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Smoke in the

Cross Timbers

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Smoke - a complex mixture of gases and fine particles produced when trees, grasses, and other organic fuels burn.

Smoke in the

Cross Timbers

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The Four Stages of Combustion

Pre-ignition	Water vapor is expelled into the atmosphere.

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The Four Stages of Combustion

Flaming	The efficiency of combustion is relatively high; this stage puts out the least amount of emissions in relation to the amount of fuel consumed.

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The Four Stages of Combustion

Smoldering	The effectiveness of combustion is lower, resulting in greater particulate emissions. Studies show that the amount of particulate emissions produced per mass of fuel consumed during the smoldering stage is more than double that of the flaming stage.

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The Four Stages of Combustion

Glowing	This stage is characterized by minimal smoke because all volatile material in the fuel has been driven out and oxygen can now easily reach the fuel particle, making combustion more efficient.

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Smoke Impacts

Environmental Hazard - Anything that can pose a threat or danger to the welfare of humans or natural systems.

SMOKE

Reduced Visibility

Pollutant

Exposure

As an environmental hazard, smoke presents a variety of impacts that must be managed in order to reduce associated risks. Some people may enjoy the smell of smoke from a campfire, but smoke is not healthy. Click Click Exposure to the pollutants in smoke causes immediate responses in people, such as burning eyes, a runny nose, coughing, phlegm, wheezing and difficulty breathing. Click Click The younger and older segments of populations are usually affected the most by smoke exposure, especially those with asthma, heart disease, or lung disease. Smoke intensifies symptoms. Click Click Smoke also reduces visibility which can cause accidents. Click Traffic accidents are one of the most common causes of mortality related to smoke. Click DON’T DRIVE INTO SMOKE! Prescribed fire planners eliminate or reduce smoke effects by burning only when the wind is from specified directions and when weather conditions allow for smoke to readily disperse. Click

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Smoke Impacts

Remember, smoke can be beneficial….

SMOKE

BiogeochemicalCycles

Wildlife

Responses

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Air Quality Management

Clean Air Act - national air quality standards to protect public health and welfare
National Ambient Air Quality Standards [NAAQS] - 6 Criteria Pollutants

1) Particulate Matter [PM]

2) Ozone [O₃]

3) Carbon Monoxide [CO]

4) Nitrogen Dioxide [NO₂]

5) Sulfur Dioxide [SO₂]

6) Lead

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Air Quality Impacts

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Smoke Impacts

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Air Quality Management

AirNow uses an air quality index [AQI] to communicate whether a location’s air quality is healthy or unhealthy.

A location’s AQI is calculated with the concentrations of the criteria pollutants (except lead).
AQI can reflect smoke’s possible health impacts.

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Air Quality Management

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Smoke - Risk Analysis

Identify the Environmental Hazard

Determine the Acceptable Level of Risk

Manage the Risk

No reduction in visibility is acceptable!

AQI “yellow”

is

acceptable.

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JenksFERST Case Study

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JenksFERST Case Study

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JenksFERST Case Study

Airport

GC

SF

RA

From the case study information provided, the VSmoke-Web simulator projects the probable air quality concerns associated with a burn’s smoke plume. Notice that the smoke impact projection consists of ellipses with colors corresponding to the AQI table seen earlier. Click With the simulator’s satellite view, Click “points of concern” near the burn site are easier to distinguish. Can you identify any “points of concern” near this burn? Give students an opportunity to respond. Which “points of concern” are forecasted to be impacted by this burn? Give students an opportunity to respond. Here are a few examples: Click 1) a residential area [RA]; Click 2) soccer fields [SF]; Click 3) a golf course [GC]; Click 4) and an airport. Click The air quality impacts of the areas delineated by the colored ellipses can be determined using the AQI table. If this simulated burn were to take place, decisions would have to be made regarding postponing or delaying soccer games and flights to and from the airport. Healthy individuals playing golf could probably continue with no adverse effects, but at risk individuals should go indoors at the golf course club house until the smoke clears. Individuals in the affected residential area could go inside with closed doors and windows until the smoke clears. Click

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JenksFERST Case Study

Manage smoke impacts by:

1) Reducing the size of the burn

2) Paying attention to wind direction

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Case Study Selection

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“VSmoke-Web” Simulation

Must know the locations of:

Transportation Corridors
Residences
Populated Areas
Outdoor Activities
People at Greater Risk

Schools/Day Care Centers
Hospitals
Retirement Communities