About
The project is funded by a seed grant from the Cooperative Institute for Satellite Earth System Studies, commonly referred to as CISESS, and developed at University of Maryland, Department of Geographical Sciences .
The goal of this web-based system is to provide real-time, user-friendly visualizations and time-series animation loops of wildfire smoke forecasts, as well as quantitative smoke forecast information for any location on the map and location-specific early warnings via email.
Background
Wildfires not only cause massive environmental and economic damage to the immediate areas affected by flames but also pose serious public health risks to broader regions due to the widespread impact of wildfire smoke. Smoke plumes can be carried by wind patterns across hundreds or even thousands of miles, leading to air quality degradation in regions far from the active fires. Wildfire smoke contains a complex mix of gases (such as carbon monoxide), hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), water vapor, and particulate matter. Of these, particulate matter is the dominant component and poses the greatest risk to public health.
There are many potential health effects associated with wildfire smoke. Inhaling particulate matter, especially fine particles, from smoke is linked with aggravating respiratory and other chronic diseases and long-term health problems. While everyone can be impacted by wildland fire smoke, people with pre-existing respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, vulnerable populations such as children and seniors, people who smoke, and people who work outside are at higher risk of health problems. Therefore, a wildfire near-surface smoke forecasting and early warning system is crucial, as it can help reduce smoke-related health risks by giving people time to plan ahead, stock up on essentials, and minimize exposure to smoke.