Smoke from Canadian wildfires is spreading across parts of the United States. Accordingly, air quality alerts in several states have been raised. The wildfires are turning the sky yellow some areas and in others raising health concerns for millions of residents.
Wildfires burning across Canada are producing vast smoke plumes that are traveling hundreds of miles south, degrading air quality far beyond the fire zones themselves.
The States affected
Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Colorado are among the states under air quality alerts, issued by the National Weather Service (NWS). Unquestionably linked to wildfire smoke, while smoke is also contributing to air quality concerns in parts of New York and potentially Illinois.
Massachusetts is also being affected by the smoke plume, with forecasters warning of hazy skies across New England. However, the greatest ground-level air quality impacts are expected farther west, Boston news station WBUR reported.
The NWS warns that wildfire smoke can lead to elevated levels of fine particle pollution (PM2.5). This can trigger breathing difficulties and aggravate asthma and heart conditions, particularly for sensitive groups. This group includes children, older adults, and people with existing respiratory illnesses.
Why Is the Sky Yellow Right Now?
Even when a wildfire is hundreds or even more than 1,000 miles away, smoke can be carried long distances by winds high in the atmosphere. Those smoke particles remain suspended in the air and change the way sunlight travels through the atmosphere. Larger smoke particles scatter and absorb shorter wavelengths of light especially blue light more effectively. Also, more effective than longer wavelengths such as yellow, orange and red. As a result, less blue light reaches your eyes, leaving the sky with a yellow, orange or sepia-colored tint.
The effect can be especially noticeable during major wildfire outbreaks because smoke spreads far beyond the fire zone itself. In recent examples, wildfire smoke from Canada traveled more than 1,000 miles into New England, turning skies yellow and reducing air quality. Meteorologists note that upper-level winds can transport smoke across multiple states. Especially when the smoke remains high above the ground, it can filter enough sunlight to create eerie yellow or orange skies. It can also dim daylight, much like an extended sunset in the middle of the day.
What Is Fueling Canada’s Wildfire Season?
The smoke affecting the United States is being generated by hundreds of active wildfires burning across Canada. According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), there are currently 836 active wildfires burning, including 194 classified as completely out of control.
The largest concentrations of fires are located across the Northwest Territories, Ontario and Quebec.
Hot, dry weather, combined with periods of strong winds and low humidity, has helped sustain fire activity across many northern regions.
The Governments Environment and Climate Change Canada has warned that above-average temperatures are expected through July and August. Basically, affecting much of the country, with particularly elevated fire danger forecast for northern Manitoba, areas around Hudson Bay, northern Ontario and parts of Quebec.
Many of Canada’s largest wildfires are caused by lightning, particularly in remote forested regions. However, human activity including campfires, vehicles, power lines and arson—remains a major source of fire ignitions.
Source: Newsweek©
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