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Source: NCDENR, 3/1/21
March
1 marks the beginning of the 2021 ozone season, as state and local environmental
agencies renew their daily air quality forecasts for ozone across North
Carolina. From now through October 31, the daily air quality forecasts
from the North Carolina Division of Air Quality (DAQ) will include statewide
forecasts for ozone as well as our year-round forecasts for fine particle
pollution. Ozone
forms in the air when nitrogen oxides (NOx) react with hydrocarbons on warm,
sunny days with little wind. While it was once North Carolina's most widespread
air quality concern and contributor to breathing problems, ozone continues to
decline due to steady reductions in emissions from its primary air pollution
sources: power plants, industry and motor vehicles. North Carolina has been in
statewide attainment with the federal ozone standards since 2017. EPA
designated North Carolina as attaining the 2015 ozone standard statewide. The
county-based forecasting launched in 2020, which replaced our previous system
of regional forecasting. The new forecast process gives users up-to-date and
localized forecasting for 91 North Carolina counties and two Ridge Top
zones, including the next day's forecast. Our colleagues at the Forsyth County Office of
Environmental Assistance and Protection forecast the air quality for the greater
Triad region, including the cities of Winston-Salem and Greensboro. DAQ
also developed an Ozone Design Value Predictor Tool, a web-based mapping tool
that displays maximum 8-hour ozone and Design Value information using
current year ozone data for all ozone monitors in the U.S. The tool
provides an up-to-date snapshot of ozone monitor attainment status based on
current year ozone data. The
new process will continue to monitor and forecast ozone and particulate matter,
or PM2.5, via the air quality index (AQI), along with the corresponding AQI
color codes to help North Carolinians plan their outdoor
activities. Next-day and extended products are issued by 3 p.m. with a
morning update by 10 a.m. The forecast is automatically saved every 15 minutes,
and the public may also view the air quality forecast on on DAQ’s website, Twitter feed, Facebook page or the AirNow site.
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