U.S. Air Quality

Intense smoke from North Carolina Fire

Intense smoke, produced form fires in North Carolina (left image; UW MODIS Today), is still present over the Atlantic. The AOD is unity where the aerosol load is most intense. Please refer to the animated GASP map (right image; NOAA UMBC GASP IDEA). Also, it is important to note that this fire has not been contained. In fact, as of yesterday, fire conditions have intensified and there is no predicated date of containment. Regional haze is also visible over land. PM2.5 levels (bottom left; EPA AIRNow) are mostly “moderate” to “unhealthy for sensitive groups” in California and the East. Ozone (bottom right; EPA AIRNow) is also quite elevated over most of the east; the highest concentrations are in the Northeast and Southern California.