Search

Colorado has long been known for its scenic vistas and majestic mountains. Wildfires which are common in the summer months can significantly impact scenic environments close to the wildfire location. There are also concern as to the health impact to people in towns and cities located on the urban/wildland interfaces where the impact can also include loss of life and property. For these and other reasons, a concerted effort is underway to better understand the implications of these wildfires on areas potentially impacted by smoke. This study created a methodology for evaluating air quality impacts on both a statewide and regional basis using a state-of-the-art mesoscale meteorological model to simulate the meteorological conditions which correlate with prescribed fire and wildfire activity. These meteorological fields are input into an air quality model which simulates transport and secondary aerosol formation for certain pollutants. This modeling effort makes use of climatological analyses derived from observational data provided by the Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission (GCVTC). Locally, the model examines impacts within the urban/wildland interface to the extent possible. The regional analysis evaluates the impact of long range transport on neighboring states and the relative impacts on states downwind from areas with the potential for extreme wildfire events. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Historic land use policies and fire suppression practices have resulted in vegetation conditions and fuel loadings on public lands which increase the potential for catastrophic wildfire events. Air quality is an important consideration during wildfire events and in implementing the fire or smoke management practices which reduce the likelihood and/or impacts of such events. Regulations exist at the national, state, and in some cases local level, to protect public health and visibility/scenic values from the air pollution from many sources, including fire. Air regulators can make informed decisions, and better set priorities in support of implementing wildfire prevention actions and management alternatives, if they can identify and rank areas susceptible to wildfire events relative to the potential risk to air quality values. This information can also be used by land managers to better incorporate air quality considerations into their overall analysis of the cumulative socio- environmental effects of potential wildfire events. This paper describes a screening method which utilizes readily available data sources and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools in conjunction with an air quality dispersion model to rank risks from potential wildfire events relative to public health and visibility air quality values. The screening method is piloted using information from the State of Colorado. The results can be used to indicate and communicate the potential risk to air quality values for those areas which are susceptible to wildfire events. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]