tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post5495029415920017820..comments2024-03-27T22:27:18.446-07:00Comments on Washington Smoke Information: Where are you when we need you most, O clean marine air? Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02805458767756368831noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-7663578499385349692020-09-15T08:19:41.004-07:002020-09-15T08:19:41.004-07:00Thank you for all your stellar information. I live...Thank you for all your stellar information. I live in Sequim on the ocean and it it difficult ascertaining marine air from smoke, you made it very clear! Can you clear the air as well? !Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05351220036795832077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-42362524202082133422020-09-14T18:25:39.551-07:002020-09-14T18:25:39.551-07:00Yours is a lot more fun to read than Oregon's ...Yours is a lot more fun to read than Oregon's is!Viv Ilo Veithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16144749509147619531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-88123156768208224142020-09-14T13:23:28.056-07:002020-09-14T13:23:28.056-07:00For information on evacuations, follow local news ...For information on evacuations, follow local news and local emergency management for updates (Pierce County: https://www.co.pierce.wa.us/104/Emergency-Management). Surgical and other cloth face masks generally do not provide much protection against wildfire smoke. They may help a small amount, but won’t filter out the fine particles or hazardous gasses in smoke.Kaitlyn Kelly (WA DOH)https://www.blogger.com/profile/12246858757712639687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-51109161727692993202020-09-14T12:52:42.371-07:002020-09-14T12:52:42.371-07:00Make sure to uncheck "indoor sensors". ...Make sure to uncheck "indoor sensors". That should get rid of the green dots.Farren Herron-Thorpe (WA Ecology)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01975354707895555060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-57144615872590229852020-09-14T12:47:42.546-07:002020-09-14T12:47:42.546-07:00yes, I'm wondering the same thing. Also wonder...yes, I'm wondering the same thing. Also wondering, besides wet towels on window cracks (not open, but not a perfect seal either) would a moist/wet towel in front of a fan work?nlohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00189011723484040397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-33457050532622770102020-09-14T12:46:02.093-07:002020-09-14T12:46:02.093-07:00Thanks for all the information. btw, is there a re...Thanks for all the information. btw, is there a reason why purpleair continuously shows UW as having cleaner air than around it? Drove by it and it seemed as bad as elsewhere<br /><br />https://www.purpleair.com/map?opt=1/mAQI/a10/cC0#10.51/47.6395/-122.2347nlohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00189011723484040397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-31862195121451147692020-09-14T10:25:28.455-07:002020-09-14T10:25:28.455-07:00Oregon has a smoke blog too! http://oregonsmoke.b...Oregon has a smoke blog too! http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/ Farren Herron-Thorpe (WA Ecology)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01975354707895555060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-46140445765396938342020-09-14T08:52:58.445-07:002020-09-14T08:52:58.445-07:00DOE uses WAQA, which is more protective than AQI (...DOE uses WAQA, which is more protective than AQI (used on this blog and EPA sites). WAQA uses lower PM2.5 concentration thresholds to go from one health category to the next.Farren Herron-Thorpe (WA Ecology)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01975354707895555060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-40037628230899289222020-09-14T08:50:09.226-07:002020-09-14T08:50:09.226-07:00I'm wondering why DOE's map is slightly di...I'm wondering why DOE's map is slightly different than this one? For example, the map at the top of this page shows the monitoring site nearest me (Lacey-College Street) with a reading of very unhealthy, whereas the DOE's map picking up data from the very same site shows the reading as hazardous.Larry Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17555891582251885904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-46224226256020394442020-09-14T08:18:34.946-07:002020-09-14T08:18:34.946-07:00WAQA (Ecology map) and AQI (this blog and EPA) are...WAQA (Ecology map) and AQI (this blog and EPA) are on different scales. WAQA is more protective of health so WAQA will often show worse levels than AQI. Currently AQI is Very Unhealthy in Vancouver and WAQA would likely show hazardous (WAQA is not loading for me right now). To complicate things it looks like the WAQA maxes out at 500 while AQI goes higher (though still just called hazardous). Also, keep in mind many sites show a Nowcast value instead of the last hourly reading. Without details on what you are exactly looking at it's tough to comment. Vancouver could see a little relief tomorrow night, but you are close to many fires. Thursday looks promising. Farren Herron-Thorpe (WA Ecology)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01975354707895555060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-27734503671887559102020-09-14T07:55:49.374-07:002020-09-14T07:55:49.374-07:00Thank you for this info. I figured we had "sa...Thank you for this info. I figured we had "saturated" the sensors over here (E. WA) when they all started going off line on Saturday afternoon. Be interesting to know how bad it really got, or maybe I don't need to know that :-)<br />Keep up the good work.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07927944057415502777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-43039362703658043252020-09-14T06:31:31.130-07:002020-09-14T06:31:31.130-07:00Thanks team! You're providing good info in a d...Thanks team! You're providing good info in a difficult time! Way to go.cullen stephensonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-64309956244624669702020-09-14T05:54:35.081-07:002020-09-14T05:54:35.081-07:00There are different AQI websites that read mid 300...There are different AQI websites that read mid 300's and some that read mid 500's (currently at 5:54am). Which ones are accurate? I'm in Vancouver Washington. When will we start getting relief? Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00081687388336855350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-18733601747083785772020-09-14T05:51:14.796-07:002020-09-14T05:51:14.796-07:00Ranil, a zillion continued thanks from me too for ...Ranil, a zillion continued thanks from me too for the work you are doing. I so enjoy your updates - the tone, your style of writing, and the information. And thank you for explaining why Issaquah and other spots looked like they were oases in the murk. Viv Ilo Veithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16144749509147619531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-5442062161476052632020-09-14T05:14:20.428-07:002020-09-14T05:14:20.428-07:00Not today or tomorrow, sorry :(Not today or tomorrow, sorry :(Ranil Dhammapala- WA Ecologyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00033454794927507547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-50516537516907678932020-09-14T05:14:07.056-07:002020-09-14T05:14:07.056-07:00Not today or tomorrow, sorry :(Not today or tomorrow, sorry :(Ranil Dhammapala- WA Ecologyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00033454794927507547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-80549424659196298392020-09-13T22:29:37.674-07:002020-09-13T22:29:37.674-07:00I have a trip planned to Bend,OR this coming weeke...I have a trip planned to Bend,OR this coming weekend (9/18), can you please comment on the weather conditions in Bend? Will it be smoky or some relief is expected by Friday?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-12422522843471397322020-09-13T21:35:50.653-07:002020-09-13T21:35:50.653-07:00Air quality is hazardous in Tacoma. Is there any c...Air quality is hazardous in Tacoma. Is there any chance of evacuations, and where would that information be posted? Would a surgical mask be better than nothing to wear around the house? We couldn’t get anything beyond a small, potentially useless air purifier. No N95s.Alana Saltzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11701556581883149347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-21803769037748418702020-09-13T21:03:44.452-07:002020-09-13T21:03:44.452-07:00Thank you for this incredibly helpful resource - r...Thank you for this incredibly helpful resource - really appreciate your work, especially over the weekend! Marmothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08429322953183499230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-33284189398261468442020-09-13T20:04:21.163-07:002020-09-13T20:04:21.163-07:00Hi! For Eastern Wa (Lake Roosevelt/Sherman Pass ar...Hi! For Eastern Wa (Lake Roosevelt/Sherman Pass area) do you think we'll see "yellow" on our map by early Tuesday morning? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-46611103015838732142020-09-13T19:59:44.544-07:002020-09-13T19:59:44.544-07:00During these kinds of wildfire smoke events, I che...During these kinds of wildfire smoke events, I check your site plus AirNow.gov plus Windfinder almost hourly. The National Weather Service is also helpful. We are indeed lucky to have such sterling information at our fingertips to help planning as well as to reinforce what our eyes and noses tell us - that it's pretty yucky outside (smile). Thank you!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03837112140039401862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-58886627465980808592020-09-13T19:30:55.306-07:002020-09-13T19:30:55.306-07:00Thank you for your thoughtful response. Thank you for your thoughtful response. Diananoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-65924608653760075802020-09-13T19:27:27.773-07:002020-09-13T19:27:27.773-07:00When will we see some improvement in the Vancouver...When will we see some improvement in the Vancouver and Camas areas of SW Washington? The fog and smog are terrible today.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01437924655804946298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-13231312655608892652020-09-13T19:16:09.445-07:002020-09-13T19:16:09.445-07:00Does it look like Clark County/ Vancouver area wil...Does it look like Clark County/ Vancouver area will show some improvement on Monday? We are off the charts Sunday evening.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01437924655804946298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325117526675950090.post-18040869788928874452020-09-13T18:54:29.893-07:002020-09-13T18:54:29.893-07:00Hi Diana, a good suggestion but I cant see how aer...Hi Diana, a good suggestion but I cant see how aerosol science supports this. Higher humidity causes particle to grow in size. This means:<br />(1) increased deposition velocity, but that alone is not sufficient to remove particles in large enough amounts. <br />(2) slightly more efficient filtration of larger particles by the human respiratory system, but particles need to grow a lot before this amounts to anything meaningful.<br /><br />The moisture layer tends to help the lungs better absorb water soluble organic compounds adhered on to particle surfaces, increasing their toxicity somewhat. However aged smoke particles are already moist, so I dont know if further moisture does any damage.<br /><br />So while I couldnt claim it is counterproductive (unless you're using a smoky stove), it is not going to do you a whole lot of good. Ranil Dhammapala- WA Ecologyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00033454794927507547noreply@blogger.com