Visual air quality management

Abstract

Airborne particulate matter and certain gases can degrade visual air quality, reducing the public's ability to enjoy views of distant mountains and other scenic landmarks. Improving visual air quality can have economic, health and social benefits. Visual air quality can be assessed qualitatively using human perception of a scenic view as well as quantitatively by measuring the degree by which air pollutants interfere with light travelling through the atmosphere. Significant research has been undertaken in Canada since 1980 to further our understanding of visual air quality degradation, particularly in British Columbia. This work is laying the foundation for a numerical index to communicate visual air quality in British Columbia and Canada and for a strategy to protect and improve visual air quality in the future.