Smoke map california series#
Smoke map california windows#

“This amount of smoke is extremely unusual,” said Michael Garay, an air quality researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Unhealthy air was also reported in Southern California and the Sacramento and Napa Valleys.

In fact, atmospheric testing showed Northern California had the worst air quality in the world on that day. On August 19, air quality monitors reported unhealthy levels of pollution across California as the smoke tinged skies with red haze. In this case, GEOS-FP assimilated fire and aerosol observations with meteorological data on air temperature, moisture, and winds to project the behavior and extent of the plume. The black carbon data come from the GEOS forward processing (GEOS-FP) model, which assimilates data from satellite, aircraft, and ground-based observing systems. Black carbon can harm humans and other animals by entering the lungs and bloodstream it also plays a role in global warming.

The map below shows the concentration of black carbon particulates-commonly called soot-at 12:30 a.m. Long-term exposure to air pollution can also contribute to heart disease and cancer. Known as aerosols, these solid and liquid particles can degrade air quality and cause breathing and lung problems, particularly for people with asthma. Wildfire smoke is dangerous because it carries tiny, harmful particles into the air.

Smoke map california series#

GOES-17 is operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) NASA helps develop and launch the GOES series of satellites. In the morning of Augin California, the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 17 (GOES-17) captured a natural-color image of the smoke (above). Smoke has spread across large swaths of the western United States and the Pacific Ocean. The fires, which have been exacerbated by a historic heatwave, have burned more than 300,000 acres (1,200 square kilometers) in the state since August 16, 2020. Although it may seem like a quick way to clear a property, the joint advisory told residents to not use leaf blowers to clean away ash because airborne ash can have negative health consequences.Ĭalifornia isn't the only state feeling the effects of the wildfires and maps released by the NOAA on Monday showed smoke caused by the wildfires traveling across the United States to Maine.After more than 10,000 lightning strikes in 72 hours, hundreds of wildfires erupted across California, particularly in the northern part of the state.

Smoke map california windows#

Coughing, watery and itchy eyes and difficulty in breathing were categorized as aggravated symptoms.Īlong with remaining indoors, the joint advisory recommended that all residents keep doors and windows closed as much as possible and wear a mask rated N-95 or better if they have to go outside. The statement explained that everyone could experience discomfort from the reduction in air quality, but people who are young, elderly, pregnant, smoke or have a respiratory condition are at greater risk for more aggravated symptoms. The advisory said unhealthy to very unhealthy conditions are possible through the weekend because the Camp Fire is still active. On Wednesday, the Butte County Air Quality Management District and the Butte County Public Health Department issued a joint air quality advisory to inform the public of the poor air quality and potential health hazards. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration When air quality is very unhealthy, visibility is reduced to under 1.25 miles.Ī map released by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) showed the worst of the smoke to be near San Francisco and Sacramento, California, with between 60-100 micrograms of smoke per cubic meter of air.Ĭalifornia's recent string of wildfires is causing the air quality to be reduced, prompting possible health concerns for residents. Visibility has also been affected by the increase in smoke and during hazardous conditions visibility will be less than three-quarters of a mile. Very unhealthy air is considered to be air that ranges from 201 to 300 on the AQI. When air is considered to be at a very unhealthy level, people with heart or lung disease, older adults and children should avoid outdoor activities. To put the numbers in perspective, the AQI tops out at 500.

The areas of Chico, California, Sacramento, California, and Arden-Arcade, California, all had a very unhealthy air quality at 242, 229 and 215 respectively.

A color-coded map shows the air quality across the United States following the burning of multiple wildfires in California.