U.S. Air Quality

Healthy Conditions Across Most of the U.S.

Healthy air quality conditions were experienced across much of the U.S today.While the ozone levels across the entire country were Code Green (Good) today, there were some exceptions for the PM2.5 levels in some spots of the country (below, courtesy of AIRNow). Code Yellow (Moderate) levels were reported on the west coast; mainly in California and Oregon. Late in the day, Code Orange (Unhealthy for sensitive groups) was reported in northwest Oregon. In between 2:00AM to 5:00AM (06:00 to 09:00 UTC), PM2.5 levels in Idaho evolved from Code Yellow, to Code Red (Unhealthy). A closer look at this can be seen here.

The MODIS Terra AOD map (IDEA) shows low AOD throughout the country. NOAA's Hazard Mapping System (HMS, below) reports several fires in western Oregon, near the area where the Code Orange PM2.5 was reported late today. Smoke is reported in New Mexico, Arizona, and off the coast in Texas. The MODIS Active Fire Mapping Program's large incident map reports two fires; one in central Washington, the other in northern Oregon, here.

  Posted by Jaime Compton at October 16, 2009 11:02 PM