Unhealthy PM2.5 AQI levels in California
Unhealthy and Moderate PM2.5 concentrations were recorded throughout several locations in California, as shown in the combined ozone and PM2.5 EPA AQI animation (top left image) and the PM2.5 timeseries (top right image, courtesy of airnowtech.org. High AOD over California (~0.4), recorded by MODIS Terra (bottom left image, overlaid with EPA AQI levels on Google Earth) coincide with the locations where the high PM2.5 were recorded. Haze over California was captured in today's MODIS Terra "true color image"(bottom right image), which might have contributed to the high PM2.5 readings, as well as remenant smoke from yesterday's brush fires that scorched about 50 acres along the Pomona Freeway.
An opposite scenario was experienced in the Mid-Atlantic US states. Good PM2.5 AQI levels were experienced, with low AOD and PM2.5 concentrations below 15 ug/m3 recorded throughout Maryland.
Posted by Ruben Delgado at November 4, 2009 10:06 PM
