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The Alberni Basin Airshed
The Alberni Basin Airshed
The Alberni Basin Airshed is a valley surrounded by mountains that opens directly at one end to marine influences. Resulting wind patterns exert a venting influence on the airshed, although seasonal inversion conditions can trap valley air for days on end.
Inversions
The Port Alberni Airshed, as with many others in British Columbia, is characterized by frequent thermal inversions during the winter months. These are often marked by low-lying fog, which literally caps the valley and can be seen as such when viewed from higher up the mountain slopes.
Wind and Weather
DriveBC Alberni Summit Web Cam Environment Canada AV Regional Airport Web Cam Environment Canada current weather for Port Alberni UVIC School-Based Weather Station Network for Alberni Elementary School(Includes information on wind speed, wind direction, temperature, humidity, rain, UV index, and atmospheric pressure.) ACRD Current Wind Speed and Direction
(The ACRD has meterological equipment at the airport situated near Sproat Lake about 12 km from town.) Environment Canada AV Regional Airport Wind Speed and Direction Summary 2008-2009 To see Port Alberni's ambient air quality click this link and follow in the left menu - most recent data - Vancouver island ambient - Port Alberni
Link to Port Alberni ambient air quality BC ministry of Environment - Port Alberni Air quality report January, 2016
Air Quality Advisories
When PM 2.5 concentrations exceed the Provincial Air Quality Objective of 25 ug/m3 at the Alberni Elementary School air monitoring site and are expected to persist, an air quality advisory will be issued by the Ministry of Environment. The advisory informs the public about degraded air quality so they can make informed choices about reducing their exposures and so they can do their part to reduce emissions. Air Quality can become degraded as a result of local emissions building up to unacceptable levels. It can also be influenced by natural events such as wild fires. For example, an air quality advisory was issued in Port Alberni on January 3, 2017. Weather conditions combined with significant burning caused high concentrations of fine particulates to build up in the valley. Following is a graph showing a period when advisories were issued in Courtenay and Duncan, but were not necessary in Port Alberni due to adequate dispersion venting.bcairquality.ca and are announced to the public through local media.
Venting Index
The venting, or ventilation index, is a numerical value related to the potential of the atmosphere to disperse airborne pollutants, such as smoke. Here is an example of venting categories, based on a scale of 0 to 100: 0 - 33 Poor Ventilation34 - 54 Fair Ventilation
55 - 100 Good Ventilation Burning may be restricted when the forecasted venting Index is poor or fair, as these categories are not conducive to dispersion. The Open Burn Smoke Control Regulation (OBSCR) restricts the times and conditions allowable for open burning. For example, open burning can only be initiated on a day when the venting index forecast is good for that afternoon, and good or fair the following afternoon. For more information and the current venting index go to: Venting Index Interactive Map Ventilation Index (The current venting index for Port Alberni is the one listed for Central Vancouver Island (CNTRL VAN ISLD).)