Which diagram describes Normal air temperature pattern inversion

Which diagram describes… Normal air temperature pattern? inversion? Cold Hot Cold

Cold Hot Inversion Normal Hot Cold

40 o 45 o 50 o 55 o 60 o Normal Atmospheric Condition: Air moves up from the ground. Air is unstable. 65 o 70 o

Temperature Inversion: Air on the ground is stuck there. It cannot move up and out. Air on the ground is stable. 35 o 40 o 45 o 50 o 60 o Thermal belt 70 o 60 o 50 o 45 o

How can we measure inversions? Hours/day when the valley bottom was cooler than the mountaintop

How can we measure smoke? 1 m mg PM 2. 5/m 3 1 m 1 m www. airnow. gov

Is smoke related to inversions? Hours/day when valley bottom was cooler than mountain top Daily average PM 2. 5 concentration

How bad is “bad” air? How should we protect our health? Excerpted from “Recommendations for Outdoor Activities Based on Air Quality for Schools and Child Care Facilities” (Activity. Guidelines. For Wildfire. Smoke. pdf or http: //4 cleanair. org/si tes/default/files/Docu ments/Montana. Activity. Guidelinesfor Wildfire. Smoke. Events. pdf).

What about health? Hours/day when valley bottom was cooler than mountain top Daily average PM 2. 5 concentration Air quality* Good Moderate Unhealthy for sensitive groups Unhealthy Very unhealthy Hazardous *http: //deq. mt. gov/Air/SF/breakpointsrevised

Compare: Daily average PM 2. 5 concentration Seeley Lake Daily average PM 2. 5 concentration Missoula Air quality* Good Moderate Unhealthy for sensitive groups Unhealthy Very unhealthy Hazardous *http: //deq. mt. gov/Air/SF/breakpointsrevised