What meteorological factors are considered when field burning?
The key to limiting the impact of field burning on human activity is to burn only when the smoke will rise rapidly and move away from populated areas. We continually monitor weather conditions both at the surface and aloft to determine if and when it is appropriate to burn. The day begins in the Oregon Agricultural Weather Center, with an analysis of the morning weather balloon sounding from the Salem Airport. The balloon instrument package measures temperature and humidity as it ascends. By tracking the movement of the balloon, we can calculate wind direction and speed in the atmosphere above the ground. By analyzing temperature and humidity, we can determine the stability of the lower layers of the atmosphere and assess the potential height of smoke rise, and the likely direction of smoke movement and dispersion. Weather patterns can, and usually do, change during the day. Therefore, a constant watch of weather conditions continues from early in the morning through fires-out time in
