Last week I mentioned that a lot of people use visual observations
to gauge air quality. When sunlight encounters tiny pollution particles (in
this case from smoke), it reduces the clarity and color of what we see.
Sunlight is absorbed, shifted, or scattered when it hits these tiny pollution
particles. As the amount of tiny pollution particles in the air increases (in
this case from increasing amounts of smoke), the more the light is absorbed,
shifted, or scattered and the hazier the sky will look.
While
it’s still nice (not smoky anyway) go outside and pick a landmark that you know
the distance of. Use this spot to help you figure out the AQI if you aren’t
able to get it from any other media sources (perhaps you’re lucky enough to be
enjoying yourself far from civilization and have no cell service or other way
to access the google machine). So before you leave here, check out the chart
below about using visibility to gauge the air quality and adjust your plans
accordingly. Happy adventuring!
|
AQI
Category
|
Visibility
(miles)
|
|
Good
|
11+
|
|
Moderate
|
6-10
|
|
Unhealthy
for Sensitive Groups
|
3-5
|
|
Unhealthy
|
1½ -2¾
|
|
Very Unhealthy
|
1-1¼
|
|
Hazardous
|
Less than 1
|
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