Latest news with #CleanAirForce
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Why the beautiful blue sky has become more hazy
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The haze has returned to our beautiful azure blue Central Texas sky. Why? There's a simple explanation. This is the season for agricultural burning in Mexico. This 'burning season' for our southern neighbors occurs during Mexico's dry season, which is essentially from the middle to March until May. The wet season in Mexico begins in June. This is the time when the farmers clear the land of unwanted vegetation, allowing for nutrients to return to their soils. This burning of the land also serves to help increase crops and grasses for the pastures. But this comes at a price to us here in Central Texas. When the wind comes out of the north, the area won't see any of this smoke. When the area's winds are coming out of the south, it allows for this smoke to easily come across the border to affect our sky. The smoke causes deteriorating air quality. It's not just ozone that causes poor air quality, but fine particulate matter, too. It has been mentioned many times in interviews with air quality experts, including the Clean Air Force of Central Texas, that fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, is very small. It's smaller than a hair follicle. The diminutive size of this, as it is airborne, allows it to travel deep into a person's respiratory tract, reaching the lungs. So, for as long as this seasonal agriculture burning continues, and in conjunction with a prevailing south wind, the air quality will likely stay at moderate levels while also contributing to that hazy sky. Another factor is at play as it pertains to this springtime haze. Did you know that the high humidity also contributes to the haze? Humid days with sunshine make it easier for the sky to keep the fine particulate matter hovering in our area. The increased moisture will hold this fine particulate matter for days. Wildfires can cause a hazy sky. The smoke from wildfires is made up of 'a mixture of gaseous pollutants' like carbon monoxide, along with water vapor, and that same particle pollution. It's the particle pollution that, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, is the main 'ingredient' of wildfire smoke as well as the main public health threat. It's on days like the area saw on Friday, March 16, where it's suggested that those with asthma, seasonal allergies, and other respiratory issues limit their outdoor activities. Those with these kinds of issues go from such short-term effects as coughing, sneezing, and shortness of breath to long-term effects far more serious, including an increased risk of heart and lung issues. So, what's creating this haze? A south wind is blowing fine particulate matter from the agricultural burning in Mexico, along with the higher humidity. But just as the burning season ends, another season begins. We're not too far away from still another factor that will make the sky hazy, and that is the dust that blows across the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf from Africa. The Saharan Dust Layer begins to arrive in the middle of June. It lingers on and off until the middle of August. We'll address that when it gets here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Central Texas' air quality could use improvement
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The American Lung Association has, for 26 years, analyzed data from air quality monitors to compile the State of the Air report. Part of the goal of this report is to make citizens aware of the air they breathe in order to protect their health. Rich Segal spoke with Clean Air Force Executive Director Jim Stephens about the 2025 report. Stephens cited statistics and reasons for the grade this area received, along with potential solutions that could improve the grade. The report looks at levels of ozone 'smog'—the air pollutant affecting the largest number of people in the country. Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metro grading This year, the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metro area ranked 46th worst in the nation for ozone pollution. The ranking was based on this area's worst county average of the number of unhealthy days. In Travis County specifically, the number of unhealthy days was 5.7 per year, a grade of F. Last year, that number was 2.3 days, a grade of D. The second category tracked short-term particulate pollution, which can be extremely dangerous and worse. Austin-Round-San Marcos ranked 156th worst in the nation for short-term particle pollution, which was equivalent to a B grade. This was, however, better than the 2024 ranking of 101st worst, also a B grade. When combined, Travis County received a grade of F for pollution levels above the federal standard. The area ranks 39th worst in the nation, worse than last year's report, which showed the area as being the 54th worst. What contributed to this failing grade? The increase in the area's population means there are more cars on the roads, leading to belching exhaust from tailpipes … ozone. Construction projects continue to multiply, causing dust to enter the atmosphere … particulate matter. Add to that the fine particulate matter that affects the area from the seasonal agricultural burning that drifts north from Mexico and Central America. And, there's also the fine particulate matter from the Saharan dust layer. As the country observes Air Quality Awareness Week (May 5-9), there are ways to mitigate this and to improve the grade. One is to think about purchasing electric cars and hybrids. Consider filling your gas tank early in the morning or late in the day. Stephens cites an even bigger reason for the failing grade. Idling cars lead to increasing levels of ozone. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
