Brief Synopsis of Air Quality and Local/Regional Meteorology Tom Dann, RS Environmental, Ottawa, ON Sanjay Prasad, WBEA WBEA Science Integration Workshop, January 27-28 2016, Calgary

Available Data Continuous and integrated air quality measurements as outlined by S. Prasad. Meteorological parameters are measured with sensors mounted on meteorological towers at air quality monitoring sites, with standard heights of 10 meters, and 20 meters in forested areas. Two tall meteorological towers with heights of 90 and 167 meters,. Six forest health plots (JP104, JP107, JP201, JP213, JP311 and JP316) equipped with 30 m tall towers.

Air Quality Objectives and Standards Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives (AAQO) – established for different averaging times for many of the pollutants measured. Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) – established for ozone, PM2.5 and proposed for SO2 (NO2 shortly) – use a three year average Focus Most recent year with complete data (2014) Some discussion of trends

Continuous Measurements

Maximum 1-hour SO2 (ppb) and the 99th and 90th percentile values at industry and community locations (2014). No exceedances of 24h SO2 Alberta AQO

99th percentile of daily maximum 1h SO2 (ppb) for 2005-2014 and comparison with CAAQS Annual CAAQS is 5 ppb – highest annual mean at WBEA site was 2.3 ppb at Mannix

1-hour TRS and H2S concentrations at industry and community locations (2014). 2 exceedances of 24h H2S objective

Count of hours with TRS ≥ 3 ppb for 2000 to 2014 for community sites

Maximum 1-hour O3 concentrations and the 99th and 90th percentiles at industry and community locations (2014).

Fourth highest daily maximum 8-hour ozone for WBEA sites for 2012 to 2014 compared to CAAQS

Maximum 1-hour NO2 concentrations and the 99th and 90th percentile values at industry and community locations

98th percentile of daily maximum 1h NO2 (ppb) for 2005-2014

Annual mean and 98th percentile of 24-h average PM2 Annual mean and 98th percentile of 24-h average PM2.5 (µg/m3) for WBEA sites for 2012 to 2014 and compared to the 2015 CAAQS 3-year average metrics.

Examples of elevated levels of PM2 Examples of elevated levels of PM2.5 and O3 at the Bertha Ganter site on August 4 & 5, 2014.

Integrated Measurements

Comparison of selected VOC concentrations (ppb) from community and industrial monitoring sites in 2014 Anzac max 24h benzene was 42 ppb.

Annual mean concentration of benzene (ppb) at community and industrial locations for 2009 to 2014 Benzene annual AQO – 0.9 ppb

Mean concentrations (µg/m3) of ions measured from PM2 Mean concentrations (µg/m3) of ions measured from PM2.5 filters (24-hour sampling) for community locations in 2014

Ratio of PM2.5 to PM10 concentrations for ions measured at community locations in 2014 As PM10 is made up of both fine (PM2.5) and coarse PM, ratios approaching one indicate that the ion is predominantly found in the PM2.5 fraction and is associated with atmospheric formation processes or direct source emissions. A smaller ratio indicates the ion is also found in the coarse fraction and is likely associated with re-suspended road dust, windblown dust and/or material handling, grinding and crushing operations.

Mean concentrations (µg/m3) of metals measured from PM2 Mean concentrations (µg/m3) of metals measured from PM2.5 filters for community locations in 2014

Ratio of PM2.5 to PM10 concentrations for metals measured at community locations in 2014

Mean concentrations (µg/m3) of metals measured from PM10 filters for industrial locations in 2014 Levels of non-crustal elements similar

Concentrations of selected PAH (ng/m3) at community monitoring sites for 2014    0.3 ng/m3 annual average for B(a)P

Meteorological Measurements

Meteorological Measurements Meteorology determines the transport and dispersion of industrial emissions, and hence plays a significant role in determining air quality downwind of emission sources. Meteorological characteristics vary with time (e.g., season and time of day) and location (e.g., height, terrain and land cover). Topography - the valleys and elevated terrain features in the meteorological domain can affect surface wind flow patterns.

Wind roses for Bertha Ganter-Fort McKay, Patricia McInnes, Athabasca Valley and Anzac (2014).

Wind roses by height for Lower Camp met tower (2014).

Wind roses at 100 m for Lower Camp met tower (2012, 2013 and 2014).

Inversion strength by hour of day and season based on temperature difference between 167 and 20 m at Lower Camp Tower (2014).

The WBEA meteorological tower and associated solar tower at forest health plot JP104. Meteorological Measurements Four levels of instruments Canopy plus 10 m (29 m) Canopy plus 2 m (21 m) Canopy minus 3 m (16 m) Ground plus 2 m Solar Radiation (GR, PAR) Ambient Temperature Relative Humidity Dew Point Barometric Pressure Precipitation Photosynthetically Active Radiation Wind Speed and Direction Soil Moisture Soil Temperature

Tower Setup Canopy + 10m SR, T, RH, Dew, WS, WD, GR Ozone inlet/ Passives Canopy + 2m T, RH, PAR, Dew, WS, WD Canopy - 3m T, RH, PAR, Dew, WS, WD Ground +2 m BP, Precip, T, RH, PAR, Dew, WS, WD

Wind rose plots for 2 m, 16 m, 21 m and 29 m heights at JP104 meteorological tower

2014 Wind roses at Canopy + 10m

QUESTIONS?