The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is working on a new forecasting model that could predict how the weather affects pollen in the air, and vice versa. Veuer’s Matt Hoffman has the details.
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00:00 Allergy season is upon us, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says they're developing a new tool with which to fight back.
00:07 It's an experimental forecasting model designed to predict how pollen in the air will be affected by the weather, and vice versa.
00:14 NOAA says that weather can affect how bad your allergies get.
00:17 For example, rain can cleanse the air, but thunderstorms can concentrate pollen particles in a way that makes them more irritating.
00:24 Apparently, pollen can affect the weather as well, in ways such as scattering sunlight or helping to form clouds.
00:30 So what good does predicting these interactions do?
00:32 Jordan Schnell, a scientist at the NOAA's Global Systems Laboratory, says,
00:36 "With real-time predictions of pollen and where it is transported, people can adjust their outdoor activities, medications, and take precautions to ensure their well-being."
00:44 The pollen module is part of a larger prediction model called the Rapid Refresh Chemistry System.
00:49 RAPChem, as it's called, isn't an official forecast product yet, but the AP says that people suffering from allergies can access pollen trackers through the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.
01:00 According to CNN, allergy seasons have been getting worse in recent years due to climate change, so understanding them will only get more urgent as time goes on.