FUNDAMENTALS OF AIR QUALITY

DEPOSITION LAYERS

Sahara Dust Storm NASA Astronaut Photo

Sahara Dust Cloud

Sahara Dust Transport to North America, July

• In July (1998) elevated levels of absorbing aerosol (Sahara Dust) reaches the Gulf of Mexico and evidently, enters the continent .

• High TOMS dust levels are seen along the US-Mexican borders, reaching New Mexico. Higher levels also cover the Caribbean Islands and S. Florida.

• Another patch of absorbing aerosol (local dust?) is seen over the Colorado Plateau, well separated from the Sahara dust.

Sahara Dust Plume

Sahara Dust Plume

SeaWiFS, TOMS, Bext May 16, 1998

Easterly View of Grand Canyon from Desert View Watch Tower

Westerly View from Desert View Watch Tower

Clouds Evaporate Leaving Sulfate Haze

Clouds Evaporated Leaving Sulfate Haze

Next Day After Haze is Blown Out

“…conserve [natural and cultural resources]…as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” (NPS Organic Act)

“Wilderness areas…shall be administered…in such a manner as will leave them unimpaired for future use and enjoyment as wilderness…” (Wilderness Act of 1964)

“…preserve, protect and enhance the air quality in national parks, national wilderness areas, national monuments, national seashores…” (Clean Air Act as amended in 1977)

“In cases of doubt the land manager should err on the side of protecting the air quality-related values for future generations.” (Senate Report No. 95-127, 95th Congress, 1977)

Preserve and Protect

[Rocky Mountain NP should be managed for] “…preservation of the natural conditions and the scenic beauties thereof.” (1915 park enabling legislation)

Nitrogen Ozone

Water Carbon Dioxide

Some Important Molecules

AmmoniaAmmonium

Sulfur DioxideSulfate

Nitrogen Dioxide Nitrate

PRIMARY SECONDARY

Sulfur Dioxide

Sulfate

Ammonia

Ammonium

Ammonium Sulfate Particle

+ Water

Dicarboxylic Acid (Adipic acid)

PentaneMethane

Organic Molecules

DOESN’T TAKE MUCH TO MESS WITH THIS MOLECULE

AGENT ORANGE

DDT Dieldrin

oxon · Paraoxon · TCPyMetabolites

acetamiprid · amitraz · azadirachtin · chlorfenapyr · clothianidin · cyromazine · fenoxycarb · fenvalerate · fipronil · hydramethylnon · imidacloprid · limonene ·

lufenuron · nitenpyram · nithiazine · pyriproxyfen · sesamex · spinosad · tebufenpyrad · thiacloprid · thiamethoxam · veracevine · xanthone

Other

allethrin · bifenthrin · cyhalothrin · cypermethrin · cyfluthrin · deltamethrin · etofenprox · lambda-cyhalothrin · permethrin · phenothrin · prallethrin · pyrethrin ·

pyrethrum · resmethrin · tetramethrin · tralomethrin · transfluthrinPyrethroids

Acephate · azinphos-methyl · bensulide · chlorethoxyfos · chlorfenvinphos · chlorpyrifos · chlorpyrifos-methyl · coumaphos · demeton-S-methyl · diazinon ·

dicrotophos · diisopropyl fluorophosphate · dimethoate · dioxathion · disulfoton · ethion · ethoprop · fenamiphos · fenitrothion · fenthion · fosthiazate · isoxathion ·

malathion · methamidophos · methidathion · mevinphos · monocrotophos · naled · omethoate · oxydemeton-methyl · parathion · parathion-methyl · phorate ·

phosalone · phosmet · phostebupirim · phoxim · pirimiphos-methyl · temefos · terbufos · tetrachlorvinphos · tribufos · trichlorfon

Organophosphorus

aldrin · beta-HCH · carbon tetrachloride · chlordane · cyclodiene · 1,2-DCB · 1,4-DCB · 1,1-DCE · 1,2-DCE · DDD · DDE · DDT · dicofol · dieldrin · endosulfan ·

endrin · heptachlor · kepone · lindane · methoxychlor · mirex · tetradifon · toxapheneOrganochlorides

aluminium phosphide · boric acid · chromated copper arsenate · copper arsenate · copper cyanide · diatomaceous earth · lead

hydrogen arsenate · Paris Green · Scheele's Green

Inorganic compounds

aldicarb · bendiocarb · carbaryl · carbofuran · ethienocarb · fenoxycarb · fenobucarb · propoxur

Carbamates

TOXICS

SourcesSources

Compound Anthropogenic Naturally Occurring

SO2 Fossil-Fuel Combustion (primarily coal fired power plants)Smelting – Biomass burning

Volcanoes (10%)

NOx Fossil-Fuel Combustion (power plants- mobile sources-oil and gas) Fertilizer, Biomass burning

Soil ReleaseLightning (21%)

NH3 Feedlots - Fertilizer Wild animals – ecosystem respiration

VOC Transportation (mobile sources) Oil and Gas

Vegetation

Sources of Primary Gases Important to Secondary Particle

Formation

Sources of Primary Particles

Anthropogenic• Wind Blown Dust

Roads, Over Grazing, Farming practices, Mining

• Biomass BurningLand Clearing Practices

• Emissions from fossil fuel combustionFly Ash Condensation of Hot Vapors

Naturally Occurring• Wind Blown Dust

Deserts

• Volcanoes• Fires• Plant Particles

(pollen)

• Sea Salt Spray(NaCl)

END!END!