Wildfire Smoke Is Choking Western Skies

3 years ago 339

U.S.|Smoke is choking Western skies, causing health problems.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/13/us/wildfire-smoke-breathing.html

Thick, acrid smoke enveloped firefighters with the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority as they battled a brush and timber fire north of Ukiah, Calif., on Saturday.

As wildfires burned across a dozen Western states, the region’s scorching heat acquired a dystopian companion: thick, acrid smoke obscuring the sky for millions of Americans.

“Light density smoke” covered most of the western half of the United States early this week, the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration’s satellite imaging division said, with areas of “thick density smoke” stretching from California to West Texas and from Montana to New Mexico.

Much of central Canada was also blanketed in “moderate to thick density smoke.”

We've had a lot of questions about the source of our smoky skies. Here is GeoColor satellite imagery from #GOESWest of the smoke, with likely contributors annotated. The Bootleg fire in OR and Beckwourth complex in CA are main culprits, fires in ID may be contributing too #utwx pic.twitter.com/LV5ZxDveLe

— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) July 11, 2021

The smoke-filled skies led to health concerns, as states and counties issued public health advisories warning people with heart and respiratory issues, as well as older residents, to stay indoors. Wildfire smoke can include carbon monoxide and particulate matter, both of which can irritate the eyes and lungs and exacerbate existing health problems.

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