Pacific Northwest Research Station

Title: Assessing values of air quality and visibility at risk from wildland fires.

Author: Ferguson, Sue A.; McKay, Steven J.; Nagel, David E.; Piepho, Trent; Rorig, Miriam L.; Anderson, Casey; Kellogg, Lara.

Date: 2003

Source: Res. Pap. PNW-RP-550. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 59 p

Station ID: RP-PNW-550

Description: To assess values of air quality and visibility at risk from wildland fire in the United States, we generated a 40-year database that includes twice daily values of wind, mixing height, and a ventilation index that is the product of windspeed and mixing height. The database provides the first nationally consistent map of surface wind and ventilation index. In addition, it is the longest climate record of mixing height in the country. We built the database into an interactive ventilation climate information system that allows users to assess risk based on frequency patterns of poor, marginal, fair, and good ventilation conditions.

Keywords: ventilation climate information system, ventilation index, air quality, visibility, mixing height, windspeed, wind direction, smoke

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Citation

Ferguson, Sue A.; McKay, Steven J.; Nagel, David E.; Piepho, Trent; Rorig, Miriam L.; Anderson, Casey; Kellogg, Lara.  2003.  Assessing values of air quality and visibility at risk from wildland fires..   Res. Pap. PNW-RP-550. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 59 p