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An Air Quality Index (AQI) is a scale that conveys the health impact of air quality. Air pollutants are typically expressed using different units of measurement. For example, you’ll see particulate matter in units of micrograms per cubic meter or µg/m3. This is a value that describes the mass concentration of PM. But if someone told you that PM outside was at 4.5 µg/m3, would that mean anything to you? It wouldn't to me.
For the vast majority of people, it’s like you’re being told something with...

Wildfires are a common occurrence in today’s world. Whether caused by something natural or unnatural, they continually threaten the well-being of people all across the world. But what effects do wildfires cause? Of course, there are immediate physical threats if you are in the area of a wildfire. Fire is fast, hot, and creates thick smoke filled with toxic gasses, which can make getting to a safe place very difficult1. But there are more dangers than just the immediate threats. Wildfire smoke ca...

Have you ever seen smog linger over a city? Well, this can be caused by pollution that becomes trapped in the lowest level of the atmosphere, creating air quality and visibility problems. The common name for this mixture of pollutants is smog. But how does this pollution become trapped in the first place?
 
The lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere is called the Troposphere, and it is where smog is created (UCSB). Usually, air cools as it ascends through the troposphere. However, sometimes, a layer...