09.30.2019

GMAO ANIMATION
Impacts of 2019 Boreal Forest Fires on Atmospheric Pollution: Aerosol Optical Depth

Specialized tracers of carbon monoxide (CO) in GEOS can be used to give an insight about the transport of constituents emitted from the fires in North America, Europe and Russia. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) and fine particular matter (PM2.5) are also available and can be used to assess the impact of the fires on aerosol load and surface concentrations. On July 28, 2019 PM2.5 downwind from the fires was elevated, and in some locations exceeded 100 mg/m3. On that date, smoke from the Siberian fires was carried westward over Alaska and Canada, whereas smoke from the fires in Alaska was transported eastward and towards the North Pole. Read More.