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IN THE MEDIA: Why wildfire smoke still catches cities off guard

Bloomberg: By Summer Maxwell

Scientists say predicting smoke behavior still pivots on uncertainties, leaving communities with little heads-up before unhealthy conditions.

Daniel Tong, associate professor in the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Earth Sciences, spoke with Bloomberg about the complexities of forecasting where wildfire smoke will travel and how severely it will affect air quality.

Smoke in NYC caused by Canadian Fires
Smoke from wildfires in Canada reached New York City on July 16.Photographer: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg

Wildfire smoke can travel thousands of miles, but predicting its path and impact requires scientists to account for changing fire behavior, weather conditions, smoke-plume height, atmospheric movement, and other variables. Tong and his colleagues are helping advance tools that provide communities with more reliable warnings during extreme smoke events.

Read the article in Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-24/why-is-it-so-hard-to-predict-wildfire-smoke?

 

When wildfire smoke affects our region, George Mason College of Science experts help explain what is happening, why it matters, and how people can protect themselves.

Daniel Tong, associate professor in the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Earth Sciences, explains how smoke from Canadian wildfires traveled thousands of miles to the Washington, D.C., area, the health risks associated with fine-particle pollution, and precautions people can take during poor air quality conditions.

Read his expert perspective: https://science.gmu.edu/news/statement-air-quality-alerts-caused-canadian-fire-smoke-daniel-tong

 

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