Late Tuesday afternoon, a group of senior executives from New York's Related Companies, a prominent property developer, ascended the Edge observation deck atop 30 Hudson Yards, only to be taken aback by an alarming sight. The usually magnificent view of the city was obscured by a thick haze. Jeff Blau, the CEO of Related, expressed his astonishment, saying, "You can't see anything right now. I've never seen it so bad." The following day, the hazy air, originating from wildfires raging in Canada hundreds of miles away, would reach hazardous levels, triggering health warnings across eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. The smoke disrupted air travel, schools, and even Broadway shows, leading to an increase in hospital visits for asthma-related issues in New York City.
As New Yorkers grappled with the smoke-filled air and put on masks, they were reminded of the COVID-19 pandemic and its lingering effects. The sudden realization of being confronted by yet another crisis left many residents anxious. Helen Mannion, a commuter from Long Island, described her fear and the rapid change in the city, stating, "Yesterday turned so quickly. It was scary." The recurrence of such catastrophes in New York City raised the question of why the city seemed to bear the brunt of multiple disasters. However, if New Yorkers expanded their perspective beyond their own experiences, they would find that others were facing even more severe conditions. In Quebec, emergency services were overwhelmed by over 150 fires, most of which were out of control, resulting in the evacuation of entire towns. The situation was dire, with some fires still raging despite the efforts of firefighters. US President Joe Biden pledged to send additional firefighting personnel to assist the overwhelmed emergency services in Quebec. From the boreal forests of Canada to the southeastern United States, a common concern emerged: was this an isolated event for the eastern seaboard or the beginning of a recurring problem?
Mayor Eric Adams of New York City expressed his pessimism, stating that this event might be the first of many of similar magnitude, attributing it to climate change. Many scientists echoed this sentiment, agreeing that such occurrences were likely to become more frequent. However, precise predictions regarding the interplay between weather, climate, and human activity remained challenging.
The current smoke in the region was caused by an unusually intense wildfire season in Canada. The fires, which began earlier than usual, have burned over 4.3 million hectares, surpassing the annual average of the past decade. A combination of northerly and northwesterly winds, along with a persistent low-pressure system over New England, has transported the smoky air to the northeastern United States. The National Weather Service forecasted the continuation of this weather pattern for the next few days, with intermittent dense smoke affecting the mid-Atlantic region. While the northeast may experience temporary relief, meteorologists warned that the smoke could return later in the summer if the Canadian fires remain uncontained.
Timely rainfall could alleviate the situation in the short term, but experts emphasized the need to consider long-term patterns and trends. Carly Phillips, a researcher at the Union of Concerned Scientists, pointed out that fire activity was likely to increase in the future. While variations may occur from year to year, the overall trend indicates an upward trajectory. Amidst this environmental crisis, New Yorkers employed various coping mechanisms based on their means and circumstances. Some heeded the mayor's advice to stay indoors or were fortunate enough to work in buildings equipped with advanced air filtration systems, such as those in Hudson Yards. Others, like the construction workers at a downtown site on Hudson Street, received masks and safety briefings but later abandoned them as work resumed. Delivery workers.
The US National Weather Service has determined that a combination of northerly and northwesterly winds, along with a persistent area of low atmospheric pressure over New England, has transported smoky air to the northeastern region. This weather pattern is expected to persist over the next few days, bringing additional episodes of concentrated and dense smoke to the mid-Atlantic area until the arrival of a new weather system early next week. Although the northeast may experience a temporary respite, meteorologist Zack Taylor from the NWS warned that the smoke could return during the summer. The primary source of this smoke is the ongoing fires in Canada, and until those fires are brought under control, smoke will continue to be carried into the atmosphere. Depending on wind directions and weather patterns, some of the smoke may intermittently reach the United States.
While timely rainfall would be beneficial, Sarah Phillips from the Union of Concerned Scientists emphasized the importance of considering long-term trends. These recurring patterns over the course of decades indicate that fire activity is likely to increase in the future. Although it can fluctuate from year to year, the overall trend is upward. Meanwhile, individuals in the affected areas are left to cope with the situation using their available means. Some residents in New York City followed the mayor's advice to stay at home, while others had the luxury of working in modern high-rise buildings like Hudson Yards, equipped with advanced air filtration systems. Construction workers at a downtown site on Hudson Street, where a new office building is being constructed for the Disney company, were provided with masks and safety instructions. However, by midday on Thursday, many workers had discarded their masks and resumed work as usual. Gustavo Ajche, a founding member of Los Deliveristas Unidos, an association of delivery workers in New York City, reported experiencing headaches and eye irritation after his shift on Tuesday. Nevertheless, he wore an N95 mask during his work on Wednesday, presumably due to an increased number of takeout orders from people staying indoors. Ajche described the smoke as making him feel under attack, akin to another pandemic, and mentioned that the city resembled a scene from a futuristic movie.
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Uzair Ahmed Nasir
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