Fact Check: Last year was the third consecutive year in Fairbanks with more than a hundred hours of visibility-reducing smoke, marking the first time this has occurred.

Fact Check: "Last year was the third consecutive year in Fairbanks with more than a hundred hours of visibility-reducing smoke, marking the first time this has occurred."

What We Know

The claim states that Fairbanks has experienced more than a hundred hours of visibility-reducing smoke for three consecutive years, indicating a record occurrence. According to the Alaska's Changing Wildfire Environment report, this is indeed true; from 2022 to 2024, Fairbanks recorded more than 100 hours of smoke thick enough to reduce visibility to six miles or less for three consecutive summers. This data suggests a significant increase in smoke-related visibility issues in the region.

The Hazard Mapping System Fire and Smoke Product provides satellite data that supports the observation of smoke and fire events, which are crucial for understanding air quality and visibility conditions. The report indicates that the trend of increased smoke hours corresponds with larger and more frequent wildfires in Alaska, driven by climate change factors such as rising temperatures and longer growing seasons.

Analysis

While the claim is supported by credible sources, it is essential to evaluate the context and implications of the data. The Alaska's Changing Wildfire Environment report is a comprehensive analysis produced by the Alaska Fire Science Consortium, which is a reputable organization focused on wildfire research and management. This lends credibility to the assertion that Fairbanks has indeed experienced an unprecedented number of smoke hours.

However, the claim's phrasing could be misleading. While it states that this is the "first time" such a trend has occurred, it does not clarify that the increase in smoke hours is part of a broader trend of escalating wildfire activity in Alaska, which has been influenced by various environmental factors. The Hazard Mapping System indicates that while satellite data can provide insights into smoke and fire events, the interpretation of these data requires careful consideration of multiple variables, including fire intensity, weather conditions, and detection limitations.

Furthermore, the FNSB Air Quality Division and other monitoring sources corroborate the increased smoke levels but do not provide a historical context that would confirm the uniqueness of the last three years compared to earlier periods. This lack of historical data could lead to an incomplete understanding of the trend.

Conclusion

Verdict: Partially True

The claim that Fairbanks experienced more than a hundred hours of visibility-reducing smoke for three consecutive years is accurate based on available data. However, the assertion that this marks the "first time" such a trend has occurred lacks sufficient historical context to fully validate its uniqueness. The increase in smoke hours is part of a broader pattern of changing wildfire dynamics in Alaska, influenced by climate change and other environmental factors.

Sources

1. Hazard Mapping System Fire and Smoke Product
2. Alaska's Changing Wildfire Environment | Fire Research
3. Air Quality
4. Fairbanks State Office Building & Ncore Monitoring Data - PM2.5
5. FIRE WEATHER SUMMARY 2020
6. VAWS Presentation 4 May 2022
7. Alaska issues its first-ever heat advisory as Fairbanks ...
8. Air Quality