The mass spectrum from the Mary’s Peak air sample indicates that the air contains DDT. As you know, DDT is no longer used in the United States but is still legal to use in India and parts of Asia. It is possible that the hazy air on Mary’s peak came from Asia.

 

Weather patterns showing winds blowing from Asia towards the Pacific Northwest region of North America.

Robert takes a look at the weather from the previous week and sees that a large dust storm occurred in the Gobi desert in Asia. He uses a computer model to map where the air at Mary’s Peak originated about ten days prior to sample collection.

The image to the right from the computer model shows the path of the air currents. This images shows that the air collected on Mary’s Peak traveled from Asia over the past five days and the dust and air in the sample probably came from Asia.

 

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