U.S. pollution regulations meant to protect people from dirty air are also saving North America’s birds, according to a new study. Improved air quality under a federal program to reduce ozone pollution may have averted the loss of 1.5 billion birds during the past 40 years, the study found. That’s nearly 20% of bird life in the United States today. Read more.
| A(n) Air Quality Action Day has been declared for Susquehanna Valley, PA, on Monday, Nov 9 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomorrow’s Forecast | ||||
| Monday, Nov 9: | 120 AQI | Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups |  |
Particle Pollution (2.5 microns) |
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| Extended Forecast | ||||
| Tuesday, Nov 10: | 65 AQI | Moderate |  |
Particle Pollution (2.5 microns) |
| Current conditions:**An Air Quality Action Day will be declared for the day Monday** Fine particulate concentrations are elevated in the code ORANGE range across most of the area this Sunday afternoon, and these levels will continue into the day Monday as a stagnant weather pattern continues. *** Monday’s forecast: A strong temperature inversion in tandem with weak low and mid level winds will allow for PM2.5 buildups during the day Monday. Code ORANGE concentrations of this pollutant are likely with mostly sunny skies and unseasonably warm temperatures. The highest concentrations will likely be across Lancaster County during the morning hours. *** Extended forecast: Air quality will improve Tuesday as a strong upper level ridge starts to break down and allows for an increase in low level winds, mixing, and dispersion. Nonetheless, moderate air quality is still likely. Further improvements to the good range will occur by Wednesday as a cold front approaches and brings an opportunity for some needed rainfall. Cooler air will follow this front late this week, with temperatures moving down closer to November normals.—McAuliffe |
* Reduce or eliminate fireplace and wood stove use.
* Avoid using gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.
* Avoid burning leaves, trash and other materials.
| Air Quality Action Day has been declared for Susquehanna Valley, PA, on Sunday, Nov 8 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forecast | ||||
| Sunday, Nov 8: | 104 AQI | Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | |
Particle Pollution (2.5 microns) |
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| Extended Forecast | ||||
| Monday, Nov 9: | 100 AQI | Moderate | |
Particle Pollution (2.5 microns) |
| Tuesday, Nov 10: | 65 AQI | Moderate | |
Particle Pollution (2.5 microns) |
| Current conditions: **An Air Quality Action Day is in effect for Sunday ** Air quality with respect to fine particulate is deteriorating this Saturday across the area as a powerfully strong ridge of high pressure builds across the commonwealth. This high is expected to hold in place through the day Sunday. The result will be very light winds, strong temperature inversions, and further PM2.5 buildups, likely into the code ORANGE range during the day Sunday, with the highest concentrations occurring during the morning hours. *** Extended forecast: The upper level high will hang on for another day on Monday with similar meteorological conditions expected which may be favorable for another code ORANGE day. We will be issuing an updated forecast later on Sunday in regard to the PM situation. The ridge will finally start breaking down and air quality improving with increasing low level flow by Tuesday, and a cold front then brings an opportunity for showers by Wednesday.—McAuliffe |
Residents and businesses within the ozone Air Quality Action Day area are strongly encouraged to voluntarily help reduce air pollution by:
• Conserving electricity by setting air conditioning to a higher temperature;
• Combining errands to reduce vehicle trips;
• Limiting engine idling; and
• Refueling cars and trucks after dusk.
Days when particle pollution levels are expected to be high:
* Reduce or eliminate fireplace and wood stove use.
* Avoid using gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.
* Avoid burning leaves, trash and other materials.
This forecast is brought to you by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP).
* For more information on the health effects of PM 2.5 and ozone, visit the EPA Airnow website.
* To see the current forecast and monitoring information for the Susquehanna valley Region, visit us online at the PA DEP Forecast and Monitoring Site.
View the recent CAB Zoom meeting where we discuss the air pollution caused by western wildfires and the readings at air quality monitors around major cities on the west coast. https://cleanairboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Wildfires.mp4
Wildfires can cause temporary large increases in outdoor airborne particles, and substantial increases in gaseous air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde. Large wildfires can increase air pollution over thousands of square kilometers [or thousands of square miles].
A high-tech sensor network brought me closer to the natural cycles of my environment.
NY Times, Sept. 4, 2020.
By
Contributing Opinion Writer
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for ozone for Monday, August 10, 2020, for the counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia in southeastern Pennsylvania, the counties of Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York in southcentral Pennsylvania, and the counties of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, […]
The Clean Air Board announced that it has installed a new air quality monitor in downtown Carlisle near the Square. The PM2.5 sensor will report its readings 24 hours a day. The real-time data can be viewed on the PurpleAir network. The PurpleAir™ sensor is a device that uses two laser particle counters to capture and record data about microscopic particulate matter (PM2.5) suspended in the air. The sensor uses WiFi connectivity to display real-time air quality readings on the PurpleAir™ Map, which is a world-wide map of monitors where data can be shared with the public.
Over the past several weeks, NASA satellite measurements have revealed significant reductions in air pollution over the major metropolitan areas of the Northeast United States. Similar reductions have been observed in other regions of the world. These recent improvements in air quality have come at a high cost, as communities grapple with widespread lockdowns and shelter-in-place orders as a result of the spread of COVID-19. Read more …
