You're looking at a classic view of Orange County during the summer months. The brownish haze -- which was really visible on Monday -- is caused by a combination of pollution, weather conditions and topography, all explained before.
If you didn’t know that summer officially began late Saturday night, you would be simply looking out a window today. The light brownish haze that’s so common this time of year shrouded the base of the Santa Ana Mountains on Monday, as seen from Santa Ana. And you’re likely to see it again on Tuesday. And Wednesday. And …
The haze is mostly moisture, particles and pollution pinned near the surface by warm, heavy air above, as the graphic shows.
The National Weather Service says Tuesday’s temperatures will again be in the upper 70s and 80s inland, and the upper 60s at the coast. Ocean sea surface temperatures 64-69 degrees. Forecasters say mid-level altocumulus clouds, which turn skies the color and pattern of a mackerel’s skin, might drift in on Wednesday.
Story by Ben Young Landis. Graphic by Cindy O’Dell
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Who’s pollution? Is that haze the result of Chinese coal burning power plants and Chinese autos without pollution controls? What burns in China is smoke in the United States! We can thank China for the nice red (Red! get it?) sunsets!
X-DEM–
dont know where you grew up, but we can’t cant blame this on china! or you either science dude— having grown up in l.a. county— and im now 50+ and lived all over california and that aint coming from china dudes!! it’s comin from right here in so california where we have over 2 times more autos than any other state, more roads people and smog!!!! and i think there may be a lady scientist who found that ocean air and moisture makes it worse too!
so x-dem, sorry but the brown layer over irvine mountains is all usa petrolium based! and arent we the clever ones getting all the cheap labor done in china–
earth aint that big DUDES….
MC 2 = E
Wait, was Cynthia actually defending me? That doesn’t happen often.
The haze is George W. Bush’s fault…
what is the name of the beautiful tree with purple flowers?
I think it is a jacaranda.
Yes, that looks like it. Thank you so much, Gary!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacaranda
love your ScienceDude
The haze is everyone’s fault.
These are the same conditions that create fog, but our pollution gives it the unnatural color, correct? At any rate, our air is actually much improved compared to 30 years ago. When you consider how many more people and vehicles there are on the road, it gives you an idea of how successful we can be with cleaner vehicles and more efficient engine technology. Still just par for the course in the basin though, unfortunately.
Yep! The haze is the fault of all the California oil burners. One problem though, there has been an onshore breeze for quite a while, so perhaps is the California driver’s exhaust that was blown inland, around over the U.S. East Coast, over Europe and Asia and then back over the Pacific to California. Yep! THAT is the cause of the haze. EVERYTHING is OUR fault. Now if we built more coal burning power plants to support a population of ONE BILLION, then it would really be our fault! Or would it be some other country who’s name I dare not answer.
What in the holy hell are you going on about? The pollution trapped in the LA basin and Inland Empire reference in this article are from cars, trains, factories and aircraft in Southern California.
you and i r on same page…
what can we do??
cyn
There is nobody more grateful for the reduction in smog that I am. But the automakers fought regulation tooth and nail. Now, smog is enough to worry about, without even considering global warming. Park your cars, people.
Gary’s right - the haze is everybody’s fault. And I agree with Iwps: “Park your cars, people.”
yes gary– mr. mr sciencey pants! i am giving you speck and agreeing!
a person would have to be an absolute idiot to not support science and nature!! and even though our world is soooooooo fancy and emaily and techie and TWITTERY (?)
PHYSICS do still apply! what goes up and out comes back!! we just dont always know when or how hard! man-made (and woman made) stuff will always break! Nature don’t break! ask the unfrozen dinasaurs! hee hee–
earth and nature will go on with or without us humans—- i dont think we should continue to FORCE our power and control against our air that we breathe and ocean that covers 2/3 or our little home earth.
there isnt going to be a BIG bunker or big cave (a la “impact”) —–
; )
go earth go physics
go not oc go not human’s who have $$$$ and control (?) to gain
MC2 = E