Smoke Effects Forecast #1 Prescribed Fire Project: Mariposa Grove
Yosemite
National Park
Prepared: 10/02/16 Prepared
by: Jim McNitt, Air Resource
Specialist
Overview: The 2016 Mariposa Grove prescribed fire project is
comprised of 148 acres and is divided into six segments, four of which are in
the northern part of the grove and two in the southern part. The Mariposa Grove
is an especially significant area within Yosemite National Park, containing
about 500 mature giant sequoia trees, some close to 3,000 years old. By
maintaining fire in the Mariposa Grove, both fuels reduction and ecological
goals can be achieved. Periodic fire
occurrence plays a key role in the health and regeneration of giant sequoia.
Prescribed burning has proven to be an effective tool for ecosystem restoration
in this forest type. The Mariposa Grove is closed to the public until the
spring 2017 for the Mariposa Grove restoration project. Smoke Synopsis: Smoke dispersion will be good today as an approaching
upper-level trough increases vertical mixing and will be fair tonight after the
trough passes through Yosemite. Expect smoke transport and dispersion
conditions tomorrow to be good in the afternoon and fair at night. Smoke will
be transported to the northeast on Sunday during the day and is expected to
flow downslope overnight Sunday with light northeasterly transport winds. On
Monday afternoon smoke will be transported to the southeast. On Tuesday and
Wednesday smoke transport and dispersion will be fair. Outlook:. The low pressure system will exit the area on Monday and
leave a relatively dry northwest flow in its wake. Moderate high pressure is
expected to build in by Thursday.
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Location
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Yesterday
10/1/16
Observed*
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Day 1
10/2/16 Forecasted |
Day 2
10/3/16
Forecasted
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Details for avoiding smoke during
the worst hours of the day. Ignitions are planned on Day 1 and Day 2.
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Wawona
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Good
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Moderate
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Moderate
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People with heart or lung disease, children and older adults
should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion. Highest levels of PM2.5
will be during ignition and levels will be elevated overnight and early
morning.
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El Portal
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Good
|
Good
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Good
|
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Yosemite Valley (YV)
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Moderate
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Moderate
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Moderate
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People
with heart or lung disease, children and older adults should reduce prolonged
or heavy outdoor exertion in the morning. Campfire smoke has been causing
elevated levels of PM2.5 overnight in YV.
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Disclaimer: These predictions are based on anticipated
weather and fire activity. Air quality predictions reflect only fine
particulate matter (PM2.5).
If you experience health impacts from smoke, contact your health
professional. *The Air Quality Index (AQI) values used
to create the table are 24-hr averages (midnight-midnight local time) of data
from automated instruments. The data have not been subjected to a quality
assurance review.
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AQI Category
(PM2.5 µg/m3) |
Potential Health Impacts
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Actions to Protect Yourself
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Good (0-12)
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Little or no health risk
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None
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Moderate (13-35)
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Air quality is acceptable
for most. There may be moderate health concern for a small number of
sensitive people.
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Unusually sensitive
people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
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Unhealthy for Sensitive
Groups – USG (36-55)
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Members of sensitive
groups may experience health effects.
The general public is not likely to be affected.
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People with heart or lung
disease, children and older adults should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor
exertion. Everyone else should limit
prolonged or heavy exertion.
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Unhealthy (56-150)
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Everyone may begin to
experience more serious health effects.
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The following groups
should avoid all physical outdoor activity: People with heart or lung
disease, children and older adults.
Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion.
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Very Unhealthy
(151-250)
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Triggers a health alert, everyone may experience more serious
health effects
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Everyone should avoid any outdoor exertion; people with
respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should remain indoors.
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Hazardous (>250)
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The entire population is even more likely to be affected by
serious health effects.
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The following groups should remain indoors and keep activity
levels low: People with heart or lung disease; children and older adults.
Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion
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Air Districts http://www.arb.ca.gov/capcoa/roster.htm AirNow (AQI forecasts and nowcasts) https://www.airnow.gov
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