U.S. Air Quality

Moderate Air Quality over the Ohio River Valley. Reconsideration of National Smog Standards.

Good air quality day was experienced throughout most of the nation. Code Yellow (Moderate) PM2.5 concentrations persisted in the Midwest, and Code Green (Good) elsewhere. NOAA's Hazard Mapping System reports that remenant smoke of the British Columbia fires was across portions of the Ohio Valley as well as the central and north central US. This smoke might have led to the high AOD recorded by MODIS Terra over these regions and may be impacting air quality at the surface. Nevertheless NRL Monterey Aerosol Modeling Forecast shows that from the south central region to the mid-Atlantic states sulfate aerosols could also be playing a role.

Finally, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced that the agency would reconsider the 2008 primary and secondary ozone standards. Primary and secondary air quality standards are set to protect public health, welfare and the environment.