Air Quality Advisory for Prince George
Prince George, B.C.- An Air Quality advisory has been issued for Prince George.
Provincial Ministry of the Environment Meteorologist Dennis Fudge says the advisory should be short lived as winds are expected to clear out the particulates by tomorrow.
The provincial air quality objective for fine particles (PM2.5) is 25 micrograms per cubic metre, averaged over 24 hours. The 24 hour PM2.5 rolling average was 28 µg/m3 at the Plaza 400 downtown site and 27 µg/m3 at College Heights at 9 am today.
The provincial air quality objective for coarse particles (PM10) is 50 micrograms per cubic metre, averaged over 24 hours. The 24 hour PM10 rolling average was 53 µg/m3 at the Plaza 400 downtown, 39 µg/m3 at College Heights and 51 µg/m3 at BCR at 9 am today.
Based on the quality data, the high levels are mainly due to Industry sources, residential heating and a contribution from road dust.
A high pressure ridge sitting over the region is giving stagnant conditions to the region causing pollutants to become trapped in the bowl area of Prince George. Higher particulate levels and odour are expected again late this morning once the fog burns off and again this evening. Conditions are expected to improve later tonight as winds are forecast to increase overnight. Air quality is expected to be better at higher elevations.
In the meantime, the city of Prince George will be offering it's "Free Fare for Clean Air" program, which means rides on Transit buses will be free until midnight of the day the advisory is cancelled.
Comments
I was wondering if there was going to be a advisory issued. The air is pretty thick today. -cough cough-
Free bus rides? Maybe city council can get the bus company to sequester those nasty diesel exhaust fumes from the buses. Works for CO2. Could help.
Free bus rides, kinda makes you feel its a good day to go out.. should be free deliveries for those who cant go out in the bad air.
This item regarding Air Quality Advisories and the city “Free Fare for Clean Air ” policy is a bit misleading. Free Transit does not kick in until the day after the air quality advisory comes into effect..
In the case of the current air quality advisory…. transit become free at essentially midnight tonight.
[url]http://www.bctransit.com/regions/prg/news/freefare.cfm {/url}
Free Fare for Clean Air…. 2nd try for the link…
http://www.bctransit.com/regions/prg/news/freefare.cfm
Do they really believe that someone would take the bus, to save a few bucks, or change their driving habits??
I really hope this doesn’t happen during the Winter Games. Talk about a great opportunity for exposure going horrifically wrong :(
I can just imagine the talk as athletes and visitors are leaving here. “Does it always smell that bad here? How can anyone live here with that smell?”
Do not despair PG the “road dust” will undoubtedly dissipate in time for the opening ceremony. It will be noticeably absent throughout the duration and will return the day the athletes leave. Do not worry about missing an opportunity for “exposure” the road dust will return. If you are concerned about the poor publicity all you need to do is look at the Lonely Planet travel review of your fair city, in short it says to keep driving, you get what you pay for.
If PG is known for anything, it is well known throughout Canada as a pulp mill town with the associated smell to go with it.
People visiting here for the first time will just get to expereince it firsthand.
No no its people burning wood for heat ;-)
Agreed Palopu….If I could take a bus to and from work, working afternoons, I would…this city really needs to get out of the fact that ALL work 9-5.
Johnnybelt ….good thing most visitors come in the summertime, when the cover up is really bad…..lol
Has anyone mentioned our smelly reputation to the new Tourism PG CEO ?
I posted this slogan before, lets go with it.
“Our Air Has Flavour”
Middle finger…..ssssssmoney….lol
Maybe one day our buses will be equipped with those drop down thingys for oxygen them airplanes have.
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