LITTLE GEMS
What is that haze that has been covering Wisconsin?
Fires in Canada started in late April and grew more severe as May went on. It is thought that warmer conditions in eastern Canada due to global warming have increased the chances of natural fires in recent years. These fires have traditionally occurred on the country’s west coast, but this spring has seen historic fire numbers on Canada’s east coast. Fires in Canada are burning in the country’s eastern Nova Scotia providence, which is having one of its worst fire seasons on record. The Canadian military has stepped in to get the fires under control. They do not expect them to spread any further but are expected to burn through the end of June. You may have noticed the skies becoming hazy, even more so at sunset. This haze is caused by the visible particulate matter from the Canadian fires that will continue to disperse south covering much of Wisconsin.
What causes hazy skies and orange sunsets is how light passes through the atmosphere and with upper-level smoke, those tiny particles refract the longer wavelength colors such as reds and oranges. The more of the atmosphere it has to pass through, like during sunset, the more visible those colors become. As wildfires continue to scorch the southern parts of Canada, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has issued an air quality advisory for almost all of the state from time to time and will continue to do so until the fires are put out. This is because built-up smoke is starting to move down from Canada and is polluting the air in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources recommends residents reduce their time outdoors when air quality alerts resulting from Canadian wildfire smoke are in effect.
The recommendation is for anyone affected by heart or lung disease. Polluted air can trigger asthma attacks and decrease lung function but, for most people, it is safe to go outside during an alert.
Person of the Week
Peter Wilson, the wonderfully brilliant and nice new school superintendent.
