The Indiana Department of Environmental Management forecasted an Air Quality Action Day for Northwest Indiana for Wednesday, according to a department announcement.
“Warm temperatures, a lingering boundary to the south, and relatively light winds coming off of Lake Michigan are expected to (contribute) to elevated ozone levels,” said IDEM’s announcement.
Ozone concentrates and mixes with other pollutants, turning to smog, according to the American Lung Association.
Northwest Indiana includes Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Jasper and Newton counties, according to IDEM.
The Air Quality Action Day is in effect from midnight to 11:59 p.m. Wednesday.
The Air Quality Action Day is because of high ozone levels, which are expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines sensitive groups as people with heart or lung diseases, those with diabetes, older adults and children.
“Weather conditions appear favorable to help clear out pollutants Wednesday evening,” IDEM Communications Director Allen Carter said in an email. “However, IDEM meteorologists will monitor the forecast tomorrow to determine whether the (air quality action day advisory) needs to be extended.”
According to Post-Tribune archives, IDEM issues Air Quality Action Days when fine particulate matter or ozone levels will be high throughout the day. The department recently announced it will issue Local Air Quality Advisories when short-term fine particulate matter levels increase overnight or in early morning.
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According to a Valparaiso University news release, the school’s ozone garden has “indicated significant, unexpected spikes in overnight ozone levels,” which are preliminary findings in a research project between faculty and students.
Researchers planted ozone-sensitive plants, including certain species of snap beans, milkweed and coneflower, according to the school’s news release, as well as ozone-resistant plants, including other types of snap beans. Elevated ozone levels can be shown when ozone-sensitive plants show damage signs, but the others remain healthy.
Findings from the garden research indicate an ozone spike between midnight and 2 a.m., which Valparaiso Assistant Professor Katelyn Barber said in a news release is unusual. Ozone levels should be tied “more closely to the sun cycle,” she added, with the highest concentration at about 5 to 6 p.m.
Barber and Lynne Thissen, a Valparaiso University environmental science and meteorology major, will participate in a 10-week U.S. Department of Energy research program to have better access to resources and further the garden’s research.
Barber and Thissen’s results are expected to be complete in late July, according to the university.