During the giant Everglades wildfire of August 2025, a UM team used a single-particle aerosol mass spectrometer to sample air quality over UM’s Virginia Key campus. They found elevated levels of potassium, sulfates, and nitrates in the atmosphere. “SPAMS picked up at least triple the number of particles we typically experience,” says researcher Cassandra Gaston.
The team is comparing samples before and after the fire to identify any heavy metals and the size of the aerosols, which may affect the danger they pose to human health. While air quality eventually improves after wildfires, the specifics depend on the weather. “How fast are the winds dissipating the smoke? Is there a rain event? … the lingering effects [of smoke] really depend on the interplay between how much is being emitted and the underlying meteorological conditions.”
View Related Expert Profiles: Go to Source
