California

usonian

(14,521 posts) Tue Dec 3, 2024, 03:47 PM Dec 3

What is it with the Central Valley?. Air Quality Index is nasty.

Dense fog past noon in Fresno and Merced.

7 replies

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What is it with the Central Valley?. Air Quality Index is nasty. (Original Post) usonian Dec 3 OP

Probably there's an "inversion layer" like the one that sits over LA most of the year. nt The Unmitigated Gall Dec 3 #1

That's my guess, too. Basso8vb Dec 3 #2

Also Oil & Gas Production Nigrum Cattus Dec 3 #3

Red, Red, pee the bed. usonian Dec 3 #4

Not normal! Clouds Passing Dec 3 #5

When I lived there Old Crank Dec 4 #6

I live in those mountains, at least the foothills, and the difference is startling. usonian Dec 4 #7

The Unmitigated Gall

(4,610 posts)

1. Probably there's an "inversion layer" like the one that sits over LA most of the year. nt

Reply to usonian (Original post)

Tue Dec 3, 2024, 03:52 PM

Dec 3

Basso8vb

(458 posts)

2. That's my guess, too.

Reply to The Unmitigated Gall (Reply #1)

Tue Dec 3, 2024, 03:56 PM

Dec 3

Inversion layer with the mountains on either side trapping all that dirty air.

Nigrum Cattus

(223 posts)

3. Also Oil & Gas Production

Reply to usonian (Original post)

Tue Dec 3, 2024, 06:37 PM

Dec 3

https://www.energyindependenceca.com/californias-economy-is-powered-by-oil-and-gas/
Most of Californians oil & gas production occurs around & between Bakersfield & Fresno.
Link to how much is above - the site is very pro oil & gas - just for statistics

usonian

(14,521 posts)

4. Red, Red, pee the bed.

Reply to Nigrum Cattus (Reply #3)

Tue Dec 3, 2024, 07:49 PM

Dec 3

That's a very red area, BUT Congressional District 13, flipped blue! Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties came through.

Reference: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/california-us-house-district-13-results

Clouds Passing

(2,674 posts)

5. Not normal!

Reply to usonian (Original post)

Tue Dec 3, 2024, 09:02 PM

Dec 3

Old Crank

(4,864 posts)

6. When I lived there

Reply to usonian (Original post)

Wed Dec 4, 2024, 03:33 AM

Dec 4

The air quality was always worse down in the lower valley. The prevailing winds blow from the bay area down the central valley. There is a ring of mountains there that traps pollution and agriculture dust in that bowl. Combined with a normal winter inversion layer up goes the pollution count.

usonian

(14,521 posts)

7. I live in those mountains, at least the foothills, and the difference is startling.

Reply to Old Crank (Reply #6)

Wed Dec 4, 2024, 11:05 AM

Dec 4

Then again, what was a little rainstorm in the valley the other year was 2 feet of snow and howling winds a half-mile in elevation. It's usually 7 to 10 degrees cooler at altitude, summer and winter. It rarely freezes in the valley, maybe a few cold spots, but I have heat tapes on my pipes for good reason.

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