Central Valley Air Quality: What to Expect this Winter
Photo taken by Caitlin Rose
Why has our air quality been so poor lately?
With dense fog present throughout our early mornings and unhealthy air quality alerts popping up on our weather apps, winter weather in California, specifically the Central Valley, has been changing rapidly. In Stockton, our first few days of December have been warmer than expected. However, we have quickly moved into seeing some rainy forecasts and clouds. But what can we anticipate about the air quality in the valley?
According to IQAir, there is a decent sized list of California cities that currently have poor air quality, with Stockton being one of them. Some other cities on this list include: Sacramento, Modesto, and Bakersfield. So what is the reason behind the unhealthy air quality in these areas? Well, one possible cause is called temperature inversion, also known as an inversion layer, which occurs when a layer of warm air traps cooler air near the ground, preventing pollutants from dispersing and leading to poor air quality. Winter temperature inversions are common in the Central Valley, due to the region’s high pressure and geography of mountains that trap warm air.
Another factor that influences our air quality is pollution. As you may know, Stockton is one of the most polluted cities in California, having worse air quality than 64% of other cities. These pollutants can be anything from transportation-related emissions from our vehicles, to agricultural burning and wildfires, to smoke from manufacturers. These pollutants and airborne particles settle in the air, creating many risks of heart or lung problems, asthma attacks, or weaker immune systems in children and infants.
In order to combat these problems, the city of Stockton is taking different measures to improve air quality. For example, the Port of Stockton continuously looks for ways to reduce air emissions, such as replacing diesel equipment with emission control technologies and electrical power. This helps reduce the amount of pollutants that local maritime industries can release due to the burning of fossil fuels.
Bike Stockton is another way the city is aiming to address unhealthy air quality. As stated by the California Air Resources Board, using e-bikes allows people to get around and meet everyday needs while improving air quality. By encouraging the people of Stockton to ride e-bikes, we can reduce our emissions from driving cars or taking buses, and overall promote better health, not only for our environment, but for us as well!
An upside to consider is the upcoming rainfall we are seeing, which will hopefully help clear up our air and refresh the valley after many dry months leading up to the winter season. While rain and fog bring their own challenges — such as reduced visibility when driving, higher risk of illnesses like the common cold, and of course power outages due to heavy rain or wind — for the most part, the rain should relieve the Central Valley’s air quality and hopefully wash away any pollutants that impact our health. By Christmas, the rain is projected to settle, followed by just a few clouds, which is good news for those hitting the roads during the holidays.
In the meantime, here are some tips to remember during the fluctuating winter weather: Stay indoors when air quality is poor, try an air purifier for further indoor protection, drive slowly when it is foggy out, and remember to wear a coat or jacket when it’s raining! Let us protect the health of our air and our community.
Works Cited:
https://www.iqair.com/us/newsroom/california-air-quality-alert-winter-temperature-inversions