What this measures
Boner Weather Report scores real-time environmental conditions across America's 50 largest cities on a single 0–100 index reflecting their measurable impact on vascular and erectile function. The score combines five inputs: PM2.5 particle pollution, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), UV index, ambient temperature, and relative humidity.
Each input has a documented mechanism connecting it to endothelial function and nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, the primary vascular pathway underlying erectile function. Weights reflect the strength of the published research.
Data sources
| Input | Source | Frequency | Endpoint |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 AQI | EPA AirNow API | Hourly | airnowapi.org/aq/observation/latLong/current |
| NO2 AQI | EPA AirNow API | Hourly | airnowapi.org/aq/observation/latLong/current |
| UV Index | NOAA/NWS Gridpoint API | Hourly | api.weather.gov/gridpoints/{CWA}/{x},{y} |
| Temperature | NOAA/NWS Gridpoint API | Hourly | api.weather.gov/gridpoints/{CWA}/{x},{y} |
| Humidity | NOAA/NWS Gridpoint API | Hourly | api.weather.gov/gridpoints/{CWA}/{x},{y} |
Altitude is displayed per city as context (National Geodetic Survey reference elevations) but is not included in the composite score. Page data caches for 3 hours at the edge; source data queries live on each cache miss.
Scientific basis
Temperature and humidity are scored on physiological plausibility: vasoconstriction at cold extremes, cardiovascular demand at heat extremes. No single primary citation covers these inputs at the city-level ambient scale. Each carries 10% weight.
Scoring formula
Each raw value is converted to a 0–100 component score via linear interpolation between breakpoints, then weighted:
PM2.5 AQI component breakpoints
| AQI | Component score |
|---|---|
| 0 | 100 |
| 50 | 70 |
| 100 | 40 |
| 150 | 10 |
| 200+ | 0 |
UV Index component breakpoints
| UV Index | Component score | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| 0 or null | 25 | No skin NO release (nighttime or no data) |
| 1–2 (Low) | 35–60 | Minimal skin NO mobilization |
| 3–5 (Moderate) | 60–100 | Increasing NO release from skin stores |
| 6–7 (High) | 100 | Peak beneficial range (Liu 2014) |
| 8–10 (Very High) | 100–70 | Beneficial but skin oxidative burden increases |
| 11+ (Extreme) | 40–70 | Diminishing net benefit |
Conditions scale
| Label | Score range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Rock Solid | 80–100 | Conditions broadly supportive of vascular function |
| Mostly Hard | 60–79 | Minor environmental drag, within normal range |
| Variable | 40–59 | Moderate friction from one or more inputs |
| Going Soft | 20–39 | Meaningful environmental burden on vascular function |
| Flat | 0–19 | High cumulative environmental drag |
Limitations
- AirNow monitoring station coverage is uneven. Cities with fewer nearby stations may reflect a wider geographic average than the urban core.
- All inputs are current outdoor conditions. Indoor environments are not measured.
- The score is an environmental index, not a clinical prediction. It does not account for individual physiology, health status, medication, or lifestyle.
- The NO2 citation (Langrish 2012) uses controlled exposures at concentrations higher than typical ambient levels. The NO2 component is weighted at 20% partly to reflect this limitation.
- UV scoring is based on photoproduct NO release dynamics documented in skin vasodilation research. The precise dose-response for systemic erectile function is not established in the literature.
Cities included
The 50 largest US cities by metropolitan population (2020 census). Coordinates reflect city center. AirNow queries use a 50-kilometer search radius to find the nearest active reporting stations.