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Smoke has caused temperature forecasts to go crazy

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Re: Smoke has caused temperature forecasts to go crazy

#181
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also, when these fires burn mature forests, they don't actually burn the huge trees, just the smaller brush. However, they are so hot that they kill the huge, mature trees. So a couple of years later, you have a huge amount of dead trees ready to burn again.

This description is painting with a wide brush across many different western tree species. A douglasfir forest that burns is going to behave much differently than a late-successional hemlock one.

Why is that? Sap content? I just started reading Hoadley's "Understanding Wood" [0], which has gotten me interested in wood's characteristics.

[0] https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1561583588/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b...

Re: Smoke has caused temperature forecasts to go crazy

#182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here's one such app, for people that are interested: https://shootismoke.app It's currently giving me 2.3 cigarettes per day, and I live a decent distance away from any of the fires (Sacramento, CA).

Why in the world would this be a native app and not a web page?

Data collection, of course.

Re: Smoke has caused temperature forecasts to go crazy

#183
post #2

I’m in the midsts of this right now and it’s depressing. I spent yesterday morning with a sore throat and itchy eyes and most of the afternoon hopelessly driving hours away for a box fan and furnace filter (I finally found them). All the while I should have been working. Some of my coworkers have complained of week-long headaches. If anyone else is suffering from this: you are not alone.

Why not order a few HEPA filter air purifiers?

I have 4 (5th is on its way).

They work extremely well and if you pair them with a Temptop AQI sensor you can see how well in real time: https://www.temtopus.com/collections/temtopus-pm2-5-pm10-mon...

Those temptop sensors are great. I've previously had awair, foobot, and purple sensors which all sucked in different ways.

Really long thread about this here: https://www.reddit.com/r/AirQuality/comments/ikf1ed/are_ther...

Re: Smoke has caused temperature forecasts to go crazy

#184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here's one such app, for people that are interested: https://shootismoke.app It's currently giving me 2.3 cigarettes per day, and I live a decent distance away from any of the fires (Sacramento, CA).

Why in the world would this be a native app and not a web page?

iOS encourages developers to make apps for their services because Safari's features and compatibility lag behind other browsers, and it doesn't implement PWA functionality.

Re: Smoke has caused temperature forecasts to go crazy

#185
post #3

Genuine question, are these fires big enough to stop them from happening for a while? Or should we expect another one next year? Edit: My original question was more in mind with does this have same effect as controlled burning / prescribed burning. Thank you all for replies :)

That depends on many factors. If the fires burned a significant portion of the places where fires are likely to start, say, forested hilltops which attract lightning or areas near where humans start fires, then it could slow things down for a few years.

It also depends on the fuel source. Grasses and certain vegetation can build up fuel loads in a year or two. Trees are obviously slower.

The fires really didn't burn much total land though, so it's very likely we can see big fires next year. We regularly get fires all over the west, this is just a bad year.

Re: Smoke has caused temperature forecasts to go crazy

#186
post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wood smoke kills around 2 million people a year, though that generally takes long term exposure. So, while you’re not incorrect that individual wildfires are not a major concern, living in places where such exposure is common is a significant issue.

I've never heard this number, but I find it really interesting. If you remember where you got this number, could you please share a link?

It is probably because a billion? people still use open wood fires indoors with poor ventilation. Visualize a fire in the middle of a hut with a pot on it and a small hole in the ceiling. AQI in that hut is going to be very bad. Creating systems where people can afford to use propane or other gas stoves are a huge win for the health of humanity and ecosystems.

Re: Smoke has caused temperature forecasts to go crazy

#187
post #2

I’m in the midsts of this right now and it’s depressing. I spent yesterday morning with a sore throat and itchy eyes and most of the afternoon hopelessly driving hours away for a box fan and furnace filter (I finally found them). All the while I should have been working. Some of my coworkers have complained of week-long headaches. If anyone else is suffering from this: you are not alone.

Why not order a few HEPA filter air purifiers? I have 4 (5th is on its way). They work extremely well and if you pair them with a Temptop AQI sensor you can see how well in real time: https://www.temtopus.com/collections/temtopus-pm2-5-pm10-mon... Those temptop sensors are great. I've previously had awair, foobot, and purple sensors which all sucked in different ways. Really long thread about this here: https://www.r…

I have some on the way but they won't arrive until the end of the week. I wanted relief yesterday so I drove around to get it.

Re: Smoke has caused temperature forecasts to go crazy

#188
I wonder how much of an effect this will have on crop yields and crop quality? I expect we'll see lower yields and less carbohydrate content. Also, what is the composition of the particles emitted by the fires? Is it mostly carbon or is there some potassium hydroxide? Is that fertilizing to any degree?

Re: Smoke has caused temperature forecasts to go crazy

#189
post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wood smoke kills around 2 million people a year, though that generally takes long term exposure. So, while you’re not incorrect that individual wildfires are not a major concern, living in places where such exposure is common is a significant issue.

I've never heard this number, but I find it really interesting. If you remember where you got this number, could you please share a link?

Die drei Plagen des Bauern: Hausrauch, ein undichtes Dach und eine untreue Frau

> The three plagues of the farmer: household smoke, a leaky roof and an unfaithful wife

Supposedly an old saying, but almost certainly retcon. Not necessarily wrong though, look at houses a few hundred years ago, that sort of thing is still ubiquitous in the developing and pre-developing world.

Re: Smoke has caused temperature forecasts to go crazy

#190

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here's one such app, for people that are interested: https://shootismoke.app It's currently giving me 2.3 cigarettes per day, and I live a decent distance away from any of the fires (Sacramento, CA).

Why in the world would this be a native app and not a web page?

And what a strange name. Why is “shoot” treated like an expletive? I’m actually not even sure I’m parsing the name correctly.
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