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"1" sounds about right considering we have the two dirtiest coal-fired power plants in the West up here. They're going to start building another one this year or next.
I wonder if air quality can fall below 0? Did you folks know that the plume of filth from our plants can be seen from the space station, and that it runs right down to the Rio Grande valley?
I had looked up Farmington and it's right there with Dallas and Los Angeles. Sounds like those coal-fired plants are the reason for F's low AQ.
Even though, say Carlsbad, gets a rating of 13, that county is still coded green (not great, but not the worst) on the map on the link below. 13 sounds pretty bad to me.
I'm beginning to think there isn't much good air to breathe anymore, and it's all so confusing. I guess at my age, it doesn't really matter anyway, but I definitely prefer to stay out of the red zones.
Oh, yes, it still matters where you are. That air quallity map mystifies me; I can understand DFW being in the red (F) category, but a long stretch of land along the Rio Grande in TX is graded B, while nowhere in NM is it better than C. If I go 60 miles west of here, it makes a lot of difference in transparency and summer smog. I'm an amateur astronomer, and the night sky in parts of NM is as good as I've ever seen. (I realize that some pollutants are transparent, but it should count for something.)
There surely aren't many light blue areas in the country and dark blue, forget it. Right now, I live in a yellow area and if there is any substance whatsoever in this map, I would prefer to move up to a green. I can't see myself settling in any of the light blue areas. Actually, Montana would be delightful, but I know I'd freeze to death. Darn icy cold weather. Utah, probably still too cold and probably way too expensive for me. The border of Mexico, no way. I'm trying to escape the heat.
When I get some time I will look into the Air Quality in New Mexico and write up a little summary for you folks. It will take some time so please be patient.
When I get some time I will look into the Air Quality in New Mexico and write up a little summary for you folks. It will take some time so please be patient.
WE WANT IT NOW!!! (Just kidding )
When you do write it up, please give us if possible some idea of where the pollution comes from. For instance, how much of it is particles from wood stove, pellet stoves, etc? Does a significant amount blow in from other areas (a big problem in some parts of the east)? I remember when I lived in Vermont, you were supposed to limit yourself to one fish a week from the local waters. Problem was mercury, even though there were no sources in Vermont. It all wafted in with the breezes and fell with the gentle rain.
Oh, yes, it still matters where you are. That air quallity map mystifies me; I can understand DFW being in the red (F) category, but a long stretch of land along the Rio Grande in TX is graded B, while nowhere in NM is it better than C. If I go 60 miles west of here, it makes a lot of difference in transparency and summer smog. I'm an amateur astronomer, and the night sky in parts of NM is as good as I've ever seen. (I realize that some pollutants are transparent, but it should count for something.)
And we can see the Milky Way with our naked eye and the moon shines like a spotlight. Obviously the people who prepare these numbers have no romance in their souls.
I looked at a map of the continuously operating monitoring stations. Map Display
I would say that most counties don't have one. Then of those stations we do have, the overwhelming majority are located along the Rio Grand corridor. In addition, the stations tend to be in the cities -- e.g., two in Santa Fe City, none in the county outside the city.
So if you live in say, Red River or Ruidoso, I would take any numbers you see with grain of salt.
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I guess at my age, it doesn't really matter anyway, but I definitely prefer to stay out of the red zones. 
Actually, Montana would be delightful, but I know I'd freeze to death. Darn icy cold weather. Utah, probably still too cold and probably way too expensive for me. The border of Mexico, no way. I'm trying to escape the heat.
Where from?
)? I remember when I lived in Vermont, you were supposed to limit yourself to one fish a week from the local waters. Problem was mercury, even though there were no sources in Vermont. It all wafted in with the breezes and fell with the gentle rain.
The monitoring stations
