The Science of Wildfire Smoke

Learn how a team of researchers explored wildlife smoke including how it interacts with light and clouds and how the chemical components released into the atmosphere change over time. 

UCAR

This short video describes the science questions that researchers hoped to answer during a project called the Western Wildfire Experiments for Cloud Chemistry, Aerosol Absorption, and Nitrogen (WE-CAN). The project, which took place in the summer of 2018, explored how smoke interacts with light and clouds and how the chemical components released into the atmosphere change over time. Research like this helps improve air quality predictions. 

For more information about the project and a teachers guide, visit the links below.