Why does inland empire smell

Lisa Brenner September 10, Reports are wafting in from the Inland Empire about a foul odor in the area. Update p. Update 5 p. April 22, An Update from Larry Mantle. Larry Mantle. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now. Support for LAist comes from. Become a sponsor. LAist logo. We Explain L. The Brief. How To New LA. Search Query Show Search.

More water is evaporating from the sea than is flowing in from agricultural runoff. In some places the falling waterline has uncovered thermal fields studded with features like geysers and boiling mud pots spewing clouds of steam and sulfur dioxide gas that smells like rotten eggs. Schlange said several factors could explain the far-traveling smell.

In the last week, the blistering heat reduced oxygen levels in parts of the Salton Sea, causing fish to die and settle to the bottom, where they decomposed with other organic material.

Then a thunderstorm barreled through the area Sunday night, churning moisture-laden air counterclockwise and pushing it from the southeast. The stink is normal around the Salton Sea. With the weather the way it is, the smell was awful. It is unclear why some parts of Southern California smelled the odor more than others.

He believes the strong southeasterly storm and heavy winds Sunday pulled the fresher surface layer off the sea and replaced it with the more fetid water at the bottom. Times staff writers Ann M. Simmons, Jason Song and Richard Winton contributed to this report.