NYC: The City That Never Sleeps... or Breathes Clearly
So, you woke up one morning and thought, “Hey, why is the sky the color of a Cheetos puff?” Welcome to the club. In case you missed the memo, New York City briefly transformed into Mordor thanks to some particularly angry Canadian wildfires.
The Sky is Falling (Kind Of)
Let’s break this down. Normally, the sky is blue because of a little science thing called Rayleigh scattering. Basically, the Earth’s atmosphere is full of tiny particles that scatter blue light more than other colors. But when there’s a bunch of smoke hanging around, these particles get all buddy-buddy with the smoke particles and together they decide to scatter the red and orange light instead. Hence, orange sky. It's like a massive, unplanned light show put on by nature.
But seriously, folks, this isn’t something to laugh about. While the orange sky was undeniably a spectacle, the air quality was terrible. It was like living in a giant ashtray. So, if you're planning your next apocalypse-themed photoshoot, maybe hold off until the air clears.
What to Do When the Sky is Orange
- Don't Panic: Easier said than done, but try to stay calm. It's not aliens, or a nuclear winter (probably).
- Check the Air Quality Index: If it's high, stay indoors and keep your windows closed.
- Wear a Mask: If you must go outside, wear a high-quality mask to protect your lungs.
- Embrace the Apocalypse Aesthetic: Hey, at least your Instagram pics will look lit.
How to Survive an Orange Sky
- How to protect your lungs during poor air quality? Stay indoors, use air purifiers, and wear a high-quality mask when going outside.
- How to check the air quality index? Use a reliable air quality app or website.
- How to prepare for poor air quality emergencies? Have an emergency kit ready with essentials like masks, air purifiers, and medications.
- How to reduce your contribution to air pollution? Opt for public transportation, carpool, or bike whenever possible.
- How to support wildfire relief efforts? Donate to organizations working to combat wildfires and support affected communities.