•  
  •  
 

Faculty Advisor

Mark Potosnak

Abstract

Fire is used as a land management tool to improve ecosystem health and to reduce wildfire risk by lowering tree and litter density. However, prescribed fire as a management practice has faced difficulties with public perception, because of increased awareness of air pollution. Understanding the way that prescribed burns impact air quality and how beneficial they are for ecosystems can help the public to recognize their necessity. This study measured particulate matter (PM) emissions from prescribed burns but also considered other PM sources: fireworks and bonfires. The measurements were conducted in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Chicagoland area in the summer and fall of 2024. Low-cost instruments were used to measure particulate matter emissions and to evaluate air quality. The accuracy and use of these instruments were also considered in this study, particularly in relation to difficulties presented with freezing temperatures. While there were high Air Quality Index (AQI) values during the experiments, this study found that there were no long-term effects on air quality from any of the events. This underscores the fact that the negative smoke impacts from prescribed burns are far outweighed by the numerous benefits brought from prescribed burning.

Download

Share

COinS