Due to increased public concerns over windblown dust in the Coachella Valley, South Coast AQMD has expanded dust monitoring capabilities. As part of this effort, South Coast AQMD deployed an environmental monitoring camera over the Coachella Valley, in San Jacinto State Park overlooking the northwestern portion of the Valley. We are also relaying images collected by UC San Diego’s ALERTCalifornia and HPWREN cameras on Toro Peak overlooking the area from Indio to the north Salton Sea shore. Camera locations and their viewing areas are shown in the map below.
San Jacinto State Park
Toro Peak East
Toro Peak North
Camera imagery is used to identify areas that have the highest windblown dust emission rates. This is done by first postprocessing images to increase contrast throughout the images, examining the images to identify plumes from blowing dust, and finally determining where those plumes originate. This analysis is part of an exploratory effort to better understand the dust source regions. Images available on this page are refreshed every 10 minutes and are not postprocessed to increase contrast.
The information about potentially emissive areas is used to improve the daily air quality forecast for particle pollution (PM10) and advisories for predicted high levels of PM10 due to windblown dust.
How to find the current air quality in your area
Many factors influence the appearance of dust plumes on camera imagery and so it should not be used to quantify PM10 concentrations or air quality index levels. Varying sun elevation, particle size distribution, chemical composition, surface reflectance, and other factors make quantifying PM10 concentration from camera images difficult. To check real-time PM10 and AQI levels, check the South Coast AQMD mobile app or website at www.aqmd.gov/aqimap. Sign up for alerts when air quality is poor at www.airalerts.org. These resources use real-time data from South Coast AQMD’s comprehensive air monitoring network in Coachella Valley.