Jessica Gilman

That's one of the interesting things with smoke is that it doesn't stay where it was emitted. It travels with the wind and can impact large parts of the population well downwind of the fires.

That's one of the interesting things with smoke is that it doesn't stay where it was emitted. It travels with the wind and can impact large parts of the population well downwind of the fires.

That's one of the interesting things with smoke is that it doesn't stay where it was emitted. It travels with the wind and can impact large parts of the population well downwind of the fires.

Smoke is an incredibly complex mixture of different gases and particles. And if we look just at the gases, there are hundreds to thousands of different gases that are formed in biomass burning.

Smoke is an incredibly complex mixture of different gases and particles. And if we look just at the gases, there are hundreds to thousands of different gases that are formed in biomass burning.

Smoke is an incredibly complex mixture of different gases and particles. And if we look just at the gases, there are hundreds to thousands of different gases that are formed in biomass burning.

But you also get really teeny tiny particles on the order of a millionth of a meter in diameter. And those really small particles can stay in the atmosphere for a lot longer.

But you also get really teeny tiny particles on the order of a millionth of a meter in diameter. And those really small particles can stay in the atmosphere for a lot longer.

But you also get really teeny tiny particles on the order of a millionth of a meter in diameter. And those really small particles can stay in the atmosphere for a lot longer.

Yeah, so one of the primary hazardous air pollutants is particles that are called PM2.5s that has an overall diameter of two and a half micrometers or less. And that's roughly about 50 times smaller than a single grain of salt. So really, really small particles.

Yeah, so one of the primary hazardous air pollutants is particles that are called PM2.5s that has an overall diameter of two and a half micrometers or less. And that's roughly about 50 times smaller than a single grain of salt. So really, really small particles.

Yeah, so one of the primary hazardous air pollutants is particles that are called PM2.5s that has an overall diameter of two and a half micrometers or less. And that's roughly about 50 times smaller than a single grain of salt. So really, really small particles.

The smaller particles, not only can they travel further distances, but they also have this unique ability to follow the sort of micro air currents and can bend around corners and edges and everything. And that means that if you're breathing in smoke, those larger particles are going to hit the back of your throat first.

The smaller particles, not only can they travel further distances, but they also have this unique ability to follow the sort of micro air currents and can bend around corners and edges and everything. And that means that if you're breathing in smoke, those larger particles are going to hit the back of your throat first.

The smaller particles, not only can they travel further distances, but they also have this unique ability to follow the sort of micro air currents and can bend around corners and edges and everything. And that means that if you're breathing in smoke, those larger particles are going to hit the back of your throat first.

But the smaller particles can actually make it all the way down your throat and then deep into your lungs. And that's where they start to cause all kinds of different health effects.

But the smaller particles can actually make it all the way down your throat and then deep into your lungs. And that's where they start to cause all kinds of different health effects.

But the smaller particles can actually make it all the way down your throat and then deep into your lungs. And that's where they start to cause all kinds of different health effects.

And when they die down, that's actually when they produce quite a bit of smoke. And that mixing into a more shallow boundary layer just means you get a lot more smoke very close to the ground, particularly at night.

And when they die down, that's actually when they produce quite a bit of smoke. And that mixing into a more shallow boundary layer just means you get a lot more smoke very close to the ground, particularly at night.