Hazy, hot and humid. We hear this alliteration all the time during the summer months. Everyone knows what heat and humidity is.. But what exactly is haze?
Haze is an atmospheric phenomenon when sunlight encounters tiny pollution particles in the sky. Some light is absorbed, while other light is scattered about. This is what obscures the clarity of the sky. Some types of particles such as sulfates, scatter more light, particularly during humid conditions.
Some of the pollutants which form haze have also been linked to serious health problems - like respiratory illness, decreased lung function, and even premature death.
Is there anything that can be done about haze? To reduce haze, we must reduce emissions of haze-forming pollutants. State and local air quality agencies play an important role by ensuring that their laws and national regulations set by the U.S. EPA are followed. And because of this, cars and industries pollute far less now than they did in the past.
