West Coast wildfire smoke reaches New York City
July 21, 2021, 7:04 am

West Coast wildfire smoke reaches New York City

The Hill reported according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) smoke from the wildfires ravaging the West Coast is reaching as far east as New York City.

The wildfires, 80 of which were reported as of Monday in 13 different states, are causing harmful air quality conditions across the country.

Satellite footage shared by NOAA showed the smoke is visible from space, and is working its way across North America.

According to the Hill, among the fires is the massive Oregon Bootleg blaze, which had spread to more than 300,000 acres as of Tuesday and was 30 percent contained.

The blaze's size is creating many hurdles for firefighters, including its potential for creating its own dangerous weather conditions, including fire clouds and fire tornados.

A few hundred fires have also been burning in western and central Canada, leading to state of emergencies.

Citing Reuters, The Hill reported that the jet stream is carrying smoke, ash, dust and other particulate matter across the country, causing harmful effects. In New York City, the air quality index (AQI) got up to 170, dubbed as "unhealthy" air by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Smoke from wildfires across the western US and southern Canada is resulting in air quality issues as far east as portions of the Upper Midwest and even the Northeast US.

The smoke will also mean hazy skies and spectacular sunsets for many.

The Hill said ,Journalist Keith Olbermann referred to the haze in New York City as being "as thick as winter fog" and smelling "acrid."

"But the fires are 2500 miles away in California and Oregon."

The journalist added, "it’s our problem now. Just like the man-made climate change disaster is our problem now."

According to officials, people should use protective masks outside to help combat the air pollution's harmful effects

Source: thehill
Image source: Getty images-thehill

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.