They're flying over your area as we go ta press this morning. Low flying 'copters pinpoint your house, place it on the grid, and two days later, you'll be summoned to appear in court.
Yes, you do get the chance to defend your decision ta pollute our atmosphere, instead of merely purchasing clean, environmentally friendly, hydro-power, produced by your county PUD ta energize those baseboard heaters throughout your abode.
BurningJournaldotcom's legal team is preoccupied this year (already) defending other members. Looks like the legal team might be able to help with your defense by April. And remember, since you are a member in good standing, they will wave all charges and do your case PRO BONO! It'll be their pleasure ta help!
-- Edited by Uke on Monday 14th of January 2013 10:08:05 AM
Calvin said
10:04 PM, 01/14/13
Theres a lot more deadly shit gettin put in the air than wood smoke.
Calvin said
11:16 PM, 01/14/13
I guess its like a Temperature Inversion where the air is trapped and cannot circulate, kinda like letting yer car run in an closed garage.
The Krink said
10:19 AM, 01/15/13
The Earth's atmosphere deals with a lot of wood smoke on a yearly basis. Even if there were no inhabitants on the planet, all the forest fires caused by lightning every year around the world would generate a lot of wood smoke. I guess I'm a last generation "wood-burner". I've known this for a few years now. I just go one year at a time with the "wood". Its what I've done for the last 22 years. So I check the Monday paper and see that the "Air Quality Index" now reads "170" so its getting worse. Not exactly sure where those readings are taken from, probly SeaTac or some place next to I-5 in Seattle. So considering the "situation" and the need to heat my home/me, I'm going with the 6PM igniting of "the fire" and keep that "black-box" glowing until bedtime which is about 2AM. Its so warm in here at 2AM that it makes me sleepy. The house will hold the heat just fine for the next 16 hours...this with everything frozen out conditions. I got a very reliable way to keep warm. So I'm not burning a fire during the daylight hours when people are out and about. I'm trying to be considerate.
The Krink said
11:25 AM, 01/15/13
I found this YouTube video of a guy that can say "what I'm thinkin' about the value of a "woodstove". Its so time tested.
Snippy said
1:28 PM, 01/15/13
The Krink wrote:
Not exactly sure where those readings are taken from, probly SeaTac or some place next to I-5 in Seattle.
Wow Snippy you are right on top of things here and everywhere. I made the above website a "Favorite" so no more wondering whats happening with the air. Tuesday was a sunny day and I could sense the air was of better quality. A little circulation of air has brought my area to "Yellow" now which is a "Phase 1 burn ban". Doesnt change my fire plans any. I make about a half dozen trips out at night onto my gravel driveway to where I can observe my chimney/stack and there is "nothing to see"...which is perfection. Just like those old steam engines which I was told that the ones that had a clear steam exhaust were the ones running like they should.
Uke said
5:44 PM, 01/16/13
Good running diesels (locomotive engines) usually show only those wavy lines of heat out the stack. Then again the big outfits hardly have time ta change brake shoes, let alone due proper maintenance on the entire unit!
Certain 40+ locomotives are still working because shop have learned ta pay attention ta the local EPA rules about stack emissions. 2LARRCO has a lot ta learn, but once Uncle Warren starts paying fines for smking, idling power in yards things might change...slowly.
At the moment... The entire Puget Sound region is in this 'winter' stagnant air phenomenon. The region, sort of locked into a zone between the Cascade Mountains to our east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west... And the population of energy users increases daily. More cars, trucks, buildings... Cars, and trucks idling in traffic jams during commutes to, and from work, and delivery destinations...
The air here... It's pretty bad right now. Yesterday was a beautiful day! Yet at the very top of the hill near where I live, the view west, towards the Coast Range, and turning around...towards the Cascades...you could see that hazy brown smear across the panorama! Smog. There's plain evidence of that air-stagnation' phenom...
Expect it'll get worse before it ever gets better, and we're causing it.
FMB said
7:10 PM, 01/16/13
Doesn't China know about "Clean Coal" technology....?
Uke said
8:42 PM, 01/16/13
You'd think by now they'd know! Meanwhile closer ta home...
Originally published January 15, 2013 at 10:14 PM | Page modified January 15, 2013 at 10:13 PM
Drier weather brings stagnant air
Seattles weather will be drier than normal for the next week or so, but stagnant air is keeping pollutants in place.
The bottom half of Mount Rainier disappeared behind a layer of stagnant air on Tuesday afternoon. The Weather Service has warned that a stagnant air mass had formed over much of Western Washington and is expected to build over the next few days.
The good news: The Puget Sound area is expected to stay dry for days, possibly into next week.
The bad: Stagnant air is trapping pollutants, triggering a burn ban and health concerns.
The weird: Thanks to a widespread temperature inversion, it was 40 degrees at the 5,000-foot level of Mount Baker at 4 a.m. Tuesday while it was only 18 degrees at 4,000 feet.
The high pressure has created a lid of warm air, and its staying over us, said Johnny Burg of the National Weather Service, Theres no wind coming from anywhere.
The Weather Service warned that a stagnant air mass had formed over much of Western Washington and is expected to build over the next few days, trapping pollutants from sources such as vehicle exhaust and wood smoke.
The situation eased somewhat through the day Tuesday, prompting the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency to scale back the burn-ban it ordered Monday.
Fires are still not allowed in fireplaces or uncertified woodstoves, and outdoor fires, including bonfires, campfires and fire pits are also banned in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties.
But the use of EPA-certified woodstoves or fireplace inserts is allowed. (That'd probably mean Krink's set up is A-OK!)
The agency said recent studies have tied wood-smoke exposure to health problems such as aggravated asthma, increased heart attacks, acute bronchitis and chronic lung disease.
Another side effect of cool air pooling in the lowlands is that even though no precipitation is forecast for the next few days in the Puget Sound area, freezing fog could form on roads and highways, particularly in the early morning.
In a normal winter-weather pattern, Burg said, storms spread though Western Washington, moving pollutants up and out of the area.
When you have no wind, theres no mixing of the atmosphere, he said.
Although Tuesday was expected to be the fifth consecutive dry day at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the month is actually still slightly wetter than normal due largely to a 1.51-inch soaking last Wednesday.
Through Monday, January rainfall at the airport was 2.71 inches, .07 inches more than normal at this point in the month.
That will likely change in the next few days, and this will become a drier-than-normal January, Burg said.
Overnight low temperatures just below freezing are forecast for the Seattle area for the next five days, with daytime highs in the high 30s to 40.
Dr. Michael Kennedy of the Northwest Asthma and Allergy Center said air pollution can be a significant hazard, particularly if children with asthma play outside strenuously.
Even people who dont have asthma, but have a respiratory infection such as cold, may get worse if theyre exposed to smoke and air pollution, he said
Jack Broom: jbroom@seattletimes.com
The Krink said
9:56 AM, 01/17/13
It's probly a good thing that every house around me isnt burning wood for heat. I'm the lone wood burner in the cul-de-sac. I'm surrounded by forests. I live way out where people still burn wood for heat. Somehow we got included into "whats good for city dwellers" policies. I continue to use the heating system the house I moved into 22 years has. A woodstove that will amaze you in its "bun-warming" capabilty.
The Krink said
10:43 AM, 01/17/13
I can tell you without a doubt the most annoying "inhalent" during the really cold weather is "diesel smoke" trapped ground level. Working at the bridge with a 4- lane freeway above me and a Weyerhauser log yard across from me with the diesel belching huge log loading machinery, the air got very bad. Diesel smoke is pretty bad especially if it dint come from a railroad source. I think the railroads must add some "fragrance" to their diesel oil.
Thunderwagon5000 said
6:12 PM, 01/17/13
The Krink wrote:
I can tell you without a doubt the most annoying "inhalent" during the really cold weather is "diesel smoke" trapped ground level. Working at the bridge with a 4- lane freeway above me and a Weyerhauser log yard across from me with the diesel belching huge log loading machinery, the air got very bad. Diesel smoke is pretty bad especially if it dint come from a railroad source. I think the railroads must add some "fragrance" to their diesel oil.
Yeah some kinda aromatherapy uv drug maybe. Or...the smoke is so toxic is stuns you into a false perception that things are OK like a hydrocarbon barbiturate analog or sumthang. :)
Uke said
6:24 PM, 01/17/13
Told the youngsters at Interbay ta put 'em under load as soon as possible! Get the water, and oil hot, and warm up the fuel...
But as usual they just listened ta the dopes who knew zip about how ta do it right! Diesel engines hate cold! They run best HOT! Like 180-190 degrees...all the time! Fan control switches are set to open the shutter, and start cooling at pre-sets that are lower than those temps. But realistically EMDs run best hot! GEs are hot runners without tinkering, but also run best under load when they're cold started! GEs won't load ta 8-notch right away though. Once they reach 135, then ya can het 'em up!
I like that BIG power surge with both bigs... Nothin' like a hot Dash-9, or an older EMD loaded ta full throttle! Nothin' but heat comin' out the stack!
The GPNW is in a "Phase 2 Burn Ban" which means you cant burn anything
"unless its your only adequate source of heat". Well my home is setup to
burn wood for heat every winter. I always keep a hot fire going and nearly
any smoke. These burn bans are hard to figure out "the enforcement".
Dont know if its just a "scare tactic" or not. Just know I feel better about
keeping warm when there is no burn ban. The reason for the burn-ban is
cold stagnant air...really cold and everybody around these parts are
doing what they have to to keep warm. I just go to my woodpile.
The Saturday Herald reported for Saturday that the "Air Quality Index"
shows a reading of "104" which means "Unhealthy (for sensitive groups)".
The scale shown in the newspaper goes from "0-500". From "301-500" is
"Hazardous". So when I read this article about Beijing air quality going
to "700-800" it's got to be a nightmare to breathe.
Beijing warns residents after off-the-charts smog
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_CHINA_AIR_POLLUTION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-01-13-05-02-55
They're flying over your area as we go ta press this morning. Low flying 'copters pinpoint your house, place it on the grid, and two days later, you'll be summoned to appear in court.
Yes, you do get the chance to defend your decision ta pollute our atmosphere, instead of merely purchasing clean, environmentally friendly, hydro-power, produced by your county PUD ta energize those baseboard heaters throughout your abode.
BurningJournaldotcom's legal team is preoccupied this year (already) defending other members. Looks like the legal team might be able to help with your defense by April. And remember, since you are a member in good standing, they will wave all charges and do your case PRO BONO! It'll be their pleasure ta help!
-- Edited by Uke on Monday 14th of January 2013 10:08:05 AM
Theres a lot more deadly shit gettin put in the air than wood smoke.
I guess its like a Temperature Inversion where the air is trapped and cannot circulate, kinda like letting yer car run in an closed garage.
Even if there were no inhabitants on the planet, all the forest fires caused
by lightning every year around the world would generate a lot of wood smoke.
I guess I'm a last generation "wood-burner". I've known this for a few years
now. I just go one year at a time with the "wood". Its what I've done for the
last 22 years. So I check the Monday paper and see that the "Air Quality
Index" now reads "170" so its getting worse. Not exactly sure where those
readings are taken from, probly SeaTac or some place next to I-5 in Seattle.
So considering the "situation" and the need to heat my home/me, I'm going
with the 6PM igniting of "the fire" and keep that "black-box" glowing until
bedtime which is about 2AM. Its so warm in here at 2AM that it makes me
sleepy. The house will hold the heat just fine for the next 16 hours...this with
everything frozen out conditions. I got a very reliable way to keep warm.
So I'm not burning a fire during the daylight hours when people are out
and about. I'm trying to be considerate.
I found this YouTube video of a guy that can say "what I'm thinkin' about
the value of a "woodstove". Its so time tested.
http://www.pscleanair.org/airq/network/default.aspx
I made the above website a "Favorite" so no more wondering whats
happening with the air. Tuesday was a sunny day and I could sense
the air was of better quality. A little circulation of air has brought my
area to "Yellow" now which is a "Phase 1 burn ban". Doesnt change
my fire plans any. I make about a half dozen trips out at night onto
my gravel driveway to where I can observe my chimney/stack and
there is "nothing to see"...which is perfection. Just like those old
steam engines which I was told that the ones that had a clear steam
exhaust were the ones running like they should.
Certain 40+ locomotives are still working because shop have learned ta pay attention ta the local EPA rules about stack emissions.
2LARRCO has a lot ta learn, but once Uncle Warren starts paying fines for smking, idling power in yards things might change...slowly.
At the moment... The entire Puget Sound region is in this 'winter' stagnant air phenomenon. The region, sort of locked into a zone between the Cascade Mountains to our east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west... And the population of energy users increases daily. More cars, trucks, buildings... Cars, and trucks idling in traffic jams during commutes to, and from work, and delivery destinations...
The air here... It's pretty bad right now. Yesterday was a beautiful day! Yet at the very top of the hill near where I live, the view west, towards the Coast Range, and turning around...towards the Cascades...you could see that hazy brown smear across the panorama! Smog. There's plain evidence of that air-stagnation' phenom...
Expect it'll get worse before it ever gets better, and we're causing it.
Doesn't China know about "Clean Coal" technology....?
You'd think by now they'd know! Meanwhile closer ta home...
Originally published January 15, 2013 at 10:14 PM | Page modified January 15, 2013 at 10:13 PM
Drier weather brings stagnant air
Seattles weather will be drier than normal for the next week or so, but stagnant air is keeping pollutants in place.
By Jack Broom
Seattle Times staff reporter
PREV 1 of 2 NEXT
The Seattle Times
The bottom half of Mount Rainier disappeared behind a layer of stagnant air on Tuesday afternoon. The Weather Service has warned that a stagnant air mass had formed over much of Western Washington and is expected to build over the next few days.
The good news: The Puget Sound area is expected to stay dry for days, possibly into next week.
The bad: Stagnant air is trapping pollutants, triggering a burn ban and health concerns.
The weird: Thanks to a widespread temperature inversion, it was 40 degrees at the 5,000-foot level of Mount Baker at 4 a.m. Tuesday while it was only 18 degrees at 4,000 feet.
The high pressure has created a lid of warm air, and its staying over us, said Johnny Burg of the National Weather Service, Theres no wind coming from anywhere.
The Weather Service warned that a stagnant air mass had formed over much of Western Washington and is expected to build over the next few days, trapping pollutants from sources such as vehicle exhaust and wood smoke.
The situation eased somewhat through the day Tuesday, prompting the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency to scale back the burn-ban it ordered Monday.
Fires are still not allowed in fireplaces or uncertified woodstoves, and outdoor fires, including bonfires, campfires and fire pits are also banned in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties.
But the use of EPA-certified woodstoves or fireplace inserts is allowed. (That'd probably mean Krink's set up is A-OK!)
The agency said recent studies have tied wood-smoke exposure to health problems such as aggravated asthma, increased heart attacks, acute bronchitis and chronic lung disease.
Another side effect of cool air pooling in the lowlands is that even though no precipitation is forecast for the next few days in the Puget Sound area, freezing fog could form on roads and highways, particularly in the early morning.
In a normal winter-weather pattern, Burg said, storms spread though Western Washington, moving pollutants up and out of the area.
When you have no wind, theres no mixing of the atmosphere, he said.
Although Tuesday was expected to be the fifth consecutive dry day at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the month is actually still slightly wetter than normal due largely to a 1.51-inch soaking last Wednesday.
Through Monday, January rainfall at the airport was 2.71 inches, .07 inches more than normal at this point in the month.
That will likely change in the next few days, and this will become a drier-than-normal January, Burg said.
Overnight low temperatures just below freezing are forecast for the Seattle area for the next five days, with daytime highs in the high 30s to 40.
Dr. Michael Kennedy of the Northwest Asthma and Allergy Center said air pollution can be a significant hazard, particularly if children with asthma play outside strenuously.
Even people who dont have asthma, but have a respiratory infection such as cold, may get worse if theyre exposed to smoke and air pollution, he said
Jack Broom: jbroom@seattletimes.com
wood for heat. I'm the lone wood burner in the cul-de-sac. I'm
surrounded by forests. I live way out where people still burn wood
for heat. Somehow we got included into "whats good for city
dwellers" policies. I continue to use the heating system the house
I moved into 22 years has. A woodstove that will amaze you in
its "bun-warming" capabilty.
during the really cold weather is "diesel smoke" trapped
ground level. Working at the bridge with a 4- lane freeway above
me and a Weyerhauser log yard across from me with the diesel
belching huge log loading machinery, the air got very bad.
Diesel smoke is pretty bad especially if it dint come from a
railroad source. I think the railroads must add some "fragrance"
to their diesel oil.
Yeah some kinda aromatherapy uv drug maybe. Or...the smoke is so toxic is stuns you into a false perception that things are OK like a hydrocarbon barbiturate analog or sumthang. :)
But as usual they just listened ta the dopes who knew zip about how ta do it right! Diesel engines hate cold! They run best HOT! Like 180-190 degrees...all the time! Fan control switches are set to open the shutter, and start cooling at pre-sets that are lower than those temps. But realistically EMDs run best hot! GEs are hot runners without tinkering, but also run best under load when they're cold started! GEs won't load ta 8-notch right away though. Once they reach 135, then ya can het 'em up!
I like that BIG power surge with both bigs... Nothin' like a hot Dash-9, or an older EMD loaded ta full throttle! Nothin' but heat comin' out the stack!