Processed on 2024-03-04 12:42:54 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 December.

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.

December in Alaska

December 2014 – 4 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 28 45 11 4 0 0 5
New 20 52 11 5 0 0 5

December 2015 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 53 47 9 6 0 0 9
New 39 61 9 6 0 0 9

December 2016 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 44 55 9 7 0 0 9
New 35 64 9 7 0 0 9

December 2017 – 4 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 64 51 3 6 0 0 0
New 48 67 3 6 0 0 0

December 2018 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 77 37 8 1 0 0 1
New 59 55 8 1 0 0 1

December 2019 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 113 62 4 5 0 0 2
New 98 75 6 5 0 0 2

December 2020 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 86 51 7 6 0 0 5
New 69 68 7 6 0 0 5

December 2021 – 5 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 81 31 4 3 0 0 36
New 64 48 4 3 0 0 36

December 2022 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 116 46 9 6 0 0 9
New 101 61 9 6 0 0 9

December 2023 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 118 45 4 2 0 0 11
New 97 66 4 2 0 0 11