U.S. Air Quality

Intense haze continued in Central California

Beautiful view from MODIS Aqua of the continuing and intensifying haze in central California (click on the image to get the full effect). Notice also the haze blowing out over the Pacific Ocean. EPA's Air Quality Index was well into Code Orange throughout the region.

According to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, at 2 pm PST today, the PM2.5 hourly concentration in Fresno was 77 ug/m3 and Bakersfield 67 ug/m3. The 24 hour average yesterday was 62 ug/m3, approaching EPA's daily PM2.5 compliance limit of 65 ug/m3. They are predicting code red (> 65 ug/m3) tomorrow for Fresno and Visalia.

UPDATE: As of 8 pm PST, hourly PM2.5 concentrations in Fresno, Bakersfield, and Visalia were 83-85 ug/m3.

Posted by Jill Engel-Cox at December 2, 2004 6:51 PM