AMBIENT MONITORING

Field Studies:- We have conducted field studies in which ambient airborne particulate matter (PM) samples were taken in Potsdam and Stockton, NY. Gaseous Hg0 and RGM were also determined. The PM samples are being analyzed for a series of elements and specific chemical species. Source apportionment studies are in progress. From these data, the impacts of in-state and out-of-state electricity generation on air quality will be assessed.

In addition, a supplementary sampling/analysis program has been conducted to examine the role of isoprene oxidation in contributing to the secondary organic aerosol (SOA) observed at Potsdam. Using a high volume PM2.5 sampler, we have collected samples from July to December 2005. These samples have been extracted, derivatized, and analyzed by gas chromatorgraphy/mass spectrometry for 2-methyl tetrols. We have found that these species peak in July and August and decline in the late summer/early fall. The levels drop to very low values after October 11, 2005 when the first widespread hard frost covered the Adirondack region.

Ultrafine particles play an important role in atmospheric processes such as cloud formation, and thus in indirect effects on the albedo and the radiation balance, and ozone depletion. The health effect of small particles also became a concern in recent years. We have recently begun a program to monitor particle size distributions at the main fire station in downtown Rochester. The sampling system is housed at a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation site on the main fire station in Rochester. Data are being collected and analyzed. A typical daily record of size distributions is shown in the next figure. Concentration peaks can be observed at 9 AM and about 5:30 PM. It appears that there is a steady source of particles during most of the day at this site.

However, we have observed nucleation events at this site. These events have been observed in a number of locations. However, the exact nature of the nucleating substances is not known. A nucleation event can be seen in Figure 2. In this case there is a decline in concentration late in the morning followed by the nucleation event beginning just after noon. The results of these measurements will be used in health effects studies in the future when at least several years of data have been collected.

Another important aspect of ultrafine particles is how they get into the atmosphere in the first place. Although several formation mechanisms for small particles are discussed in the literature, complete theoretical models are not available. One reason is that the atmosphere is a very complicated multi-phase and multi-component system with strong cross-influences and a complete, detailed description of this system is practically impossible. Any simplified description can only be proposed based on solid experimental data. Thus, it is important to examine experimentally the formation of ultrafine particles in the atmosphere. Limited experimental techniques are available to investigate particle formation process. Ideal experiments would include the measurements of all relevant gas phase (trace gases, precursors, and reactive gases), aerosol phase (the number concentration, size distribution, chemical composition) parameters as well as the rate of gas-to-particle conversion, and temperature, pressure, radiation fields, etc.

Monitoring programs are being initiated in Syracuse and Rochester, NY.  In Syracuse, measurements are being made on the site of the Center of Excellence Building (CoE) site near the intersection of I-81 and I-690 and in a residential neighborhood on the southwestern side of the city.  Gases and particle counts are being continuously measured and PM2.5 composition will be measured every 6th day for elements, organic and elemental carbon, ions, and organic molecular markers.  Intensive studies of the spatial temporal distributions of particles and gases in the CoE building neighborhood using the Clarkson Mobile Air Pollution Laboratory.  

In Rochester, we will be deploying a continuous measurement system for particle-bound reactive oxygen species beginning in 2009.  Intensive measurements similar to those being made in Syracuse will be made to obtain the spatial-temporal variability of ultrafine particles across parts of the city.

The List of Recent Publications is as follows:-

  • Characterization of Wintertime Reactive Oxygen Species Concentrations in Flushing, New York, P. Venkatachari, P.K. Hopke, W.H. Brune, X. Ren, R. Lesher, J. Mao, M. Mitchell, Aerosol Sci. Technol.  41: 97-111 (2007).
  • Study of Urban Atmospheric Pollution in Navarre (Northern Spain), J. Zabalza, D. Ogulei, D. Elustondo, J. M. Santamarķa, A. Alastuey, X. Querol, and P. K. Hopke, Environ. Monitoring Assessment 134: 137–151(2007).
  • Wet Deposition of Mercury at a New York State Rural Site: Concentrations, Fluxes, and Source Areas, S.O. Lai, T.M. Holsen, P.K. Hopke, and P. Liu, Atmospheric Environ.  41: 4337-4348 (2007).
  • Characteristics of the Major Chemical Constituents of PM2.5 and Smog Events in Seoul, Korea in 2003 and 2004. H.-S. Kim, J.-B. Huh, P.K. Hopke, T.M. Holsen, and S.-M. Yi, Atmospheric Environ. 41: 6762–6770 (2007).
  • Interference of Organic Signals in Highly Time Resolved Nitrate Measurements by Aerosol Mass Spectrometer. M.-S. Bae, J.J. Schwab, Q. Zhang, O. Hogrefe, K.L. Demerjian, S. Weimer, K. Rhoads, D. Orsini, P. Venkatachari, P.K. Hopke, J. Geophys. Res. 112: D22305 (2007).
  • Estimation of Mercury Loadings to Lake Ontario: Results from the Lake Ontario Atmospheric Deposition Study (LOADS), S.-O. Lai, T.M. Holsen, Y.J. Han, P.K. Hopke, S.M. Yi, P. Blanchard, J.J. Pagano, and M. Milligan, Atmospheric Environ. 41: 8205-8218 (2007).
  • Measurement of PM2.5 Nonvolatile and Semi-Volatile Organic Material with the Sunset Laboratory Carbon Aerosol Monitor, B.D. Grover, M. Kleinman, N.L. Eatough, D.J. Eatough, R.A. Cary, P.K. Hopke, W.E. Wilson, J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc. 58: 72–77 (2008).
  • Characterization of Fine Aerosol and its Inorganic Components at Two Rural Locations in New York State, R. Sunder Raman, P.K. Hopke, and T.M. Holsen, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 144: 351-366 (2008).
  • Development and Evaluation of a Particle-Bound Reactive Oxygen Species Generator, P. Venkatachari and P.K. Hopke, J. Aerosol Sci. 39: 168-174 (2008).
  • Characterization of Products Formed in the Reaction of Ozone with α-Pinene: Case for Organic Peroxides, P. Venkatachari and P.K. Hopke, J. Environmental Monitoring 10: 966-974 (2008).
  • Carbonaceous Aerosol at Two Rural Locations in New York State: Characterization and Behavior, R. Sunder Raman, P.K. Hopke, T.M. Holsen, J. Geophys. Res. 113: D12202 (2008).
  • Development and Laboratory Testing of an Automated Monitor for the Measurement of Atmospheric Particle-bound Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), P. Venkatachari, P.K. Hopke, Aerosol Sci. Technol. 42:629–635 (2008).
  • Urban Air Quality in the Asian Region, P.K. Hopke, D.D. Cohen, B.A. Begum, S.K. Biswas, B. Ni, G.G. Pandit, M. Santoso, Y.-S. Chung, P. Davy, A. Markwitz, S. Waheed, N. Siddique, F.L. Santos, P.C.B. Pabroa, M.C.S. Seneviratne, W. Wimolwattanapun, S. Bunprapob, T.B. Vuong, and A. Markowicz, Science of the Total Environment 404: 103-112 (2008).


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