Grantee Research Project Results
2013 Progress Report: Assessing The Synergistic Impact Of Anthropogenic And Biogenic Emissions On Air Pollution Using Novel High-Sensitivity, Real-Time Monitors For Fundamental Carbonyls
EPA Grant Number: R835138Title: Assessing The Synergistic Impact Of Anthropogenic And Biogenic Emissions On Air Pollution Using Novel High-Sensitivity, Real-Time Monitors For Fundamental Carbonyls
Investigators: Keutsch, Frank N
Institution: University of Wisconsin - Madison
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: February 1, 2012 through January 31, 2015 (Extended to January 31, 2016)
Project Period Covered by this Report: February 1, 2013 through January 31,2014
Project Amount: $250,000
RFA: Developing the Next Generation of Air Quality Measurement Technology (2011) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , Air , Early Career Awards
Objective:
The goal of this project is to demonstrate instrumentation that will allow the use of novel high time resolution monitoring data sets as new metrics to determine the contribution of anthropogenic and biogenic emissions to ozone and organic aerosol (PM). We will demonstrate that the proposed novel instrumentation can obtain long-term, low-maintenance and accurate measurements of key carbonyl-containing compounds such as formaldehyde and glyoxal, consistent with the requirements for instrumentation employed in monitoring networks. The project will validate this approach by collecting a year-long data set at the Horicon National Core Monitoring Station, a rural site in Wisconsin that is part of the EPA Region 5 Ambient Monitoring Network. An objective of this work is to develop the ratio and absolute concentration of monitored glyoxal/formaldehyde as a metric of the contribution of biogenic and anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to atmospheric oxidation. This metric will allow distinction between the direct contribution of anthropogenic VOCs and the anthropogenic impact on biogenic VOC oxidation (resulting O3 and PM via NOx), an emerging issue in air quality control, in particular for PM. In addition, these data will be compared with the WRF-CMAQ model output to evaluate and improve the representation of atmospheric oxidative chemistry in models, thereby helping to provide strategies to control air quality related to O3 and PM.
Progress Summary:
The laser for the glyoxal instrument did not meet the specifications with respect to the fall time of the laser pulse after turning off the laser, despite direct communication with the laser company prior to grant submission and in the purchase order. The slow fall time prevented the acquisition of phosphorescence signal as it was overwhelmed by laser scatter. Consultation with the laser company resulted in a new solution for generating pulsed signals consisting of adding an acousto-optic modulator (at no cost to the grant). This system allows acquisition of a laser-induced phosphorescence signal.
Although the laser problems delayed measurements, they are part of the development and testing of novel monitors based on new laser technology. Troubleshooting and eliminating the problems, in particular for the formaldehyde system, were only feasible through the long-term measurements under this grant. Short duration measurements would have not allowed discovery or diagnosing the issues. The work on this project thus was central to improved laser systems and monitoring instrumentation. As a result of this work, greatly improved lasers, resulting in a new class of monitoring instruments for small carbonyls will be available.
Future Activities:
The focus of year 3 will be continuation of the long-term measurements of fast (high time-resolution) formaldehyde and glyoxal at the Horicon site. This effort will continue extensive evaluation of the long-term behavior of the instruments with respect to sensitivity, accuracy and overall instrument performance. In the second half of year 3, we expect to start addressing central scientific questions of evaluating the influence of anthropogenic influence on rural photochemistry using the novel data sets. We are finalizing the plan for collaboration with our CMAQ modeling partners (Annmarie Carlton, Rutgers). We will also make the data available to any other interested partners and plan to implement real-time access to preliminary formaldehyde and glyoxal data measurements at Horicon.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 2 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Formaldehyde, glyoxal, secondary pollutant formation, ozone, anthropogenic influence, anthropogenic emissions, biogenic emissions, air pollution, carbonylsProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.