Air Quality Trends in the Air Quality Trends in the Lower Fraser Valley of BC Lower Fraser Valley of BC
Metro VancouverGeorgia Basin Puget Sound International Airshed Strategy Meeting
September 24, 2009
Integrated Air Quality Management Program
Regional Emission
Inventory and Forecasts
Ambient Air Quality
Monitoring
Air Quality Management Plan Development and Implementation
Regulatory Program
Education and Outreach
Coordination with Other Governments
Evolution of the Air Monitoring Function• Air quality monitoring was one of the first
functions of the AQ program – established in 1972• In 2007 commissioned a consultants’ review
– Technological improvements to both instruments and data acquisition systems
– Increased focus on human health– Regional growth, sprawl (e.g. FVRD) – changes in sources and locations– Rationalize existing network of fixed stations– Enhance portable / mobile capabilities– Super sites– Improve information to public
• www.bcairquality.ca• Advisories, AQHI
“update and improve the ambient monitoring network to respondto ongoing changes in regional and local air quality management
priorities and needs.” - AQMP, 2005
T4
T6
T9
T12T13
T14
T15
T27
T17
T18
T20
T22
T23T24
T26
T30
T32
T25
T34
T33
T31
T35
2420
T1
T2
T33T34
T12
T29
Permanent Monitoring Stations – (21) “T” indicates real-time continuous stations (19) others are only particulate sampling every 6 days (2)
- Super Sites (5)
Special Study Stations (8) Burrard Inlet Area (BIA), New Westminster (NW), Surrey (S)
Special Study Stations – Industry (3)Special Study Stations – Research (1)
Lower Fraser Valley Air Quality Monitoring Network
BIA
NW
NW
S
BIA BIAT9
T18
T34
T2
T12
T6
T35`
Ambient Air Quality Objectives for Greater Vancouver
Air Contaminant Averaging Time
Ambient Air Quality Objectives (g/m3)
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5)24-hour 25
Annual 12 > 8 > 6
Inhalable particulate matter (PM10)24-hour 50
Annual 20
Ozone 8-hour 126 (65 ppb)
Nitrogen dioxide1-hour 200
Annual 40
Sulphur dioxide
1-hour 450
24-hour 125
Annual 30
Carbon monoxide1-hour 30,000
8-hour 10,000
PM2.5 (2008)
0 10 20 30 40
Horseshoe Bay
Richmond-Airport
Abbotsford Airport
Vancouver-Kitsilano
Burnaby South
Burnaby-Kensington Park
Pitt Meadows
Port Moody
N. Vancouver-2nd Narrows
Chilliwack
Langley
Hope
concentration (g/m3)
Annual Average
Maximum 24-Hour Average
Metro Vancouver 24-Hour Objective (25
Metro Vancouver Annual Objective
current (12 g/m3)proposed (6 g/m3) Provincial (8 g/m3)
Ozone (2008)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Vancouver-Downtown
N. Vancouver-2nd Narrows
Burnaby South
Burnaby-Kensington Park
North Delta
N. Vancouver-Mahon Park
Richmond-Airport
Vancouver-Kitsilano
Port Moody
Richmond South
Coquitlam
Pitt Meadows
Burnaby Mountain
Surrey East
Abbotsford-Mill Lake
Abbotsford Airport
Langley
Maple Ridge
Chilliwack
Hope
concentration (ppb)
Canada-Wide Standard Value
Maximum 8-Hour Average
Metro Vancouver 8-Hour Objective (65 ppb) AND
Canada-Wide Standard (65 ppb)
PM2.5 Trends
0
10
20
30
40
50
88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08
PM
2.5 C
on
ce
ntr
ati
on
(
g/m
3 )
Short-Term PeakAverage
NOx and SOx Trends
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08
NO
2 C
on
ce
ntr
ati
on
(
g/m
3 )
Short-Term PeakAverage
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08
SO
2 C
on
ce
ntr
ati
on
(
g/m
3 )
Short-Term PeakAverage
Regional Ozone Trends
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08
O3
Co
nc
en
tra
tio
n (
pp
b)
Short-Term PeakAverage
Emission Inventory
Emissions of some contaminants have decreased or levelled off
While others are forecast to increase
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
180,000
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030
em
iss
ion
s (
ton
ne
s/y
ea
r)
Volatile Organic Compounds
Nitrogen Oxides
Fine Particulate Matter
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030
SO
x a
nd
NH
3 e
mis
sio
ns
(to
nn
es
/ye
ar)
0
5,000,000
10,000,000
15,000,000
20,000,000
25,000,000
30,000,000
GH
G e
mis
sio
ns
(to
nn
es
/ye
ar)
Ammonia
Sulphur Oxides
Greenhouse Gases
Key Challenges
• Improve understanding of ozone formation• Visibility management• Climate change• Enhance / improve data and assessment
– Inventories and monitoring
• Air quality and health interface– Diesel, wood smoke, toxics, land use and transportation
• Communities– Improve ability to respond to localized hot spots (nuisance
and health issues)
Thank you
www.metrovancouver.org
Roger QuanAir Quality Policy and Management
Policy and Planning Department, Metro Vancouver20th Floor, 4330 Kingsway, Burnaby, B.C. V5H 4G8
Tel: (604) 436-6770 Fax: (604) 436-6701Email: [email protected]
