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How bad is the inversion in Salt Lake City?

How bad is the inversion in Salt Lake City?

The bad air in Salt Lake City is the result of a cold-weather “inversion” that led a group of Utah doctors last week to call for a public emergency due to air pollution. 5) per cubic meter unhealthy, levels in Salt Lake City reached as high as 130 in January.

Why is the inversion in Utah so bad?

Utah inversions often occur after a snowstorm. The snow cover makes the air colder near the ground, and the clear skies warm the upper atmosphere. A strong storm or low-pressure system is often needed to clear out the inversion.

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Why is Salt Lake City a perfect spot for inversions?

The combination of Utah’s unique topography, winter weather and the high vehicle emissions, the location is prime for winter inversions. The pollution caused by winter inversions is called fine particulate pollution (PM2. 5).

What cities get inversions?

Cities around the world share Salt Lake’s inversion woes

  • Bakersfield, Calif.
  • Fresno, Calif.
  • Hanford-Corcoran, Calif.
  • Los Angeles, Calif.
  • Modesto, Calif.
  • Salt Lake City, Utah.
  • Pittsburgh, Pa.
  • Merced, Calif.

Why is SLC air so bad?

Poor air quality in Utah is due to the mountainous topography which can cause pollutants to build up near the surface (especially during inversions) combined with the prevalence of emissions from gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles, especially older models.

Where is the best air quality in Utah?

Utah Air Quality Index City Rank

Rank Air Quality Index ▼ City / Population
1. 61.9 Farmington, UT / 20,440
2. 61.5 Echo, UT / 108
3. 61.1 Morgan, UT / 3,787
4. 60.5 Millcreek, UT / 63,311
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Does Salt Lake City have bad air quality?

How bad is the air quality in Salt Lake City? Despite long-term reductions in particle pollution and ozone of recent decades, air quality in Salt Lake City remains among the worst in the United States. The last three years, moreover, have seen increases in unhealthy ozone days and annual PM2. 5 levels.

How bad is Utah air quality?

In 2017 the American Lung Association (ALA) ranked Salt Lake City-Provo-Orem area as the 14th worst city for ozone air quality in the U.S. and 8th for worst short-term particle pollution, just after Los Angeles. Logan was ranked the 11th worst city for short-term particle pollution.

Does Salt Lake City have smog?

Why are thermal inversions bad?

The warm air above cooler air acts like a lid, suppressing vertical mixing and trapping the cooler air at the surface. As pollutants from vehicles, fireplaces, and industry are emitted into the air, the inversion traps these pollutants near the ground, leading to poor air quality.

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Why is Utah so foggy?

In northern Utah, inversions create the perfect conditions for forming fog. Wintry weather often combines with the Wasatch Front’s geography to create these inversions, where warm air traps colder air over the region’s valleys — along with everything airborne, including tiny particles of pollutants.

Where does Salt Lake City rank in air quality?

According to the 2019 State of the Air report, the Salt Lake City area, which includes Provo and Orem, ranked 7th out of 217 metropolitan areas for worst 24-hour particle pollution, and 11th out of 228 metropolitan areas for worst ozone pollution.

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