During the winter, when high pressure rolls in, pollution builds up.
Specifically pollution called PM2.5 which are tiny particles that actually obscure our view of the mountains and even of neighboring buildings on bad days.
The Division of Air Quality operates monitors at several locations across the Wasatch Front, but pollution concentrations can vary depending on where exactly you’re located. Contributing factors include:
- Do you live next to a road?
- Do you have a neighbor who frequently fires up their meat smoker or burns wood?
- Is there a nearby restaurant or small business that releases precursor pollutants?
- On top of all those factors– what is happening with the particular mix of geography and weather at your location?
Air quality science is complex.
But gaining a better understanding of pollution nuances across the valley can help policy makers make better decisions, and can help residents better protect themselves. Read more