234
M. T. Odman et al.
The HiRes-X online tool can display the data as point markers or contours on a
map. The background map is provided by OpenStreetMap, which supports spatial
navigation and zooming in for very detailed local geographical information. While
air quality observation sites, HMS fire detections, forecast or permitted burn locations are presented on the map as markers through Leaflet’s pointToLayer function,
spatial distributions of air quality index grades or burn impact levels are plotted
through another Leaflet function for polygons in GeoJSON format. As a third data
display method, site specific observations and forecasts are presented using timeseries plotting functions from the D3.js library. All the above display features are
realized by using Javascript functions and support interactive capability to display
according to date, pollutant, region, site, or item selection.
36.3 Applications of HiRes-X
Several types of analyses can be performed with HiRes-X. These include fire analyses
comparing burn permit records to satellite detected fires and satellite derived burned
areas as well as to forecasts of burn activity. HiRes-X can be used as a screening
tool for fire-related exceptional events that lead to exceedances and violations of
air quality standards. Forest and air quality managers can use HiRes-X to regulate
prescribed burning operations with minimal human exposure to fire smoke. HiResX can also be used to access various forecasting products for personal use such as
residential community level or mobility based air quality forecasts. Here, application
to exceptional event screening will be illustrated although the selected event did not
lead to an exceedance or violation, but only to moderate air pollution.
On 13 March, 2018, the recorded daily average PM 2.5 concentration at St. Marks
Wildlife Refuge and Tallahassee in Florida were 17.2 and 13.7 µg m
−3 , respectively,
while the HiRes-2 forecasts were only 4.95 and 7.20 µg m
−3 . On that day, HMS
detected a lot of fires in the region (Fig. 36.1). Hires-X burn forecast predicted
about the same amount of prescribed fires around St. Marks. Both HMS fire and
smoke analysis (not shown) and HiRes-X burn impact forecast suggested heavy
smoke presence near St. Marks under northwesterly winds. The burn impact forecast
predicted a prescribed fire contribution of 5–10 µg m
−3 to the daily average PM 2.5
concentrations at St. Marks and 2–5 µg m
−3 at Tallahassee. This level of impact was
sufficient to turn the forecast from green (good) to yellow (moderate or >12 µg m
−3 )
for St. Marks but not for Tallahassee.
36.4 Conclusion
The expanded version of the HiRes-2 air quality forecasting system incorporates
new elements targeted for dynamic air quality management in Southeastern USA.
Forecasts of the impacts of prescribed burn emissions can be used for averting air
M. T. Odman et al.
The HiRes-X online tool can display the data as point markers or contours on a
map. The background map is provided by OpenStreetMap, which supports spatial
navigation and zooming in for very detailed local geographical information. While
air quality observation sites, HMS fire detections, forecast or permitted burn locations are presented on the map as markers through Leaflet’s pointToLayer function,
spatial distributions of air quality index grades or burn impact levels are plotted
through another Leaflet function for polygons in GeoJSON format. As a third data
display method, site specific observations and forecasts are presented using timeseries plotting functions from the D3.js library. All the above display features are
realized by using Javascript functions and support interactive capability to display
according to date, pollutant, region, site, or item selection.
36.3 Applications of HiRes-X
Several types of analyses can be performed with HiRes-X. These include fire analyses
comparing burn permit records to satellite detected fires and satellite derived burned
areas as well as to forecasts of burn activity. HiRes-X can be used as a screening
tool for fire-related exceptional events that lead to exceedances and violations of
air quality standards. Forest and air quality managers can use HiRes-X to regulate
prescribed burning operations with minimal human exposure to fire smoke. HiResX can also be used to access various forecasting products for personal use such as
residential community level or mobility based air quality forecasts. Here, application
to exceptional event screening will be illustrated although the selected event did not
lead to an exceedance or violation, but only to moderate air pollution.
On 13 March, 2018, the recorded daily average PM 2.5 concentration at St. Marks
Wildlife Refuge and Tallahassee in Florida were 17.2 and 13.7 µg m
−3 , respectively,
while the HiRes-2 forecasts were only 4.95 and 7.20 µg m
−3 . On that day, HMS
detected a lot of fires in the region (Fig. 36.1). Hires-X burn forecast predicted
about the same amount of prescribed fires around St. Marks. Both HMS fire and
smoke analysis (not shown) and HiRes-X burn impact forecast suggested heavy
smoke presence near St. Marks under northwesterly winds. The burn impact forecast
predicted a prescribed fire contribution of 5–10 µg m
−3 to the daily average PM 2.5
concentrations at St. Marks and 2–5 µg m
−3 at Tallahassee. This level of impact was
sufficient to turn the forecast from green (good) to yellow (moderate or >12 µg m
−3 )
for St. Marks but not for Tallahassee.
36.4 Conclusion
The expanded version of the HiRes-2 air quality forecasting system incorporates
new elements targeted for dynamic air quality management in Southeastern USA.
Forecasts of the impacts of prescribed burn emissions can be used for averting air