Processed on 2024-03-04 12:42:17 PST.


Disclaimer: Data presented here come from a variety of sources and do not represent official EPA measurements. Please visit AirNow for official measurements.


Cumulative exposure to smoke is an important public health metric. This report summarizes the cumulative number of days air quality monitors in Alaska spent in each AQI category during the the month of August.

The tables below include only permanent monitors measuring PM2.5 and show cumulative exposure under existing NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards) and under the 2024 revised standards for PM2.5.

In the tables and plots below, ‘Old’ designates cumulative days calculated using the 2023 PM2.5 NAAQS while ‘New’ is calculated using the 2024 revised PM2.5 NAAQS. The impact of the NAAQS revision is quite clear.

August in Alaska

August 2014 – 4 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 88 0 0 0 0 0 8
New 87 1 0 0 0 0 8

August 2015 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 111 2 0 0 0 0 15
New 104 9 0 0 0 0 15

August 2016 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 104 0 0 0 0 0 24
New 102 2 0 0 0 0 24

August 2017 – 4 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 121 1 0 0 0 0 6
New 121 1 0 0 0 0 6

August 2018 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 116 1 0 0 0 0 11
New 115 2 0 0 0 0 11

August 2019 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 109 21 1 4 0 0 25
New 100 30 1 4 0 0 25

August 2020 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 132 0 0 0 0 0 28
New 132 0 0 0 0 0 28

August 2021 – 5 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 86 3 0 0 0 0 7
New 85 4 0 0 0 0 7

August 2022 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 153 0 0 0 0 0 7
New 153 0 0 0 0 0 7

August 2023 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 147 13 5 17 0 0 10
New 144 16 5 14 3 0 10