Light smog over LA? Under quarantine, maybe

11,863 次觀看・4 年前

A walk through Los Angeles these days, and you're likely to see something almost as bizarre as highways without bumper-to-bumper traffic -- clean, clear skies -- and little smog.

Los Angeles, the city with the worst smog in the United States, is enjoying a third straight week of clean air, leading some to wonder if reduced traffic from the city's 'stay at home' orders are playing a part.

Recent data provided by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, or 'AQMD', an air quality agency that oversees the Los Angeles area, shows low levels of both fine particulate matter, such as dust and soot, and ozone, a key component of smog.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) PHILIP FINE, DEPUTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (AQMD), SAYING:

"So over the last couple weeks, we have seen some pretty clean air in Southern California. And people are asking, is that due to the fact that people are aren't driving as much, they're staying at home?"

That's Philip Fine, AQMD's Deputy Executive Officer. He said its scientists are looking at the data they collect to see if there is a correlation between emptier freeways and better air, but cautioned that the area's recent cool, wet weather is having an impact on air quality.

Fine said data shows car traffic is down by a third and the truck traffic is down by about 20 percent since the lockdown began. He said an anticipated return next week to more typical April weather conditions will allow scientists to compare forecasts.

The advocacy group Coalition for Clean Air also collects air pollution data from a network of air quality monitors in people's homes around California. They, too, are seeing lower levels of pollutants.

They say that while the AQMD has been "reluctant" to identify a direct correlation, a number of other experts have noticed that there is a correlation, between the quarantine, and cleaner air.