Maybe you haven’t quite noticed yet, and well, maybe some of you like it, but it’s starting to get freezing outside. And according to this year’s Farmers’ Almanac, the cold we are experiencing so far is just the beginning. Soon we’ll have snow, black ice, children with the flu and wonderful winter inversions.
Now, we’re not experts on flu prevention or black ice, but we do know about air quality, and we know those gray inversions that like to settle in around our cities this time of year are not good for anyone.
Normally, cool air is above warm air. In an inversion, they swap places. Inversions usually occur after a snowstorm; the snow on the ground causes colder temperatures near the surface while the clear skies foster warmer temperatures up high. The cold air is unable to escape, so the air doesn’t mix as it should, and chemical reactions happen that shouldn’t. The two main pollutants that are present in an inversion are ozone and particulate matter, often known as PM 2.5. Both of these pollutants can cause severe damage to your lungs, respiratory system and just make it uncomfortable to breath.
Keep an eye on your community’s air quality alerts, and if it looks bad outside, use the current time air quality checker to see what precautions you should take before heading out.
Lastly, do your part. The majority of air pollutants come from us, meaning our cars, homes and industries. So drive smart, keep the air in your house clean and make sure your work is being as efficient as possible to reduce pollution.