End of summer brings volatile air quality to the Bay Area

Over the past 10 years, Bay Area air quality has shown a trend of increasingly common spikes in pollution later in the summer, which come with increased health risks. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution is shown below.

Data shown using "Air Quality Index," or AQI, which is designed to be used as an air quality "thermometer," communicating air pollution concentrations using a number on a scale between 0 and 500.
Chart: Evan WylogeSource: Bay Area Air Quality Management DistrictGet the dataCreated with Datawrapper