Forest Fire Effects on Air Quality in Ontario: Evaluation of Several Recent Examples

Abstract

Several events were studied to examine the sources of smoke and pollutants that may affect air quality in Ontario as well as the transport mechanisms that result in effects on ground-level air quality. The selected events were strongly suspected of being influenced by forest fire smoke plumes and the evaluation of the events in this study confirmed (to a high degree of confidence) that smoke made a contribution to the measured pollutants. The main satellite-based remote-sensing product that correlated well with wildfire smoke plumes was carbon monoxide column amount.

Concentrations, sources and exposure risks associated with particulate matter in the Middle East Area—a review

“…The wildfires emit hydrocarbon compounds producing secondary particles (Jimenez et al 2009). Dempsey (2013), confirmed with a high degree of confidence that smoke made a contribution to the PM measured pollutants. The study pointed wildfires in central or western Canada as the sources of the smoke causing increased concentrations of PM 2.5 that were detected by air quality monitoring networks, such as in Ontario.…”

Impacts of upwind wildfire emissions on CO, CO2, and PM2.5 concentrations in Salt Lake City, Utah

“…A similar situation was observed when smoke from wildfires in northern Saskatchewan was transported over Toronto, resulting in elevated levels of PM 2.5 and O 3 [ Dempsey , ]. If the passage of a smoke plume occurs in an urban area during the morning or afternoon rush hours, when traffic emissions are maximized, very high CO concentrations can be observed [ Debell et al ., ; Sapkota et al ., ; Dempsey , ].…”

“…During this period, CO and PM 2.5 monitoring stations across the Northeast noted elevated concentrations, which occurred during the passage of the smoke plumes originating from the Quebec wildfires [ Debell et al ., ; Sapkota et al ., ]. A similar situation was observed when smoke from wildfires in northern Saskatchewan was transported over Toronto, resulting in elevated levels of PM 2.5 and O 3 [ Dempsey , ]. If the passage of a smoke plume occurs in an urban area during the morning or afternoon rush hours, when traffic emissions are maximized, very high CO concentrations can be observed [ Debell et al ., ; Sapkota et al ., ; Dempsey , ].…”

The 2013 Rim Fire: Implications for Predicting Extreme Fire Spread, Pyroconvection, and Smoke Emissions

“…Many smoke plumes are confined to the boundary layer, compromising visibility and air quality locally. Air quality and visibility, therefore, can be negatively affected at locations far downwind of the source (e.g., Sapkota et al 2005;Wang et al 2006Wang et al , 2013Dempsey 2013;Campbell et al 2015, unpublished manuscript), including central Canada during the Rim Fire (http://alg.umbc.edu /usaq/archives/2013_08.html). Air quality and visibility, therefore, can be negatively affected at locations far downwind of the source (e.g., Sapkota et al 2005;Wang et al 2006Wang et al , 2013Dempsey 2013;Campbell et al 2015, unpublished manuscript), including central Canada during the Rim Fire (http://alg.umbc.edu /usaq/archives/2013_08.html).…”