PennEnvironment

How Canadian wildfire smoke could impact the Lehigh Valley’s water, crops long term

How Canadian wildfire smoke could impact the Lehigh Valley’s water, crops long term

Weeks after the Lehigh Valley turned sepia toned from Canadian wildfire smoke, the skies have cleared and there’s even been some rain, even though it hasn’t been enough to push much of the state out of moderate drought status. While environmentalists and researchers said impacts on the region’s crops and water may be few due to the short duration of smoky days, it’s a largely understudied topic. However, as climate change worsens and the chance for more wildfires increases, experts said the impacts could similarly escalate.