Haze is a mix of air pollution, dust, and smoke that can be man-made or natural and affects visibility and climate. It can contain pollutants that harm human health and safety. Researchers study it to prevent its negative effects and issue warnings to the public.
Haze is an airborne mix of air pollution, dust and smoke that impairs visibility and interacts with the natural environment. It can be man-made or natural and plays a role in weather conditions and climate change. Researchers have devoted considerable attention to this phenomenon since the 1970s, when climate scientists first became aware of the role haze played in meteorology and overall climate trends. Studies on this topic frequently appear in specialized journals dedicated to meteorology and climate research.
This mix can include an assortment of aerosolized pollutants, including small particulates such as soot, along with gases emitted by industrial manufacturing plants. It can be brown to blue in color and can create a plume across the landscape. While not always immediately visible to the naked eye, haze can appear in imaging studies, particularly with the use of filters to polarize the landscape and make patterns in the air more visible.
The particles in the haze can block and absorb sunlight, changing the way light behaves. This can be seen at dawn and dusk, where the light can appear particularly vivid or strange due to the way the haze disrupts light transmission. The mixture can also appear with other pollutants such as smog and can create layers of pollution that can become trapped in areas such as valleys and natural depressions in the earth, along with harbors and other low-lying areas.
Visually, it can be a problem because it reduces visibility. This can be a problem for navigation, photography, scientific observations and other activities. Navigation problems can be a special concern for large vessels that cannot easily stop or turn away from danger. Photographers may notice, for example, that haze obscures images taken near or on the horizon. It may be necessary to use special lenses and other tools for visibility.
In addition to visibility, haze also poses a risk to the climate. Particulate matter can create pockets of increased humidity and can affect precipitation rates and cloud formation. It can also contribute to warming and cooling trends by changing air patterns and light transmission from the sun. Furthermore, it can be a threat to human health and safety, as it can contain pollutants that enter the airways and cause irritation.
For these reasons, researchers map and track the movement of the haze to learn more about how it behaves. Their goal is to prevent it if possible. They also issue warnings to members of the public if it looks set to create health problems.
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