Assessing values of air quality and visibility at risk from wildland fires.

Sue A. Ferguson; Steven J. McKay; David E. Nagel; Trent Piepho; Miriam Rorig; Casey Anderson; Lara Kellogg

doi:10.2737/PNW-RP-550

Treesearch

Assessing values of air quality and visibility at risk from wildland fires.

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Sue A. Ferguson, Steven J. McKay, David E. Nagel, Trent Piepho, Miriam Rorig, Casey Anderson, Lara Kellogg

Year:

2003

Type:

Research Paper

Station:

Pacific Northwest Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/PNW-RP-550

Source:

Res. Pap. PNW-RP-550. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 59 p

Download (PDF 6.47 MB)

Download (PDF 6.47 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/5374.pdf

Abstract

To assess values of air quality and visibility at risk from wildland fire in the United States, we generated a 40-year database that includes twice daily values of wind, mixing height, and a ventilation index that is the product of windspeed and mixing height. The database provides the first nationally consistent map of surface wind and ventilation index. In addition, it is the longest climate record of mixing height in the country. We built the database into an interactive ventilation climate information system that allows users to assess risk based on frequency patterns of poor, marginal, fair, and good ventilation conditions.

Keywords

ventilation climate information system, ventilation index, air quality, visibility, mixing height, windspeed, wind direction, smoke

Citation

Ferguson, Sue A.; McKay, Steven J.; Nagel, David E.; Piepho, Trent; Rorig, Miriam L.; Anderson, Casey; Kellogg, Lara. 2003. Assessing values of air quality and visibility at risk from wildland fires. Res. Pap. PNW-RP-550. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 59 p