ARL Weekly News – May 1, 2023
| Recent Events |
Illinois Dust Storms Renew Focus on Dust Storm Research
Dust storms in Illinois on May 1, 2023 resulted in a multiple car pileup in central Illinois on I-55, killing 7 people, injuring more than 37 people, and involving more than 70 vehicles. This tragic event brought renewed focus to the NOAA / GMU research led by Daniel Tong and recently published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society to document that highway fatalities from dust storms are significantly undercounted in the U.S. Dr. Tong’s research notes the importance of better reporting on the hazards of dust to help raise public awareness of this underreported hazard. Following the Illinois event, several journalists interviewed Dr. Tong and shared the research in stories in light of the recent deadly crash
NBCNews.com: Dust storms have killed hundreds and are a growing problem in the U.S.
Weather Channel: Dust storm traffic deaths are undercounted, NOAA study says
Air Quality Awareness Week
Air Quality Awareness Week (AQAW) 2023 was held May 1-5. ARL and NOAA, in partnership with EPA, NASA, the CDC, the US Forest Service, the US National Park Service, the US Department of Energy, and US Department of State and a range of state, local, and tribal agencies, shared information with the public about efforts to protect and improve air quality. This week also includes World Asthma Day on Tuesday, May 2.
