Air Pollutant Measurements AloftFlight Review

Robert A. Baxter, CCM

T&B Systems, Inc.

Kevin Durkee, Project Manager

SCAQMD

Chris Nelson

SCAQMD

March 26, 2009

Overview• Overview of the measurements -- Bob

– Measurements to date

– Changes along the way

– Measurement issues

– Individual flight review

– Changes in flight strategy

• Measurement goals – Kevin

– Original goals and strategy

– Recommended changes/focus of goals

– Data availability

• Graphic Displays – Chris

Measurements to date

• Aircraft

– Ozone

– Temperature

– Optical PM2.5

– GPS Position

– Carbonyl

– Summa canister

• VOC and Sulfur compounds

• Ozonesonde

– Winds

– Temperature, RH

– Ozone

Measurements to date

• Aircraft

– Ozone

– Temperature

– Optical PM2.5

– GPS Position

– Carbonyl

– Summa canister

• VOC and Sulfur compounds

• Ozonesonde

– Winds

– Temperature, RH

– Ozone

Measurements to date

• Aircraft

– Ozone

– Temperature

– Optical PM2.5

– GPS Position

– Carbonyl

– Summa canister

• VOC and Sulfur compounds

• Ozonesonde

– Winds

– Temperature, RH

– Ozone

Measurements to date

• Aircraft

– Ozone

– Temperature

– Optical PM2.5

– GPS Position

– Carbonyl

– Summa canister

• VOC and Sulfur compounds

• Ozonesonde

– Winds

– Temperature, RH

– Ozone

Measurements to date

• Aircraft

– Ozone

– Temperature

– Optical PM2.5

– GPS Position

– Carbonyl

– Summa canister

• VOC and Sulfur compounds

• Ozonesonde

– Winds

– Temperature, RH

– Ozone

Measurements to date

• Aircraft

– Ozone

– Temperature

– Optical PM2.5

– GPS Position

– Carbonyl

– Summa canister

• VOC and Sulfur compounds

• Ozonesonde

– Winds

– Temperature, RH

– Ozone

Measurements to date

• Aircraft

– Ozone

– Temperature

– Optical PM2.5

– GPS Position

– Carbonyl

– Summa canister

• VOC and Sulfur compounds

• Ozonesonde

– Winds

– Temperature, RH

– Ozone

Measurements to date

• Aircraft

– Ozone

– Temperature

– Optical PM2.5

– GPS Position

– Carbonyl

– Summa canister

• VOC and Sulfur compounds

• Ozonesonde

– Winds

– Temperature, RH

– Ozone

Measurements to date

• Aircraft

– Ozone

– Temperature

– Optical PM2.5

– GPS Position

– Carbonyl

– Summa canister

• VOC and Sulfur compounds

• Ozonesonde

– Winds

– Temperature, RH

– Ozone

Measurements to date

• Aircraft

– Ozone

– Temperature

– Optical PM2.5

– GPS Position

– Carbonyl

– Summa canister

• VOC and Sulfur compounds

• Ozonesonde

– Winds

– Temperature, RH

– Ozone

Measurements to date

• Flight 1 - November 14, 2008 -- Initial test flight

– Evaluate flight times

– Evaluate carbonyl sample collection times

• Flight 2 - January 8, 2009

– Test new carbonyl flow rates

– Implement sampling times

• Flight 3 - February 1, 2009

• Flight 4 - March 10, 2009

– Change ozonesonde to just rawinsonde with 2/day

– Increase the flight duration with extended soundings to higher altitudes

Original Flight Plan

Sample 1

Sample 2

Sample 3

Sample 4

Flight 1- November 14, 2008

Flight 1- November 14, 2008

Ozone

Flight 1- November 14, 2008

PM2.5

Flight 1- November 14, 2008

Flight 1- November 14, 2008

What was learned?

• Carbonyl sample breakthrough at 5 l/m

– Need lower flow rate

– Need longer sample times

• Desired lower detection and reporting limits for VOC

– Requires a pre-analysis of the canisters for canister background

• Comments on the sulfur detection limits?

• Redesigned the flight plan

Refined Flight Plan

Refined Flight Plan

Flight 2 – January 8, 2009

Flight 2 – January 8, 2009

Flight 2 – January 8, 2009

Flight 2 – January 8, 2009

What was learned?

• Problems identified with the radiosonde system preamplifier

• Some questions raised on what levels to fly when conditions define the need to fly above the mixed layer

Flight 3 – February 1, 2009

Flight 3 – February 1, 2009

Flight 3 – February 1, 2009

What was learned?

• Problems resolved with the rawinsonde system preamplifier, but issues with the ozone inlet after launch

• Suggest a modified plan with higher aircraft soundings, no ozone sondes and two rawinsondes (beginning and end)

• Again, some questions raised on what levels to fly when conditions define the need to fly above the mixed layer

Flight 4 – March 10, 2009

• Clear conditions for lower flying over water

• Earlier start time due to Pacific Missile Test Range activities

• Implemented the higher beginning and ending soundings resulting in a longer flight

Flight 4 – March 10, 2009Flight 03/10/09

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10

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60

70

07:15 07:30 07:45 08:00 08:15 08:30 08:45 09:00 09:15 09:30 09:45 10:00 10:15 10:30 10:45 11:00 11:15 11:30 11:45

Time (PST)

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500

1000

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2500

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3500Temperature (C) Ozone (ppb) PM2.5 (ug/m3) Altitude (m MSL)Ozone, temperature, PM2.5 Altitude (m msl)

Flight 4 – March 10, 2009

What was learned?

• Modified plan with higher aircraft soundings worked well to obtain the beginning and ending ozone and temperature profiles

• One issue with the temperature on the first rawinsonde launch appearing about 5° C high. This was not present on the ending launch. Winds looked good from both with a layer of northeast winds aloft.

Key Issues

• Detection and reporting limit questions and the cost-effectiveness of the canister pre-analysis

• Flight altitude variations when stratus is present

• Observations of low level PM increase associated with ozone decrease – chlorine from salt spray?

• Review of offshore soundings to evaluate the focus of flight altitudes

• Cost and differences in weekend Saturday versus Sunday flights