Smoky Winter Nights Cast Haze on Air Quality Goals
January 28, 2025
Updated air quality data from the Province of BC shows a trend of improvement in Courtenay, but winter nights remain a concern – an important finding for the City working to address resident concerns about air quality.
The average annual concentration of fine particulate matter, a key ingredient in smoke, has been dropping since 2017, which indicates the air is less smoky on average. While that’s good news, numbers also show daily increases of fine particulate matter during winter nights, and times of wildfire smoke.
A provincial air monitoring station at Courtenay Elementary School has been collecting data since 2011, and tracking how conditions have changed at this location over time. To understand how air quality varies across the region, additional PurpleAir monitors have been installed by the City as well as local organizations and residents.
“We now have 20 local PurpleAir monitoring locations reporting measurements in the region. I applaud this regional collaboration and participatory science effort,” said Mayor Bob Wells. “It’s valuable to be able to see real time readings any time of day.” These monitors report real time measurements to an online map, which can be accessed here: https://map.purpleair.com.
The Purple Air monitors show a similar daily pattern as the provincial air monitoring station.
“Large increases of fine particulate matter occur during winter evenings, and early mornings. This pattern is consistent with the times of day that people are likely to be home and using wood burning appliances,” said Jeanniene Tazzioli, Manager of Environmental Engineering at the City of Courtenay.
During periods of wildfire smoke last summer, readings of fine particulate matter were relatively uniform and elevated at all monitoring locations. On winter nights, there is a wide variation between the monitor readings. Older neighbourhoods – with homes likely to use wood burning appliances – consistently have the highest readings of fine particulate matter.
Households that use wood burning appliances can help clear the air. By saving wood burning appliances for use during emergencies or extreme weather, those regular ‘peaks’ overnight can be reduced.
The City understands residents are concerned about affordability, and wants to be sure people are aware of the rebates available to upgrade their home heating. Information on rebates and air quality is available on the City website. For more information visit www.courtenay.ca/airquality.
Quotes
“We now have 20 local PurpleAir monitoring locations reporting measurements in the region. I applaud this regional collaboration and participatory science effort. It’s valuable to be able to see real time readings any time of day.” – City of Courtenay Mayor Bob Wells
“Large increases of fine particulate matter occur during winter evenings, and early mornings. This pattern is consistent with the times of day that people are likely to be home and using wood burning appliances.” – Jeanniene Tazzioli, City of Courtenay Manager of Environmental Engineering