For example - think of Portland to be at the bottom of that bathtub and locations like Government Camp at the top outside of the bowl of the tub. What happens in an air inversion is cold dense air will sink to the bottom of the “tub” or in this case the valley. The barrier of the valley will prevent wind from reaching the surface. Cooler air may reach saturation and this will lead to cloud cover over lower elevations.

This leaves our region of Portland specifically full of heavier air that naturally sinks to the lowest point of the valley. 

So taking this into consideration - Government Camp is at 4,000 feet elevation, Portland on average is 161 feet elevation and the industrial corridor of the Cully Neighborhood is at 95 feet in elevation.  

Because of this environmental phenomena the polluting air of all the local industrial factories get stuck in the sky enabling stagnant not healthy air to linger.

What’s up with the Barometric Pressure & Affects on our Air?

Barometric pressure and time of day change the density, temperature, and movement of air.  Because of this, along with our East winds, sometimes the time the smell is happening, is not the time the pollution is happening.

The East winds in Cully are a highly localized weather phenomenon caused by a steep atmospheric pressure gradient that funnels air directly through the Columbia River Gorge. Because Cully sits on the northeastern edge of Portland—directly downwind from the mouth of the Gorge—it is one of the hardest-hit residential areas in the metro area when this pattern develops.

What Causes the East Winds?

The basic mechanics operate like water being compressed through a garden hose:

• The Pressure Difference: When cold, dense high-pressure air pools over the desert regions of Eastern Oregon and Washington, it naturally seeks out the lower pressure system sitting over the Pacific Ocean and the Willamette Valley.

• The Mountain Barrier: The Cascade Range blocks this air from moving west, except for one sea-level gap: the Columbia River Gorge.

• The Funnel Effect: As the massive air mass is forced through the tight, steep cliffs of the Gorge, it compresses and dramatically speeds up, bursting into the East Portland metro area.

Why Cully Feels It So Intensely

Not all of Portland experiences the east winds equally. While neighborhoods in West Portland or Downtown might remain calm, Cully gets blasted due to two main geographic factors: 

• Gorge Proximity: Cully sits just southwest of Portland International Airport (PDX) and directly in line with the Gorge's exit. The wind has had no time to dissipate or slow down before striking the neighborhood.

• Open Topography: Historically a rural farming area and unincorporated to the city till 1985, Cully features larger residential lots, wider open spaces, and pockets of lower tree canopy compared to older inner-eastside neighborhoods. Fewer tightly packed buildings mean there are fewer structural windbreaks to slow down surface gusts.

Seasonal Impacts on the Neighborhood

In August and September, east winds are warm and bone-dry. They drop humidity levels instantly and can carry smoke and other various smells into Cully. Strong gusts during this period can also push the smells from the manufacturers into various parts of our neighborhood.

From November to February, the east wind acts as a refrigerator door opening from the Arctic interior. It drops temperatures rapidly. If a Pacific storm rolls in while these freezing east winds are actively blowing through Cully, the moisture rides over the cold air, resulting in stagnant air

High barometric pressure packs air molecules closer together, creating denser and heavier air. Low pressure spreads molecules apart, making the air thinner and lighter. When winds shift, high pressure brings calm and clear skies while falling pressure signals storms, wind and rain.

When we have the low pressure - aka, clouds, wind, rain - the oxygen levels in the area are reduced and makes it harder on our lungs to absorb oxygen, mixed with the stagnant air from neighboring factories and manufacturing Cully air creates a stew of sorts in the sky.

This is all affected by time as well, The sun heats the Earth unevenly over 24 hours, creating a daily rhythm in air pressure. Peak times when barometric pressure hits a low point around 4:00 AM and 4:00 PM, and reaches a high point around 10:00 AM and 10:00 PM every day. As daytime heating warms the air, molecules move faster and push outward, changing local pressure and generating afternoon breezes.