Moonlight Fire Prompts Air Quality Advisory for Friday and Saturday

Smoke from the Moonlight Fire in northeast Plumas County contiues to impact large portions of the counties of Plumas, Sierra and Nevada. Interestingly, ozone values have gone way above their forecasted values as a result of smoke inundating the upwind areas, i.e. the Sacramento Valley. Along with high concentrations of respirable fine particulates, wildfire smoke plumes also contain high concentrations of the precursor pollutants (oxides of nitrogen and reactive organic gases) necessary for ozone formation. These precursor pollutants convert to ozone in the presence of sunlight and then are transported by the prevailing winds into the Sierra foothills. It is very typical for the foothills to see elevated ozone levels on hot summer days when the region is inundated with smoke from a wildfire.