1
|
Hong X, Zhang C, Tian Y, Wu H, Zhu Y, Liu C. Quantification and evaluation of atmospheric emissions from crop residue burning constrained by satellite observations in China during 2016-2020. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 865:161237. [PMID: 36586694 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In rural regions of China, crop residue burning (CRB) is the major biomass burning activity, which can result in massive emissions of atmospheric particulate, greenhouse gas, and trace gas pollutants. Based on Himawari-8 satellite fire radiative power and agricultural statistics data, we implemented a daily inventory of agricultural fire emissions in 2016-2020 with a 2-km spatial resolution, including atmospheric pollutants such as CO2, CH4, CO, N2O, NOX, NH3, SO2, PM10, PM2.5, Hg, OC, EC, and NMVOCs. Our inventory constrained by geostationary satellite monitoring is more consistent with the actual CRB emissions in China, as many flaring events occur surreptitiously in the early morning and late evening to avoid regulation, which may be overlooked by polar-orbiting satellites. The spatiotemporal characterizations of various CRB emissions are found to be consistent with multiple satellite trace gas retrievals. We also assessed the effectiveness of field burning bans in China. Combined with other relevant datasets, it was found that although China has been advocating for a long time not to burn straw in the open field, CRB emissions was not successfully controlled nationwide until 2016. We estimated that the cumulative reduction of CO2 CRB emissions alone amounts to 809 ± 651 (2σ) teragram (Tg) during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), with an average value equivalent to 1.2 times the total annual territorial CO2 emissions by fossil fuels from Germany in 2021 (675 Tg, ranked 1st in EU27 and 7th in the world). Our inventory also suggests that continuous, long-term controls are necessary. Otherwise, CRB emissions may only be delayed on a seasonal scale, rather than reduced.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinhua Hong
- School of Environmental Science and Optoelectronic Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Chengxin Zhang
- Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
| | - Yuan Tian
- Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Hongyu Wu
- School of Environmental Science and Optoelectronic Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yizhi Zhu
- Key Lab of Environmental Optics & Technology, Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Cheng Liu
- Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Key Lab of Environmental Optics & Technology, Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Koman PD, Billmire M, Baker KR, Carter JM, Thelen BJ, French NHF, Bell SA. Using wildland fire smoke modeling data in gerontological health research (California, 2007-2018). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:156403. [PMID: 35660427 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Widespread population exposure to wildland fire smoke underscores the urgent need for new techniques to characterize fire-derived pollution for epidemiologic studies and to build climate-resilient communities especially for aging populations. Using atmospheric chemical transport modeling, we examined air quality with and without wildland fire smoke PM2.5. In 12-km gridded output, the 24-hour average concentration of all-source PM2.5 in California (2007-2018) was 5.16 μg/m3 (S.D. 4.66 μg/m3). The average concentration of fire-PM2.5 in California by year was 1.61 μg/m3 (~30% of total PM2.5). The contribution of fire-source PM2.5 ranged from 6.8% to 49%. We define a "smokewave" as two or more consecutive days with modeled levels above 35 μg/m3. Based on model-derived fire-PM2.5, 99.5% of California's population lived in a county that experienced at least one smokewave from 2007 to 2018, yet understanding of the impact of smoke on the health of aging populations is limited. Approximately 2.7 million (56%) of California residents aged 65+ years lived in counties representing the top 3 quartiles of fire-PM2.5 concentrations (2007-2018). For each year (2007-2018), grid cells containing skilled nursing facilities had significantly higher mean concentrations of all-source PM2.5 than cells without those facilities, but they also had generally lower mean concentrations of wildland fire-specific PM2.5. Compared to rural monitors in California, model predictions of wildland fire impacts on daily average PM2.5 carbon (organic and elemental) performed well most years but tended to overestimate wildland fire impacts for high-fire years. The modeling system isolated wildland fire PM2.5 from other sources at monitored and unmonitored locations, which is important for understanding exposures for aging population in health studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia D Koman
- University of Michigan, School of Public Health, Environmental Health Sciences, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Michael Billmire
- Michigan Technological University, Michigan Tech Research Institute, 3600 Green Court, Suite 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA.
| | - Kirk R Baker
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Julie M Carter
- University of Michigan, School of Public Health, Environmental Health Sciences, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Michigan Technological University, Michigan Tech Research Institute, 3600 Green Court, Suite 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA.
| | - Brian J Thelen
- Michigan Technological University, Michigan Tech Research Institute, 3600 Green Court, Suite 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA.
| | - Nancy H F French
- Michigan Technological University, Michigan Tech Research Institute, 3600 Green Court, Suite 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA.
| | - Sue Anne Bell
- University of Michigan, School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Crop Residue Burning Emissions and the Impact on Ambient Particulate Matters over South Korea. ATMOSPHERE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos13040559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In the study, crop residue burning (CRB) emissions were estimated based on field surveys and combustion experiments to assess the impact of the CRB on particulate matter over South Korea. The estimates of CRB emissions over South Korea are 9514, 8089, 4002, 2010, 172,407, 7675, 33, and 5053 Mg year−1 for PM10, PM2.5, OC, EC, CO, NOx, SO2, and NH3, respectively. Compared with another study, our estimates in the magnitudes of CRB emissions were not significantly different. When the CRB emissions are additionally considered in the simulation, the monthly mean differences in PM2.5 (i.e., △PM2.5) were marginal between 0.07 and 0.55 μg m−3 over South Korea. Those corresponded to 0.6–4.3% in relative differences. Additionally, the △PM10 was 0.07–0.60 μg m−3 over South Korea. In the spatial and temporal aspects, the increases in PM10 and PM2.5 were high in Gyeongbuk (GB) and Gyeongnam (GN) provinces in June, October, November, and December.
Collapse
|
4
|
Wilkins JL, Pouliot G, Pierce T, Soja A, Choi H, Gargulinski E, Gilliam R, Vukovich J, Landis MS. An evaluation of empirical and statistically based smoke plume injection height parametrisations used within air quality models. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WILDLAND FIRE 2022; 31:193-211. [PMID: 35875325 PMCID: PMC9301610 DOI: 10.1071/wf20140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Air quality models are used to assess the impact of smoke from wildland fires, both prescribed and natural, on ambient air quality and human health. However, the accuracy of these models is limited by uncertainties in the parametrisation of smoke plume injection height (PIH) and its vertical distribution. We compared PIH estimates from the plume rise method (Briggs) in the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modelling system with observations from the 2013 California Rim Fire and 2017 prescribed burns in Kansas. We also examined PIHs estimated using alternative plume rise algorithms, model grid resolutions and temporal burn profiles. For the Rim Fire, the Briggs method performed as well or better than the alternatives evaluated (mean bias of less than ±5-20% and root mean square error lower than 1000 m compared with the alternatives). PIH estimates for the Kansas prescribed burns improved when the burn window was reduced from the standard default of 12 h to 3 h. This analysis suggests that meteorological inputs, temporal allocation and heat release are the primary drivers for accurately modelling PIH.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph L. Wilkins
- Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Interdisciplinary Studies Department, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA
| | - George Pouliot
- Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Thomas Pierce
- Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Amber Soja
- National Institute of Aerospace, Hampton, VA 23666, USA
- NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23666, USA
| | - Hyundeok Choi
- National Institute of Aerospace, Hampton, VA 23666, USA
- NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23666, USA
| | | | - Robert Gilliam
- Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Jeffrey Vukovich
- Office of Air and Radiation, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Matthew S. Landis
- Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Baker KR, Lee SD, Lemieux P, Hudson S, Murphy BN, Bash JO, Koplitz SN, Nguyen TKV, Hao WM, Baker S, Lincoln E. Predicting wildfire particulate matter and hypothetical re-emission of radiological Cs-137 contamination incidents. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 795:148872. [PMID: 34328919 PMCID: PMC9019821 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Radiological release incidents can potentially contaminate widespread areas with radioactive materials and decontamination efforts are typically focused on populated areas, which means radionuclides may be left in forested areas for long periods of time. Large wildfires in contaminated forested areas have the potential to reintroduce these radionuclides into the atmosphere and cause exposure to first responders and downwind communities. One important radionuclide contaminant released from radiological incidents is radiocesium (137Cs) due to high yields and its long half-life of 30.2 years. An Eulerian 3D photochemical transport model was used to estimate potential ambient impacts of 137Cs re-emission due to wildfire following hypothetical radiological release scenarios. The Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model did well at predicting levels and periods of increased PM2.5 carbon due to wildfire smoke at routine surface monitors in California during the summer of 2016. The model also did well at capturing the extent of the surface mixing layer compared to aerosol lidar measurements. Emissions from a large hypothetical wildfire were introduced into the wildland-urban interface (WUI) impacted by a hypothetical radiological release event. While ambient concentrations tended to be highest near the fire, the highest population committed effective dose equivalent by inhalation to an adult from 137Cs over an hour was downwind where wind flows moved smoke to high population areas. Seasonal variations in meteorology (wind flows) can result in differential population impacts even in the same metropolitan area. Modeled post-incident ambient levels of 137Cs both near these wildfires and further downwind in nearby urban areas were well below levels that would necessitate population evacuation or warrant other protective action recommendations such as shelter-in-place. These results suggest that 1) the modeling system captures local to regional scale transport and levels of PM2.5 from wildfire and 2) first responders and downwind population would not be expected to be at elevated risk from the initial inhalathion exposure of 137Cs re-emission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kirk R Baker
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Sang Don Lee
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Paul Lemieux
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Scott Hudson
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Benjamin N Murphy
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Jesse O Bash
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Shannon N Koplitz
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | | | - Wei Min Hao
- Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory, Rocky Mountain Research Station, US Forest Service, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Stephen Baker
- Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory, Rocky Mountain Research Station, US Forest Service, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Emily Lincoln
- Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory, Rocky Mountain Research Station, US Forest Service, Missoula, MT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
O'Neill SM, Diao M, Raffuse S, Al-Hamdan M, Barik M, Jia Y, Reid S, Zou Y, Tong D, West JJ, Wilkins J, Marsha A, Freedman F, Vargo J, Larkin NK, Alvarado E, Loesche P. A multi-analysis approach for estimating regional health impacts from the 2017 Northern California wildfires. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2021; 71:791-814. [PMID: 33630725 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2021.1891994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Smoke impacts from large wildfires are mounting, and the projection is for more such events in the future as the one experienced October 2017 in Northern California, and subsequently in 2018 and 2020. Further, the evidence is growing about the health impacts from these events which are also difficult to simulate. Therefore, we simulated air quality conditions using a suite of remotely-sensed data, surface observational data, chemical transport modeling with WRF-CMAQ, one data fusion, and three machine learning methods to arrive at datasets useful to air quality and health impact analyses. To demonstrate these analyses, we estimated the health impacts from smoke impacts during wildfires in October 8-20, 2017, in Northern California, when over 7 million people were exposed to Unhealthy to Very Unhealthy air quality conditions. We investigated using the 5-min available GOES-16 fire detection data to simulate timing of fire activity to allocate emissions hourly for the WRF-CMAQ system. Interestingly, this approach did not necessarily improve overall results, however it was key to simulating the initial 12-hr explosive fire activity and smoke impacts. To improve these results, we applied one data fusion and three machine learning algorithms. We also had a unique opportunity to evaluate results with temporary monitors deployed specifically for wildfires, and performance was markedly different. For example, at the permanent monitoring locations, the WRF-CMAQ simulations had a Pearson correlation of 0.65, and the data fusion approach improved this (Pearson correlation = 0.95), while at the temporary monitor locations across all cases, the best Pearson correlation was 0.5. Overall, WRF-CMAQ simulations were biased high and the geostatistical methods were biased low. Finally, we applied the optimized PM2.5 exposure estimate in an exposure-response function. Estimated mortality attributable to PM2.5 exposure during the smoke episode was 83 (95% CI: 0, 196) with 47% attributable to wildland fire smoke.Implications: Large wildfires in the United States and in particular California are becoming increasingly common. Associated with these large wildfires are air quality and health impact to millions of people from the smoke. We simulated air quality conditions using a suite of remotely-sensed data, surface observational data, chemical transport modeling, one data fusion, and three machine learning methods to arrive at datasets useful to air quality and health impact analyses from the October 2017 Northern California wildfires. Temporary monitors deployed for the wildfires provided an important model evaluation dataset. Total estimated regional mortality attributable to PM2.5 exposure during the smoke episode was 83 (95% confidence interval: 0, 196) with 47% of these deaths attributable to the wildland fire smoke. This illustrates the profound effect that even a 12-day exposure to wildland fire smoke can have on human health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan M O'Neill
- Pacific Northwest Research Station, US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Minghui Diao
- Meteorology and Climate Science, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA, USA
| | - Sean Raffuse
- Air Quality Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Mohammad Al-Hamdan
- National Space Science and Technology Center, Universities Space Research Association at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, USA
- National Center for Computational Hydroscience and Engineering (NCCHE) and Department of Civil Engineering and Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, USA
| | - Muhammad Barik
- Yara North America Inc., San Francisco Hub, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yiqin Jia
- Assessment, Inventory & Modeling Division, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Steve Reid
- Assessment, Inventory & Modeling Division, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yufei Zou
- Atmospheric Sciences and Global Change Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Daniel Tong
- Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - J Jason West
- Environmental Sciences & Engineering, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Joseph Wilkins
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Amy Marsha
- Pacific Northwest Research Station, US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Frank Freedman
- Meteorology and Climate Science, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA, USA
| | - Jason Vargo
- Office of Health Equity, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, USA
| | - Narasimhan K Larkin
- Pacific Northwest Research Station, US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ernesto Alvarado
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Patti Loesche
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Sharma S, Basu S, Shetti NP, Kamali M, Walvekar P, Aminabhavi TM. Waste-to-energy nexus: A sustainable development. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 267:115501. [PMID: 32892013 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Revised: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
An upsurge in global population due to speedy urbanization and industrialization is facing significant challenges such as rising energy-demand, enormous waste-generation and environmental deterioration. The waste-to-energy nexus based on the 5R principle (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recovery, and Restore) is of paramount importance in solving these Gordian knots. This review essentially concentrates on latest advancements in the field of 'simultaneous waste reduction and energy production' technologies. The waste-to-energy approaches (thermal and biochemical) for energy production from the agricultural residues are comprehensively discussed in terms environmental, techno-economic, and policy analysis. The review will assess the loopholes in order to come up with more sophisticated technologies that are not only eco-friendly and cost-effective, but also socially viable. The waste-to-energy nexus as a paradigm for sustainable development of restoring waste is critically discussed considering future advancement plans and agendas of the policy-makers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Surbhi Sharma
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, 147004, India
| | - Soumen Basu
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, 147004, India
| | - Nagaraj P Shetti
- Center for Electrochemical Science and Materials, Department of Chemistry, K.L.E. Institute of Technology, Hubballi, 580 027, Karnataka, India
| | - Mohammadreza Kamali
- KU Leuven, Department of Chemical Engineering, Process and Environmental Technology Lab, J. De Nayerlaan 5, 2860, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium
| | - Pavan Walvekar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, SET's College of Pharmacy, Dharwad, 580 002, Karnataka, India
| | - Tejraj M Aminabhavi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, SET's College of Pharmacy, Dharwad, 580 002, Karnataka, India.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Jaffe DA, O’Neill SM, Larkin NK, Holder AL, Peterson DL, Halofsky JE, Rappold AG. Wildfire and prescribed burning impacts on air quality in the United States. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2020; 70:583-615. [PMID: 32240055 PMCID: PMC7932990 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2020.1749731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Air quality impacts from wildfires have been dramatic in recent years, with millions of people exposed to elevated and sometimes hazardous fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) concentrations for extended periods. Fires emit particulate matter (PM) and gaseous compounds that can negatively impact human health and reduce visibility. While the overall trend in U.S. air quality has been improving for decades, largely due to implementation of the Clean Air Act, seasonal wildfires threaten to undo this in some regions of the United States. Our understanding of the health effects of smoke is growing with regard to respiratory and cardiovascular consequences and mortality. The costs of these health outcomes can exceed the billions already spent on wildfire suppression. In this critical review, we examine each of the processes that influence wildland fires and the effects of fires, including the natural role of wildland fire, forest management, ignitions, emissions, transport, chemistry, and human health impacts. We highlight key data gaps and examine the complexity and scope and scale of fire occurrence, estimated emissions, and resulting effects on regional air quality across the United States. The goal is to clarify which areas are well understood and which need more study. We conclude with a set of recommendations for future research. IMPLICATIONS In the recent decade the area of wildfires in the United States has increased dramatically and the resulting smoke has exposed millions of people to unhealthy air quality. In this critical review we examine the key factors and impacts from fires including natural role of wildland fire, forest management, ignitions, emissions, transport, chemistry and human health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A. Jaffe
- School of STEM and Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Amara L. Holder
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - David L. Peterson
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington Seattle, Seattle WA, USA
| | - Jessica E. Halofsky
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington Seattle, Seattle WA, USA
| | - Ana G. Rappold
- National Health and Environmental Effects Research Lab, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Yang G, Zhao H, Tong DQ, Xiu A, Zhang X, Gao C. Impacts of post-harvest open biomass burning and burning ban policy on severe haze in the Northeastern China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 716:136517. [PMID: 32059315 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Open filed biomass burning is a major contributor to airborne particulate matter and reactive trace gases during the post-harvest season in the Northeastern China. Due to prevailing weather conditions and high emission density, this region is prone to the accumulation of air pollutants that often leads to severe haze events. In this study, we combined satellite and ground observations, and a regional air quality modeling system to quantify the contribution of open biomass burning to surface PM2.5 (particulate matter with diameter less than 2.5 µm) concentrations during a severe haze episode. During this period (November 1st - 4th, 2015), the average PM2.5 concentrations in Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces reached 116.98 μg/m3, 98.60 μg/m3, and 70.17 μg/m3 respectively. Model simulations showed that open biomass burning contributed to 52.7% of PM2.5 concentrations over Northeast China. Using the differences in active fire spots as detected by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suites (VIIRS) aboard the Suomi-NPP, we estimated that the burning ban enforced in 2018 have caused the PM2.5 concentrations to decrease from the 2015 level by 67.10%, 53.23%, and 10.06% in the Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces respectively. Over the region, the burning ban proved to be effective in reducing fire emissions and lowering region-wide PM2.5 concentration by 48.1% during the post-harvest season.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guangyi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Hongmei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, China.
| | - Daniel Q Tong
- Center for Spatial Information Science and Systems, George Mason University, VA 22030, USA; Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA.
| | - Aijun Xiu
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, China.
| | - Xuelei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, China.
| | - Chao Gao
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Day M, Pouliot G, Hunt S, Baker KR, Beardsley M, Frost G, Mobley D, Simon H, Henderson BB, Yelverton T, Rao V. Reflecting on progress since the 2005 NARSTO emissions inventory report. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2019; 69:1023-1048. [PMID: 31184543 PMCID: PMC6784547 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2019.1629363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Emission inventories are the foundation for cost-effective air quality management activities. In 2005, a report by the public/private partnership North American Research Strategy for Tropospheric Ozone (NARSTO) evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of North American emissions inventories and made recommendations for improving their effectiveness. This paper reviews the recommendation areas and briefly discusses what has been addressed, what remains unchanged, and new questions that have arisen. The findings reveal that all emissions inventory improvement areas identified by the 2005 NARSTO publication have been explored and implemented to some degree. The U.S. National Emissions Inventory has become more detailed and has incorporated new research into previously under-characterized sources such as fine particles and biomass burning. Additionally, it is now easier to access the emissions inventory and the documentation of the inventory via the internet. However, many emissions-related research needs exist, on topics such as emission estimation methods, speciation, scalable emission factor development, incorporation of new emission measurement techniques, estimation of uncertainty, top-down verification, and analysis of uncharacterized sources. A common theme throughout this retrospective summary is the need for increased coordination among stakeholders. Researchers and inventory developers must work together to ensure that planned emissions research and new findings can be used to update the emissions inventory. To continue to address emissions inventory challenges, industry, the scientific community, and government agencies need to continue to leverage resources and collaborate as often as possible. As evidenced by the progress noted, continued investment in and coordination of emissions inventory activities will provide dividends to air quality management programs across the country, continent, and world. Implications: In 2005, a report by the public/private partnership North American Research Strategy for Tropospheric Ozone (NARSTO) evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of North American air pollution emissions inventories. This paper reviews the eight recommendation areas and briefly discusses what has been addressed, what remains unchanged, and new questions that have arisen. Although progress has been made, many opportunities exist for the scientific agencies, industry, and government agencies to leverage resources and collaborate to continue improving emissions inventories.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Day
- 2015-2017 AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow, Environmental Protection Agency , Washington , DC , USA
| | - George Pouliot
- Office of Research and Development, Environmental Protection Agency , Research Triangle Park , NC , USA
| | - Sherri Hunt
- Office of Research and Development, Environmental Protection Agency , Research Triangle Park , NC , USA
| | - Kirk R Baker
- Office of Air and Radiation, Environmental Protection Agency , Research Triangle Park , NC , USA
| | - Megan Beardsley
- Office of Transportation and Air Quality, Environmental Protection Agency , Ann Arbor , MI , USA
| | - Gregory Frost
- Earth System Research Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , Boulder , CO , USA
| | - David Mobley
- Office of Research and Development, Environmental Protection Agency , Research Triangle Park , NC , USA
- Office of Air and Radiation, Environmental Protection Agency , Research Triangle Park , NC , USA
| | - Heather Simon
- Office of Air and Radiation, Environmental Protection Agency , Research Triangle Park , NC , USA
| | - Barron B Henderson
- Office of Air and Radiation, Environmental Protection Agency , Research Triangle Park , NC , USA
| | - Tiffany Yelverton
- Office of Research and Development, Environmental Protection Agency , Research Triangle Park , NC , USA
| | - Venkatesh Rao
- Office of Air and Radiation, Environmental Protection Agency , Research Triangle Park , NC , USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Baker KR, Koplitz SN, Foley KM, Avey L, Hawkins A. Characterizing grassland fire activity in the Flint Hills region and air quality using satellite and routine surface monitor data. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 659:1555-1566. [PMID: 31096365 PMCID: PMC6704483 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/28/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Prescribed grassland fires in the Flint Hills region of central Kansas and northern Oklahoma are a common tool for land management. Local to regional scale impacts on air quality from grassland fires in this region are not well understood, which is important as these types of prescribed fires may increase in the future to preserve broader areas of native grasses in the central U.S. Routine air quality and deposition measurements from sites in and near the Flint Hills were examined for coincident increases during periods of increased prescribed grassland fires. Prescribed fire activity in this region was quantified using satellite detections and multiple publicly available data products of area burned information. March and April comprise over half (41 to 93%) of all annual fire detections in the Flint Hills region seen from satellites between 2007 and 2018 excluding drought years. Annual total fire detections in this region range between 1 and 12 thousand and account for approximately 3% of all fire detections in the contiguous U.S. Annual acres burned ranged from 0.2 to 2 million acres based on U.S. EPA's National Emission Inventory, which accounts for 4 to 38% of grasslands in the area. A comparison of weekly standardized anomalies suggests a relationship between periods of increased grassland fire activity and elevated levels of PM2.5 organic carbon, elemental carbon, and potassium. Daily 1-hr maximum ozone (O3), ammonia (NH3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and oxidized nitrogen gases measured at Konza Prairie also had increased levels when prescribed grassland fire activity was highest. This detailed characterization of prescribed fire activity in the Flint Hills and associated air quality impacts will benefit future efforts to understand changes in atmospheric composition due to changing land management practices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K R Baker
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - S N Koplitz
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - K M Foley
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - L Avey
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Lenexa, KS, USA
| | - A Hawkins
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Lenexa, KS, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Prichard S, Larkin NS, Ottmar R, French NH, Baker K, Brown T, Clements C, Dickinson M, Hudak A, Kochanski A, Linn R, Liu Y, Potter B, Mell W, Tanzer D, Urbanski S, Watts A. The Fire and Smoke Model Evaluation Experiment-A Plan for Integrated, Large Fire-Atmosphere Field Campaigns. ATMOSPHERE 2019; 10:66. [PMID: 32704394 PMCID: PMC7376818 DOI: 10.3390/atmos10020066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The Fire and Smoke Model Evaluation Experiment (FASMEE) is designed to collect integrated observations from large wildland fires and provide evaluation datasets for new models and operational systems. Wildland fire, smoke dispersion, and atmospheric chemistry models have become more sophisticated, and next-generation operational models will require evaluation datasets that are coordinated and comprehensive for their evaluation and advancement. Integrated measurements are required, including ground-based observations of fuels and fire behavior, estimates of fire-emitted heat and emissions fluxes, and observations of near-source micrometeorology, plume properties, smoke dispersion, and atmospheric chemistry. To address these requirements the FASMEE campaign design includes a study plan to guide the suite of required measurements in forested sites representative of many prescribed burning programs in the southeastern United States and increasingly common high-intensity fires in the western United States. Here we provide an overview of the proposed experiment and recommendations for key measurements. The FASMEE study provides a template for additional large-scale experimental campaigns to advance fire science and operational fire and smoke models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan Prichard
- University of Washington School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, Box 352100, Seattle, WA 98195-2100
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-509-341-4493
| | - N. Sim Larkin
- US Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, Pacific Wildland Fire Sciences Laboratory, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98103, USA
| | - Roger Ottmar
- US Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, Pacific Wildland Fire Sciences Laboratory, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98103, USA
| | - Nancy H.F. French
- Michigan Technological University, 3600 Green Court, Suite 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
| | - Kirk Baker
- US Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Tim Brown
- Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV 89512, USA
| | - Craig Clements
- San José State University Department of Meteorology and Climate Science, One Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95192-0104, USA
| | - Matt Dickinson
- US Forest Service Northern Research Station, 359 Main Rd., Delaware, OH 43015, USA
| | - Andrew Hudak
- US Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station Moscow Forestry Sciences Laboratory, 1221 S Main St., Moscow, ID 83843, USA
| | - Adam Kochanski
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Utah, 135 S 1460 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0110, USA
| | - Rod Linn
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, P.O. Box 1663, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
| | - Yongqiang Liu
- US Forest Service Southern Research Station, 320 Green St., Athens, GA 30602-2044, USA
| | - Brian Potter
- US Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, Pacific Wildland Fire Sciences Laboratory, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98103, USA
| | - William Mell
- US Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, Pacific Wildland Fire Sciences Laboratory, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98103, USA
| | - Danielle Tanzer
- Michigan Technological University, 3600 Green Court, Suite 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
| | - Shawn Urbanski
- US Forest Service Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory, 5775 US Highway 10 W Missoula, MT 59808-9361, USA
| | - Adam Watts
- Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV 89512, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Whitehill AR, George I, Long R, Baker KR, Landis M. Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Prescribed Burning in Tallgrass Prairie Ecosystems. ATMOSPHERE 2019; 10:1-464. [PMID: 31595190 PMCID: PMC6781241 DOI: 10.3390/atmos10080464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Prescribed pasture burning plays a critical role in ecosystem maintenance in tallgrass prairie ecosystems and may contribute to agricultural productivity but can also have negative impacts on air quality. Volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations were measured immediately downwind of prescribed tallgrass prairie fires in the Flint Hills region of Kansas, United States. The VOC mixture is dominated by alkenes and oxygenated VOCs, which are highly reactive and can drive photochemical production of ozone downwind of the fires. The computed emission factors are comparable to those previous measured from pasture maintenance fires in Brazil. In addition to the emission of large amounts of particulate matter, hazardous air pollutants such as benzene and acrolein are emitted in significant amounts and could contribute to adverse health effects in exposed populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R. Whitehill
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Ingrid George
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Russell Long
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Kirk R. Baker
- Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Matthew Landis
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Kelly JT, Koplitz SN, Baker KR, Holder AL, Pye HOT, Murphy BN, Bash JO, Henderson BH, Possiel N, Simon H, Eyth AM, Jang C, Phillips S, Timin B. Assessing PM 2.5 Model Performance for the Conterminous U.S. with Comparison to Model Performance Statistics from 2007-2015. ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT (OXFORD, ENGLAND : 1994) 2019; 214:1-116872. [PMID: 31741655 PMCID: PMC6859642 DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2019.116872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have proposed that model performance statistics from earlier photochemical grid model (PGM) applications can be used to benchmark performance in new PGM applications. A challenge in implementing this approach is that limited information is available on consistently calculated model performance statistics that vary spatially and temporally over the U.S. Here, a consistent set of model performance statistics are calculated by year, season, region, and monitoring network for PM2.5 and its major components using simulations from versions 4.7.1-5.2.1 of the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model for years 2007-2015. The multi-year set of statistics is then used to provide quantitative context for model performance results from the 2015 simulation. Model performance for PM2.5 organic carbon in the 2015 simulation ranked high (i.e., favorable performance) in the multi-year dataset, due to factors including recent improvements in biogenic secondary organic aerosol and atmospheric mixing parameterizations in CMAQ. Model performance statistics for the Northwest region in 2015 ranked low (i.e., unfavorable performance) for many species in comparison to the 2007-2015 dataset. This finding motivated additional investigation that suggests a need for improved speciation of wildfire PM2.5emissions and modeling of boundary layer dynamics near water bodies. Several limitations were identified in the approach of benchmarking new model performance results with previous results. Since performance statistics vary widely by region and season, a simple set of national performance benchmarks (e.g., one or two targets per species and statistic) as proposed previously are inadequate to assess model performance throughout the U.S. Also, trends in model performance statistics for sulfate over the 2007 to 2015 period suggest that model performance for earlier years may not be a useful reference for assessing model performance for recent years in some cases. Comparisons of results from the 2015 base case with results from five sensitivity simulations demonstrated the importance of parameterizations of NH3 surface exchange, organic aerosol volatility and production, and emissions of crustal cations for predicting PM2.5 species concentrations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James T Kelly
- Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Shannon N Koplitz
- Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Kirk R Baker
- Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Amara L Holder
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Havala O T Pye
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Benjamin N Murphy
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Jesse O Bash
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Barron H Henderson
- Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Norm Possiel
- Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Heather Simon
- Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Alison M Eyth
- Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Carey Jang
- Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Sharon Phillips
- Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Brian Timin
- Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Liu Y, Kochanski A, Baker KR, Mell W, Linn R, Paugam R, Mandel J, Fournier A, Jenkins MA, Goodrick S, Achtemeier G, Zhao F, Ottmar R, French NHF, Larkin N, Brown T, Hudak A, Dickinson M, Potter B, Clements C, Urbanski S, Prichard S, Watts A, McNamara D. Fire behavior and smoke modeling: Model improvement and measurement needs for next-generation smoke research and forecasting systems. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WILDLAND FIRE 2019; 28:570. [PMID: 32632343 PMCID: PMC7336523 DOI: 10.1071/wf18204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
There is an urgent need for next-generation smoke research and forecasting (SRF) systems to meet the challenges of the growing air quality, health, and safety concerns associated with wildland fire emissions. This review paper presents simulations and experiments of hypothetical prescribed burns with a suite of selected fire behavior and smoke models and identifies major issues for model improvement and the most critical observational needs. The results are used to understand the new and improved capability required for the next-generation SRF systems and to support the design of the Fire and Smoke Model Evaluation Experiment (FASMEE) and other field campaigns. The next-generation SRF systems should have more coupling of fire, smoke, and atmospheric processes to better simulate and forecast vertical smoke distributions and multiple sub-plumes, dynamical and high-resolution fire processes, and local and regional smoke chemistry during day and night. The development of the coupling capability requires comprehensive and spatially and temporally integrated measurements across the various disciplines to characterize flame and energy structure (e.g., individual cells, vertical heat profile and the height of well mixing flaming gases), smoke structure (vertical distributions and multiple sub-plumes), ambient air processes (smoke eddy, entrainment and radiative effects of smoke aerosols), fire emissions (for different fuel types and combustion conditions from flaming to residual smoldering), as well as night-time processes (smoke drainage and super-fog formation).
Collapse
|
16
|
Baker KR, Woody MC, Valin L, Szykman J, Yates EL, Iraci LT, Choi HD, Soja AJ, Koplitz SN, Zhou L, Campuzano-Jost P, Jimenez JL, Hair JW. Photochemical model evaluation of 2013 California wild fire air quality impacts using surface, aircraft, and satellite data. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 637-638:1137-1149. [PMID: 29801207 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Revised: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The Rim Fire was one of the largest wildfires in California history, burning over 250,000 acres during August and September 2013 affecting air quality locally and regionally in the western U.S. Routine surface monitors, remotely sensed data, and aircraft based measurements were used to assess how well the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) photochemical grid model applied at 4 and 12 km resolution represented regional plume transport and chemical evolution during this extreme wildland fire episode. Impacts were generally similar at both grid resolutions although notable differences were seen in some secondary pollutants (e.g., formaldehyde and peroxyacyl nitrate) near the Rim fire. The modeling system does well at capturing near-fire to regional scale smoke plume transport compared to remotely sensed aerosol optical depth (AOD) and aircraft transect measurements. Plume rise for the Rim fire was well characterized as the modeled plume top was consistent with remotely sensed data and the altitude of aircraft measurements, which were typically made at the top edge of the plume. Aircraft-based lidar suggests O3 downwind in the Rim fire plume was vertically stratified and tended to be higher at the plume top, while CMAQ estimated a more uniformly mixed column of O3. Predicted wildfire ozone (O3) was overestimated both at the plume top and at nearby rural and urban surface monitors. Photolysis rates were well characterized by the model compared with aircraft measurements meaning aerosol attenuation was reasonably estimated and unlikely contributing to O3 overestimates at the top of the plume. Organic carbon was underestimated close to the Rim fire compared to aircraft data, but was consistent with nearby surface measurements. Periods of elevated surface PM2.5 at rural monitors near the Rim fire were not usually coincident with elevated O3.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K R Baker
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - M C Woody
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - L Valin
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - J Szykman
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Hampton, VA, USA
| | - E L Yates
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
| | - L T Iraci
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
| | - H D Choi
- National Institute of Aerospace, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA, USA
| | - A J Soja
- National Institute of Aerospace, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA, USA
| | - S N Koplitz
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - L Zhou
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Pedro Campuzano-Jost
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, CIRES, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Jose L Jimenez
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, CIRES, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - J W Hair
- NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Abstract
Heating from wildfires adds buoyancy to the overlying air, often producing plumes that vertically distribute fire emissions throughout the atmospheric column over the fire. The height of the rising wildfire plume is a complex function of the size of the wildfire, fire heat flux, plume geometry, and atmospheric conditions, which can make simulating plume rises difficult with coarser-scale atmospheric models. To determine the altitude of fire emission injection, several plume rise parameterizations have been developed in an effort estimate the height of the wildfire plume rise. Previous work has indicated the performance of these plume rise parameterizations has generally been mixed when validated against satellite observations. However, it is often difficult to evaluate the performance of plume rise parameterizations due to the significant uncertainties associated with fire input parameters such as fire heat fluxes and area. In order to reduce the uncertainties of fire input parameters, we applied an atmospheric modeling framework with different plume rise parameterizations to a well constrained prescribed burn, as part of the RxCADRE field experiment. Initial results found that the model was unable to reasonably replicate downwind smoke for cases when fire emissions were emitted at the surface and released at the top of the plume. However, when fire emissions were distributed below the plume top following a Gaussian distribution, model results were significantly improved.
Collapse
|