14 measuring stations there is a volumetric pollen trap. With the aid of a pump, this pollen trap sucks in ten litres of air per minute through an opening measuring 14 x 2 mm. Behind this entry slot is a rotating drum on which there is a plastic strip coated with silicone. The pollen and other organic and inorganic particles that have been sucked in with the air stick to this strip. The drum is changed once a week and then sent to one of two analysis centres in Zurich and Payerne. Once there, the strip, which is cut into seven separate days, is used to prepare the daily pollen counts for the week. The types of pollen are identified and counted under the microscope. Apart from pollen, other organic particles, such as fungal spores, are also found on the object carrier, as well as various inorganic particles, such as sand from the Sahara desert or specks of soot.

Thanks to time-consuming, manual analysis, the pollen data from all 14 measuring stations is available on the Wednesday of the following week and there for you to retrieve in the Swiss Pollen Bulletin.