Accuracy rate hit 75%, ozone forecasters report
Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2008
The Ozone Action Days Steering Committee reported Friday a 75 percent accuracy rate in forecasting ozone levels from May 1 through Sept. 30 this year.
In 2007, the group reported a 68 percent accuracy rate.
The group of central Arkansas air-quality experts, environmentalists and meteorologists forecasts and reports the levels annually and is tasked with raising public awareness. The committee met Friday to discuss the 2008 campaign for calling attention to ozone.
Ozone, the main component of smog, occurs naturally in the stratosphere and can form at ground level when car exhaust, fuel vapors or industrial emissions react to sunlight.
Mark McCorkle, environmental program manager in the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality’s Air Division and a committee member, reported that the 2008 ozone season included 129 green days (good ); 22 yellow days (unhealthy for some people to be outdoors ); and two orange days (unhealthy for anyone to be outdoors ).
Luis Gonzalez, of CJRW advertising firm, reported to committee members that 360 radio advertisements were used during ozone season. The 60-second ad-lib ads featured disc jockeys talking about the ozone forecast for each day.
A highlight of the campaign was Ride the Bus for Free Day, when 15, 800 people took Central Arkansas Transit Authority buses compared with the average 9, 000 riders per day.
“I think we’ve done a lot with a small budget to raise awareness,” said Jim McKenzie, executive director of Metroplan, the long-range transportation planning agency for central Arkansas, and committee member. He said the group has a budget of about $ 50, 000 to advertise.
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