Why is the sun red? How Gifford Fire smoke alters appearance of the sky
'Smoke from the Gifford Fire was observed high in the atmosphere above the South Coast Air Basin and Coachella Valley on Monday morning, based on satellite imagery,' said Rainbow Yeung, a spokesperson for the South Coast Air Quality Management District, in an email to the Desert Sun. 'These elevated smoke particles scatter sunlight, creating the reddish appearance of the sun and sky.'
The South Coast Air Basin encompasses portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties and all of Orange County, according to a South Coast AQMD map.
How intense this effect can be depends both on the concentration and size of smoke particles, Yeung said, and more smoke means a 'more pronounced color change.'
Smoke from wildfires has caused the sun to appear more vibrantly reddish orange to people nationwide over the years. Just this weekend, Boston's skyline took on a red hue due to wildfire smoke from Canada, the Weather Channel reported on Monday, Aug. 4.
'Once winds transport the smoke away, typically within a few hours after fire emissions subside, the sky's appearance returns to normal,' Yeung said.
Air quality monitor for SoCal: See how bad the air is near you
As of 12:50 p.m. on Aug. 4, the air quality for much of Los Angeles county and parts of Ventura County toward Santa Clarita, parts of San Bernardino County south of the San Bernardino and San Gabriel mountains, much of Riverside County and Orange County was moderate, according to the South Coast AQMD.
Some exceptions included the Desert Hot Springs area in the Coachella Valley and a swath of the Banning Pass, where the air quality was unhealthy for sensitive groups, like people with heart or lung disease, older adults and youth.
Moderate means that the air quality is 'acceptable,' although 'unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion,' according to the Air Quality Index.
Similarly, the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District is reporting an AQI of moderate in the region for two types of pollutants harmful to people's health: particulate matter smaller than 10 microns in diameter and particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter (both smaller than a strand of human hair, explains the California Air Resources Board).
Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Gifford Fire: How smoke makes sun, sky look more red in SoCal
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