Forecast Discussion: Light winds this morning have limited pollutant dispersion in the Sacramento region, allowing particle levels to increase. Therefore, despite moderate northwesterly winds dispersing some pollutants this afternoon, particle levels will be low-Moderate. Tomorrow, surface high pressure building over the Pacific Northwest will generate moderate to strong northwesterly afternoon winds in Sacramento, dispersing pollutants and lowering particle levels to Good. Friday, light to moderate northwesterly winds will continue to disperse pollutants in the Sacramento region. In addition, pollutant carryover from Thursday will be low. Therefore, particle levels will remain Good.
Auburn - Current Conditions
Air Quality Index (AQI)
observed at 17:00 PDT
30
Good
Health Message: None
AQI - Pollutant Details
Ozone
30
Good
Particles (PM2.5)
29
Good
Sacramento - Air Quality Forecast
Today's High
Tomorrow's High
Air Quality Index (AQI)
Moderate
Health Message: Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.
Air Quality Index (AQI)
Good
Health Message: None
AQI - Pollutant Details
Particles (PM2.5)
Moderate
Particles (PM2.5)
Good
Forecast Discussion: Light winds this morning have limited pollutant dispersion in the Sacramento region, allowing particle levels to increase. Therefore, despite moderate northwesterly winds dispersing some pollutants this afternoon, particle levels will be low-Moderate. Tomorrow, surface high pressure building over the Pacific Northwest will generate moderate to strong northwesterly afternoon winds in Sacramento, dispersing pollutants and lowering particle levels to Good. Friday, light to moderate northwesterly winds will continue to disperse pollutants in the Sacramento region. In addition, pollutant carryover from Thursday will be low. Therefore, particle levels will remain Good.
Sacramento - Current Conditions
Air Quality Index (AQI)
observed at 17:00 PDT
46
Good
Health Message: None
AQI - Pollutant Details
Particles (PM2.5)
46
Good
Ozone
31
Good
Reno - Air Quality Forecast
Today's High
Tomorrow's High
Air Quality Index (AQI)
Moderate
Health Message: Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.
Air Quality Index (AQI)
Moderate
Health Message: Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.
AQI - Pollutant Details
Particles (PM2.5)
Moderate
Particles (PM10)
Moderate
Ozone
Good
Particles (PM2.5)
Moderate
Particles (PM10)
Moderate
Ozone
Good
Reno - Current Conditions
Air Quality Index (AQI)
observed at 17:00 PDT
35
Good
Health Message: None
AQI - Pollutant Details
Ozone
35
Good
Particles (PM2.5)
14
Good
San Francisco - Air Quality Forecast
Today's High
Tomorrow's High
Air Quality Index (AQI)
Moderate
Health Message: Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.
Air Quality Index (AQI)
Good
Health Message: None
AQI - Pollutant Details
Particles (PM2.5)
Moderate
Particles (PM2.5)
Good
San Francisco - Current Conditions
Air Quality Index (AQI)
observed at 17:00 PDT
58
Moderate
Health Message: Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.
PM2.5: size of the particle measured in micrometers
Pm0.1 (Altra Fine Particles), PM2.5 (Fine Particles) and PM10 (Course Particles) are the 3 main sizes of particles.
PM2.5 which incudes all sizes up to 2.5
is the most dangerous because it cause more damage to the lung than larger particules. When you cough or swallow your body is trying to get rid of particulate matter that has been trapped in your lung by mucous that was produced for that job.
Tiny hairs move the mucous and particles out of the lungs to the back of the throat where you then will cough it out. Smaller particles however, cannot be moved out of the lungs but become trapped by special cells that keep them there.
If these toxic particles do become trapped in the lungs, they can cause lung disease, lung cancer, emphysema, etc. Though the smaller particles may cause the most damage to the lungs, both PM2.5 and PM10 can cause a series of respiratory
health problems (occurring within the lungs and airway). Due to the fact that PM2.5 is smaller and often much more toxic (metals and cancerous material) than PM10 it causes more damage to the lungs because it travels deeper.
PM10 (course Particules)
Smoke, Dirt, and Dust from Factories Farming and Roads
Molds, Spores, and Pollen
PM2.5 (Fine Particules)
Toxic Organic Compounds (Such as Smog)
Heavy metals
These examples of PM2.5 are made by burning fossil fuels, fires, and smelting and processing metals.
Ground-level Ozone
Definition: Ground—level ozone is ozone present as a secondary pollutant in the lower atmosphere, where its formation can be enhanced by other pollutants. It is highly toxic at levels above 0.1 parts per million (p.p.m.).
Ground level Ozone: Or Smog is located in the troposphere, or the air closest to the earths surface. Ground-level ozone has the same chemical structure as that of Ozone located higher
in the atmosphere. Ground-level Ozone is an air pollutant that damages human health along with crops, trees and other vegitation. Ground-level ozone is formed when two types of pollutants react in the presence of sunlight. This Ozone is created chemically from many factors such as Motor Vehicle Exhaust and Industrial Emissions,
Gasoline Vapors, as well as Natural Sources that omit NOx and VOC into the air. Sunlight and warm weather can cause harmfull concentrations in the air which is why Air Quality is particularly dangerous during summer months. The air we
breathe is made up of Two oxygen atoms(O2) while Ozone is made up of three oxygen atoms(O3) making it increasingly dangerous to breathe. This is why it is important to monitor the air quality
Stratosphere Ozone:
This is Ozone located 6-30 miles up in the air in the stratosphere. This layer blocks harmful UV rays from reaching the earths surface. See UV radiation Page
This is also known as "good Ozone"
Air Quality Index
Protect Your Health
Good
(0-50)
No health impacts are expected when air quality is in this range.
Moderate
(51-100)
Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
(101-150)
The following groups should limit prolonged outdoor exertion:
People with lung disease, such as asthma
Children and older adults
People who are active outdoors
Unhealthy
(151-200)
The following groups should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion:
People with lung disease, such as asthma
Children and older adults
People who are active outdoors
Everyone else should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
Very Unhealthy
(201-300)
The following groups should avoid all outdoor exertion:
People with lung disease, such as asthma
Children and older adults
People who are active outdoors
Everyone else should limit outdoor exertion.
Hazardous
(301-500)
Health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.