The skies above North America are telling us we need to talk about air quality...

Our brilliant Laura Catalina Alku shares some insight on forest fires and air quality issues caused by them - a very timely issue right now.

As you read these words, the northern US and much of Canada are suffering from unhealthy air quality levels caused by smoke from wildfires in Canada. To emphasize the severity of the situation: New York City currently has the?worst air quality in the world among major cities.

Forest fires can indeed have a significant impact on air quality, primarily due to the release of smoke and various pollutants into the atmosphere. Large forest fires generate massive amounts of smoke that can travel over long distances, affecting air quality in regions far from the fire itself. The particles and pollutants can be carried by wind currents and impact populated areas, even in different countries.

Specific impacts of forest fires on air quality can vary depending on a number of factors such as fire size, proximity to populated areas, weather conditions, and the duration of the fire event.

Why is it dangerous?

Forest fires produce large amounts of particulate matter; fine particles (0.5 μm or smaller) carried by smoke can be inhaled and reach the lungs, leading to respiratory problems and intensifying existing conditions such as asthma. These same particles can also reduce visibility, endangering traffic and rescue operations.

Forest fires emit nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which can react with sunlight and other atmospheric compounds to form ground-level ozone. Ozone is a harmful pollutant that can cause respiratory problems, especially for people with pre-existing conditions.

Reliable air quality data can save lives

Unfortunately, smoke from wildfires is by far not the only significant factor impacting air quality. Globally, air pollution is one of the biggest environmental risk to health. In 2019, 99% of the world’s population was living in places where the WHO air quality guidelines levels were not met. But things do not have to be this way.

Protecting communities and safeguarding health though timely, accurate air quality monitoring is made easy with Vaisala Xweather 's air quality data. The real-time view and 72-hour forecasts for NO, NO2, SO2, O3, CO, PM2.5, and PM10 pollutants enable individuals to act proactively in events that require urgent response - just like we are witnessing right now.

Xweather air quality offerings are now available with Flex subscriptions. Access individual pollutants, AQI, and more via our API endpoint, Maps, and MapsGL . See our new air quality MapsGL layers in action in our brand-new demo.