air quality characteristic

in atmospheric chemistry
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.A00198
One of the quantifiable properties relating to an air sample: concentration of a @C01281@, wind speed, temperature, etc. The quantity of air quality characteristic is the true value of the characteristic being investigated; it is recognized that in practice, this value can only be approximated by existing methods.
Source:
PAC, 1990, 62, 2167. (Glossary of atmospheric chemistry terms (Recommendations 1990)) on page 2173 [Terms] [Paper]