Canadian wildfire smoke ... a sniff from the past

Automotive/industrial pollution spawn rising temps and drier climate, which increases forest fire numbers/severity: viscous circle.

 

we got it pretty good the last few days. fortunately, supposed to begin clearring out soon.

a couple weeks ago, we got it from the northwest, and a year or two ago, from montreal.
but nothing like people living in those areas.
i think LA has been the worst.

when i posted the m3 at 23k net in california, my liberal 35 year old son in law said, 'i like real engines'.
that's why we need legislation

 

Yes. I’m up in Toronto for work and the air is quite bad. Wore a mask all day yesterday.

 

Then there were those days for us in Northern California with the megawildfires. The red skies of 2020 I'm sure people have seen photos of red San Francisco.

 

Just a thought, the term “wildfire” seems to have replaced “forest fire” in the last year or two. Not sure why.

 

Yeah, probably because fires have expanded beyond just forests. I think I read about wildfires in Arizona desert environments.

 

... to cover the grassland and scrubland and tundra fires too.

These reminders have been striking us most recent summers. At least, on this side of the continent. Air quality maps with plenty of red, purple, and a smattering of brown warning colors.

The repeated summer wildfire smoke seasons are why I had a small supply of true N95 masks on hand before the Pandemic arrived and created an additional use for them.

 

Hi , here in the province of Québec , the situation is quite intense , more burned forest in two months this year than the total over the last ten years !
There are over 150 forest fire in activity right now in the province , no wonder americans on the est coast can smell and feel the impacts of these forest fires.

 

That’s scary, I hope you get some rain!

 

our daughter in manhattan said everyone is masking. a local friend with lung issues wound up in the er.

 

Is the smoke over there severe enough for local health agencies to begin encouraging people to make their own room air filters to reduce hazardous PM2.5 exposure in their homes? Such advice was publicized here during a severe wildfire smoke event in 2020. For homes without good filtering in a central HVAC system, the standard easy DIY design needs just a 20" box fan, a 20"x20" MERV13 (or 12, after the 13s have sold out), and duct tape or bungee cords.

2 to 4 filters will allow a higher flow rate, but significantly increases the cost and is not the best use of a limited local supply during a short term emergency. Local hardware stores here sold out of the best filters sizes within hours, I had to cobble together something with other size non-square filters.

https://pscleanair.gov/525/DIY-Air-Filter
https://deohs.washington.edu/edge/blog/how-make-box-fan-filter-clean-indoor-air-smoke
The Effectiveness of DIY Air Filtration Units | Blogs | CDC
https://cleanaircrew.org/box-fan-filters/
https://www.thisoldhouse.com/green-home/22231148/diy-air-filter
How to make a DIY air filter with a box fan to protect against covid - The Washington Post

Since then, I've been using the same basic idea, modified for much quieter and energy efficient (but costlier) fans, year-round to reduce dust inside our home, with lacks a central HVAC system to perform such filtering.

 

idk, but it seems to be improving a little. the yankees cancelled yesterdays game and are playing a double header today

 

I'm East of the Fires in Toronto...a much needed light rain is now falling ....hope it travels west to aid in controlling the blaze.We have HEPA filters running 24/7 to help out the air in the rooms we are in.

 

tesla bioweapon defense mode:

Tesla drivers are using bioweapon defense mode to escape wildfire smoke — here's how it works

 

ENSO has begun, and that leads to very dry conditions for much of Canadian forests. Continued fires are anticipated by this fella:

'Canada dry': Dave Phillips' wildfires, rain predictions | CTV News

Without referring to ENSO El Nino. "Canada dry" is cute though, I guess.

 

ciffc.net/statistics has annual hectares burned across Canada since 1983. There is no strong correlation with ENSO positive years, so that can be set aside. I don't see any strong correlation with any global periodicity I know.

Average annual burn was 2.2 million hectares 1983 through 2022. 2023 year is incomplete but already above 7.7 million hectares, more than any earlier year in this record. So yes, a flame-broiled whopper.

Highest 3 years before were 1995, 1989, 1994, all in 5 to 7 million hectare range approx.

Lowest 3 years before were 1997, 2009, 2020, all in 200 to 500 thousand hectare range approx.

Canada has 362 million hectares of forest, of which >26% has burned since 1983. Not running out yet.

 

Though not bad so far, we are expecting a severe fire season in the U.S. Pacific Northwest this year too. While winter snowpack was very heavy, spring rains were short of normal.

Some sources have already been suggesting that people here start getting for smoke and fire season. Some of these links and how-tos will also help in other regions.

PNW primed for wildfire as officials prepare for likely active season

Washington officials say now is the time to prepare for wildfire smoke

4 ways to prepare for wildfire smoke this season

(re-run from last year): Let’s get #SmokeReadyTogether June 13-17

 

The planet has had a fever since at least 2007

 

Yes .... true , but i'm bewildered that 16 years has passed and a majority of people still don't get it......
Smog alert pending...in my region