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Airborne measurements of western U.S. wildfire emissions: Comparison with prescribed burning and air quality implications
Author(s) -
Liu Xiaoxi,
Huey L. Gregory,
Yokelson Robert J.,
Selimovic Vanessa,
Simpson Isobel J.,
Müller Markus,
Jimenez Jose L.,
CampuzanoJost Pedro,
Beyersdorf Andreas J.,
Blake Donald R.,
Butterfield Zachary,
Choi Yonghoon,
Crounse John D.,
Day Douglas A.,
Diskin Glenn S.,
Dubey Manvendra K.,
Fortner Edward,
Hanisco Thomas F.,
Hu Weiwei,
King Laura E.,
Kleinman Lawrence,
Meinardi Simone,
Mikoviny Tomas,
Onasch Timothy B.,
Palm Brett B.,
Peischl Jeff,
Pollack Ilana B.,
Ryerson Thomas B.,
Sachse Glen W.,
Sedlacek Arthur J.,
Shilling John E.,
Springston Stephen,
St. Clair Jason M.,
Tanner David J.,
Teng Alexander P.,
Wennberg Paul O.,
Wisthaler Armin,
Wolfe Glenn M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-8996
pISSN - 2169-897X
DOI - 10.1002/2016jd026315
Subject(s) - environmental science , atmospheric sciences , air quality index , temperate climate , boreal , particulates , aerosol , environmental chemistry , biomass burning , taiga , climatology , meteorology , chemistry , forestry , geography , geology , botany , archaeology , organic chemistry , biology
Wildfires emit significant amounts of pollutants that degrade air quality. Plumes from three wildfires in the western U.S. were measured from aircraft during the Studies of Emissions and Atmospheric Composition, Clouds and Climate Coupling by Regional Surveys (SEAC 4 RS) and the Biomass Burning Observation Project (BBOP), both in summer 2013. This study reports an extensive set of emission factors (EFs) for over 80 gases and 5 components of submicron particulate matter (PM 1 ) from these temperate wildfires. These include rarely, or never before, measured oxygenated volatile organic compounds and multifunctional organic nitrates. The observed EFs are compared with previous measurements of temperate wildfires, boreal forest fires, and temperate prescribed fires. The wildfires emitted high amounts of PM 1 (with organic aerosol (OA) dominating the mass) with an average EF that is more than 2 times the EFs for prescribed fires. The measured EFs were used to estimate the annual wildfire emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, total nonmethane organic compounds, and PM 1 from 11 western U.S. states. The estimated gas emissions are generally comparable with the 2011 National Emissions Inventory (NEI). However, our PM 1 emission estimate (1530 ± 570 Gg yr −1 ) is over 3 times that of the NEI PM 2.5 estimate and is also higher than the PM 2.5 emitted from all other sources in these states in the NEI. This study indicates that the source of OA from biomass burning in the western states is significantly underestimated. In addition, our results indicate that prescribed burning may be an effective method to reduce fine particle emissions.