Karsten Baumann, Mei Zheng, Michael Chang, and Ted Russell Study of Air Quality Impacts Resulting from Prescribed Burning on Military Facilities Karsten Baumann, Mei Zheng, Michael Chang, and Ted Russell

Endangered Species Act Clean Air Act

Fire Ecology The endangered Red Cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) resides only in the mature long-leaf pine forests of the SE US. Most of the forests old and large enough to support the RCW are on federal and military lands. Long-leaf pine ecosystems have adapted to natural fire regimes (wildfires in ~3 to 7 year cycles) and now require periodic burning to maintain health. Prescribed burning is a safe and effective alternative to natural fire regimes.

To what extent does prescribed burning impact local and regional air quality? VOCs NOx PM

Motivation: Fall-line Air Quality Study

Motivation Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) 30 min Average Concentrations during FAQS Phase II (Fall 2001)

Average Composition of PM2.5 Observed During FAQS Phase I (July 2000) Motivation Average Composition of PM2.5 Observed During FAQS Phase I (July 2000) Columbus Oxbow Learning Center Columbus Water Works 2% 1% 28% 29% 1% 2% 57% 59% 9% 9% 2% 2% Average mass = 22 mg/m3 Average mass = 19 mg/m3 NH4 Organic Compounds NO3 Elemental Carbon Other Elements SO4

More Motivation In the continental U.S. prescribed burns and forest fires contribute ~37 % to the total direct fine PM emissions of ~1 Mio t per year* * Nizich et al., EPA Report 454/R-00-002 (NTIS PB2000-108054), RTP, NC, 2000 Zheng et al., ES&T 2002

Objectives To quantitatively characterize pollutants emitted from prescribed burning, with emphasis on the detailed chemical composition of fine PM at OLC; To study diversity of sites: - Fort Benning as primary study site, including PM source apportionment and in situ gas phase sampling. - Fort Gordon, Shaw and Eglin AFB as secondary study sites to include in situ gas phase sampling only. To identify conserved markers for biomass burning in ambient air; To determine the contribution of gaseous precursors towards secondary ozone and fine PM formation; To determine how concentrations and chemical compositions differ with conditions of burning (such as open flame versus smoldering), type of biomass burned, moisture in the biomass, and season (summer versus fall).

Fort Benning Met Gas POC PCM VOC Focus on Fort Benning in collaboration with WW & CSU utilizing Columbus OLC site; OLC site upgrade for PM source apportionment and in situ gas phase sampling started; Contacts to site operators and VOC sample takers established, specific training in progress. Gas 3’ 4’ a/c 11’ 8’ Stair step 14’ Guy wired 8m Tower tilt down 10’ Gate 45’ x 40’ Fence N 10’ x 12’ Shelter 4 additional 20 A circuit breakers 33’ x 7’ level Platform ~ 1’ above ground 4 quadruple outlets on individual breakers POC PCM VOC

Particle Composition Monitor “PCM” Channel 1: NH3 Na+, K+, NH4+, Ca+2 Channel 2: HF, HCl, HONO, HNO3, SO2, HCOOH, CH3COOH, (COOH)2 F-, Cl-, NO3-, SO4=, HCOO-, CH3COO-, C2O4= Channel 3: EC, OC, WSOC, “SVOC” Additional higher resolution CO, NO, NOy, O3, PM-mass, and basic meteorology

High-Vol Sampling and GC/MS Analyses Quantification of >100 Particle-phase Organic Compounds n-alkanes, branched alkanes, cycloalkanes n-alkanoic acids, n-alkenoic acids alkanedioic acids PAHs, oxy-PAHs retene steranes hopanes resin acids pimaric acid abietic acid sandaracopimaric acid aromatic acids levoglucosan POC

Canister Sampling and GC/FID Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds Quantification of >60 compounds, incl. CO2 for “fire” samples Subcontract with long-term collaborator Prof. Don Blake, UC Irvine, CA 92697 http://fsr10.ps.uci.edu/GROUP/group.html VOC C2-C6 n-alkanes, alkenes, branched alkenes, alkynes isoprene Cyclic compounds monoterpenes (a-, b-pinene) Aromatics, organic nitrates, halogenated species methylchloride

…Requires close collaboration with individual facilities’ personnel Linking Chemical Composition of Emissions with Prescribed Burn Conditions… Combustion: open flame versus smoldering Biomass type and moisture Seasonal differences: summer versus fall/winter Site specific differences: background versus plume …Requires close collaboration with individual facilities’ personnel Eglin AFB John Wolfe AQ Program Manager (850) 882-7677 john.wolfe2@eglin.af.mil Shaw AFB Terry Madewell AQ Program Manager (803) 895-9996 Fort Gordon Stephen Willard AQ Program Manager (706) 791-2403 willards@gordon.army.mil Fort Benning Polly Gustafson AQ Program Manager (706) 545-7576 Polly.Gustafson@benning.army.mil

Deliverables and Products Sep ’02 OLC site modifications, implementations, and preparations completed; Dec ’02 1st progress report describing the sampling in Fall 2002; Mar ’03 2nd progress report with prelim results of Fall sampling chemical analysis; Aug ‘03 3rd progress report with detailed analysis of Fall ‘02 & Summer ‘03 results, including improved site specific prescribed burning emission factors; Oct ‘03 Final Report with Recommendations, reporting the detailed chemical composition and concentrations from prescribed burns, comparing plume emissions to the background samples, assessing the VOC emissions at three sites, and identifying specific burning practices with resultant air quality impacts. Beyond complement ongoing SERDP, State of GA, and US EPA research projects.

For more information: Dr. Karsten Baumann (PI) kb@eas.gatech.edu Dr. Mei Zheng mzheng@eas.gatech.edu Dr. Michael Chang chang@eas.gatech.edu Dr. Ted Russell trussell@ce.gatech.edu