Smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to hover, casting hazy skies over areas, yet the air quality in the Philadelphia region remains unaffected.
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As the week wound down, satellite imagery revealed a colossal smoke plume stretching some 3,000 miles, traversing from Montana to the Atlantic coast. This smoke cloud, the result of multiple wildfires burning in western Canada, triggered a state of emergency and forced evacuations in Saskatchewan.
In the summer of '23, regions such as the Poconos, Jersey Shore, and Delaware Bay grappled with the adverse effects of wildfire smoke hailing from Canada. Morning Edition's Jennifer Lynn spoke with Susan Phillips, a member of our Climate Desk, about what might transpire during the upcoming summer.
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Jennifer Lynn: Ah yes, do you remember that?
Susan Phillips: How could I forget that colossal smoggy sky - and of course, all the pollution that followed suit. It may have been picturesque, but as you recall, folks with pre-existing health conditions were informed to stay indoors and avoid prolonged exposure to the outdoors.
JL: Indeed, and the air quality was dismal that summer. Can you help us understand what caused this Canadian wildfire smoke to affect our area in '23?
SP: Simply put, numerous wildfires were raging, closer to our borders compared to previous years. Quebec experienced countless wildfires on its own, and the right weather conditions tipped the scales, making the smoke sink to ground level instead of lingering aloft.
JL: The region endured smoky skies, poor air quality. It was quite startling, and our air quality meters reached levels we hadn't witnessed before.
SP: Absolutely. We experienced multiple High-Risk Air Quality days, signaling that it was unsafe for all residents to venture outside, not just the more sensitive population groups. And do you remember, Jennifer, that some areas even experienced Purple and Maroon Air Quality days – levels that very few people had previously heard of until the Canadian wildfires in '23.
JL: Yes, definitely not. So, I just want to emphasize: This year's wildfire smoke haze event will affect us differently, correct? The haze will likely remain higher in the atmosphere and have less of an impact on our air quality than previously, yes?
SP: That's correct. The National Weather Service predicts that our region's air quality won't be affected this time around.
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JL: Currently, vast swaths of Saskatchewan and Manitoba are ablaze, with over 1.7 million acres having already burned[2]. Is there any conversation around acreage yet?
SP: Indeed, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, about 1.7 million acres have torched both Saskatchewan and Manitoba so far[2].
JL: That's an astounding amount of land. Air pollution from these fires can be measured using the Air Quality Index. Can you explain exactly what this index indicates, and how it measures the quality of the air we breathe?
SP: There are numerous air monitoring stations that provide data for air sampling. The most worrying pollutant, as regards these fires, is particulate matter. Smoke generates particulate matter, and the most concerning type is PM2.5, which refers to the size of the particles. Infants, the elderly, pregnant women, and individuals with asthma or COPD are most susceptible to the harmful effects of poor air quality, and they may experience significant health issues due to such exposure.
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JL: Staying healthy during the smoky air is essential. When air quality negatively impacts our health, we're advised to be prudent, minimize exercise, and possibly wear masks or stay indoors.
SP: Yes, during the '23 Canadian wildfire event, many of us donned N95 masks and were advised to keep windows closed, run air conditioners, and take other precautions to ensure our safety.
JL: In your reporting, Susan, you've been exploring the link between wildfire season and climate change. What have you discovered about the duration and intensity of wildfire seasons that could be attributed to global warming?
SP: Climate scientists concur that climate change intensifies wildfire seasons, making them lengthier and more potent. The current situation in Canada is a prime example of this, as extreme heat and drought conditions have made the wildfires more intense[1][3].
- In her reporting, Susan Phillips has been delving into the connection between wildfire season and climate change, finding that scientists agree climate change makes wildfire seasons longer and more intense.
- This year's wildfire smoke haze event is predicted to affect our region differently than in '23, with the National Weather Service anticipating that our region's air quality won't be as affected this time around.
