Impact of Summer on Air Quality

Air substances come from industry, automobiles, homes, forest fires and other sources. Weather is an important factor in air quality because of the rate it breaks up and disperses key substances like ozone and particulate matter. In the spring and summer when wind is calm, these two substances can cause moderate to high risk Air Health Quality Index (AQHI) readings when they linger. Moderate or higher AQHI readings may cause health problems for children, the elderly and those with respiratory problems.

Ozone

Ozone forms when oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds react with oxygen where sunlight or heat exists. In Alberta, daily and monthly average ozone concentrations tend to be highest in spring. Hourly average ozone concentrations tend to peak in summer, during late afternoons on hot days with calm winds.

Particulate Matter

Smoke from grass or forest fires is usually why particulate matter levels are higher in summer. The smoke doesn’t have to be local to cause a problem. Fires from British Columbia or in northern Alberta hundreds of kilometres away can occasionally drive AHQI readings into the high or even very high risk range.

Conditions at your Fingertips

Fort Air Partnership’s air monitoring network generates detailed data to enable the calculation of the AQHI. This makes it possible for Alberta Health Services to issue air quality advisories if needed. The information we collect is sent to Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development who use it to determine the current and forecast AQHI for the areas of Fort Saskatchewan, Lamont County, Bruderheim and Elk Island Park. We post this information daily on our website.  Overall, air quality in our airshed is considered good.

2014 AHQI Ratings for the FAP Airshed

*Not in FAP’s airshed. For comparison only.