Santa Ana Winds of Southern California Impact PM2.5 With and Without Smoke From Wildfires
Abstract Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) raises human health concerns since it can deeply penetrate the respiratory system and enter the bloodstream, thus potentially impacting vital organs. Strong winds transport and disperse PM2.5, which can travel over long distances. Smoke from wildfires is a ma...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
2020-01-01
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| Series: | GeoHealth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GH000225 |
| _version_ | 1818726777500991488 |
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| author | Rosana Aguilera Alexander Gershunov Sindana D. Ilango Janin Guzman‐Morales Tarik Benmarhnia |
| author_facet | Rosana Aguilera Alexander Gershunov Sindana D. Ilango Janin Guzman‐Morales Tarik Benmarhnia |
| author_sort | Rosana Aguilera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) raises human health concerns since it can deeply penetrate the respiratory system and enter the bloodstream, thus potentially impacting vital organs. Strong winds transport and disperse PM2.5, which can travel over long distances. Smoke from wildfires is a major episodic and seasonal hazard in Southern California (SoCal), where the onset of Santa Ana winds (SAWs) in early fall before the first rains of winter is associated with the region's most damaging wildfires. However, SAWs also tend to improve visibility as they sweep haze particles from highly polluted areas far out to sea. Previous studies characterizing PM2.5 in the region are limited in time span and spatial extent, and have either addressed only a single event in time or short time series at a limited set of sites. Here we study the space‐time relationship between daily levels of PM2.5 in SoCal and SAWs spanning 1999–2012 and also further identify the impact of wildfire smoke on this relationship. We used a rolling correlation approach to characterize the spatial‐temporal variability of daily SAW and PM2.5. SAWs tend to lower PM2.5 levels, particularly along the coast and in urban areas, in the absence of wildfires upwind. On the other hand, SAWs markedly increase PM2.5 in zip codes downwind of wildfires. These empirical relationships can be used to identify windows of vulnerability for public health and orient preventive measures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T22:03:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c187cf6779714d7dbb2d462aa26e59cf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2471-1403 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T22:03:36Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | American Geophysical Union (AGU) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | GeoHealth |
| spelling | doaj.art-c187cf6779714d7dbb2d462aa26e59cf2022-12-21T21:30:54ZengAmerican Geophysical Union (AGU)GeoHealth2471-14032020-01-0141n/an/a10.1029/2019GH000225Santa Ana Winds of Southern California Impact PM2.5 With and Without Smoke From WildfiresRosana Aguilera0Alexander Gershunov1Sindana D. Ilango2Janin Guzman‐Morales3Tarik Benmarhnia4Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California San Diego La Jolla CA USAScripps Institution of Oceanography University of California San Diego La Jolla CA USADepartment of Family Medicine and Public Health University of California San Diego La Jolla CA USAScripps Institution of Oceanography University of California San Diego La Jolla CA USAScripps Institution of Oceanography University of California San Diego La Jolla CA USAAbstract Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) raises human health concerns since it can deeply penetrate the respiratory system and enter the bloodstream, thus potentially impacting vital organs. Strong winds transport and disperse PM2.5, which can travel over long distances. Smoke from wildfires is a major episodic and seasonal hazard in Southern California (SoCal), where the onset of Santa Ana winds (SAWs) in early fall before the first rains of winter is associated with the region's most damaging wildfires. However, SAWs also tend to improve visibility as they sweep haze particles from highly polluted areas far out to sea. Previous studies characterizing PM2.5 in the region are limited in time span and spatial extent, and have either addressed only a single event in time or short time series at a limited set of sites. Here we study the space‐time relationship between daily levels of PM2.5 in SoCal and SAWs spanning 1999–2012 and also further identify the impact of wildfire smoke on this relationship. We used a rolling correlation approach to characterize the spatial‐temporal variability of daily SAW and PM2.5. SAWs tend to lower PM2.5 levels, particularly along the coast and in urban areas, in the absence of wildfires upwind. On the other hand, SAWs markedly increase PM2.5 in zip codes downwind of wildfires. These empirical relationships can be used to identify windows of vulnerability for public health and orient preventive measures.https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GH000225PM2.5air qualitySanta Ana windswildfire smokeSouthern California |
| spellingShingle | Rosana Aguilera Alexander Gershunov Sindana D. Ilango Janin Guzman‐Morales Tarik Benmarhnia Santa Ana Winds of Southern California Impact PM2.5 With and Without Smoke From Wildfires GeoHealth PM2.5 air quality Santa Ana winds wildfire smoke Southern California |
| title | Santa Ana Winds of Southern California Impact PM2.5 With and Without Smoke From Wildfires |
| title_full | Santa Ana Winds of Southern California Impact PM2.5 With and Without Smoke From Wildfires |
| title_fullStr | Santa Ana Winds of Southern California Impact PM2.5 With and Without Smoke From Wildfires |
| title_full_unstemmed | Santa Ana Winds of Southern California Impact PM2.5 With and Without Smoke From Wildfires |
| title_short | Santa Ana Winds of Southern California Impact PM2.5 With and Without Smoke From Wildfires |
| title_sort | santa ana winds of southern california impact pm2 5 with and without smoke from wildfires |
| topic | PM2.5 air quality Santa Ana winds wildfire smoke Southern California |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GH000225 |
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