Missoula Technology &
Development Center

Evaluation of Optical Instruments for Real-Time Continuous Monitoring of Smoke Particulates

Recommendations

Accurately estimating ambient particle concentrations from their light-scattering and absorption properties is a difficult proposition. Accuracy could be improved by calibrating the instruments for a type of fire event and accounting for meteorological conditions and the existing levels of ambient particles. Conditions to consider include the:

Age of the smoke.

Type of fire, whether flaming or smoldering.

Fuel moisture.

Relative humidity.

Background particle concentration without smoke from the fire.

Monitoring estimates also could be compared to the estimates from a good real-time smoke model.

E-mail: wo_mtdc_webmaster@fs.fed.us

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