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Air Quality Alert
An air quality alert is in effect for parts of North Texas including DFW through Friday. We often see this during the summer months.
Currently, DFW's air quality is at an orange level or "unhealthy for sensitive groups." This means groups with respiratory issues should limit time outdoors.
The alert is in place due to expected high levels of ozone.
Current air quality
How do we get high levels of ozone?
High levels of pollution, sunlight, high pressure, and light winds are all contributors to ozone production.
High levels of pollution develop when emissions from motor vehicles and factories are released into the atmosphere. When high pressure is in place (like it often is during the summertime), sinking air traps those emissions at the surface. On days like today, light winds don't do much to scatter the aerosols, so pollution stays concentrated over the area.
Sunshine and heat will take the higher concentrations of pollution and cause a chemical reaction creating ozone.
Ozone is toxic to inhale which is why the air quality alert is in place. Ozone is only beneficial in the stratosphere, far from human lungs, where it protects us from the sun's harmful rays.