Joe Adlhoch - Air Resource Specialists, Inc. Review of New IMPROVE Extinction Algorithm AoH Meeting – San Diego January 24, 2006 Joe Adlhoch - Air Resource Specialists, Inc.

Overview Review of proposed changes to the IMPROVE extinction algorithm Size fractions for sulfate/nitrate/carbon Effect of sea salt Comparison of aerosol vs. measured light scattering Comparison of old and new algorithm for selected WRAP sites

Old IMPROVE Algorithm Assumptions include that Six particle component terms plus a constant Rayleigh scattering term are sufficient for a good estimate of light extinction; Constant dry extinction efficiency terms for each of the six particle components works adequately for all locations and times; and Light extinction by the individual particle components can be adequately estimated as separate terms (like externally mixed components).

New or Revised Terms Variable extinction efficiencies and two additional f(RH) terms for sulfate, nitrate, and organic mass – a mixture of small and large particles is assumed Organic Compound Mass to Organic Carbon Mass Ratio changed from 1.4 to 1.8 Addition of Sea Salt = 1.8 x [Chloride] and has its own water growth term fSS(RH) Rayleigh Scattering is calculated for the monitoring site elevation and annual mean temperature and integer rounded. Ranges from 8 Mm-1 at 10,000’ to 12 Mm-1 at sea level Addition of NO2 light absorption in the visible is included for sites that have such data (not routinely available at IMPROVE sites)

New IMPROVE Algorithm where and nitrate and organic are split using the same process

Relative Humidity Enhancement Factors

Large/Small Species Fractions Ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, and particulate organic matter are divided into “Small” and “Large” fractions: “Small” fraction extinction efficiency less than half that of “Large” fraction f(RH) for “Small” fraction slightly higher “Small” fraction dominates mass up to about 5 ug/m3 “Large” fraction dominates mass above about 12 ug/m3 Review of WRAP data shows that while high concentrations do occur, nearly all samples of these species are below 5 ug/m3

Large/Small Species Split Small fraction dominates Large fraction dominates

Distribution of Sulfate Concentrations

Distribution of Sulfate – Sequoia

Distribution of Sulfate – Agua Tibia

Distribution of Sulfate – Crater Lake

Distribution of Sulfate – Jarbidge

Distribution of Nitrate Concentrations

Distribution of Nitrate – Sequoia

Distribution of Nitrate – Agua Tibia

Distribution of Nitrate – Crater Lake

Distribution of Nitrate – Jarbidge

Distribution of Organic Mass Conc.

Distribution of OM – Sequoia

Distribution of OM – Agua Tibia

Distribution of OM – Crater Lake

Distribution of OM – Jarbidge

Review of IMPROVE Sea Salt Term Sea salt estimated from Chloride ion measurement, Chlorine can be used as a back up Review of 2004 data shows significant effect only at coastal sites Review of 2000 – 2004 data timelines shows problems with Chloride measurements prior to 2004, but Chlorine appears to be a reliable back up

Annual Avg. Chloride Mass, 2004

Chloride/Chlorine Mass Timelines Baseline\2004: median UNC ~ 0.04\0.006; median MDL ~ 0.07\0.01 Baseline: median UNC ~ <0.001; median MDL ~ 0.001

Chloride/Chlorine Mass Timelines Baseline\2004: median UNC ~ 0.04\0.006; median MDL ~ 0.07\0.01 Baseline: median UNC ~ <0.001; median MDL ~ 0.001

Chloride/Chlorine Mass Timelines Baseline\2004: median UNC ~ 0.08\0.05; median MDL ~ 0.07\0.01 Baseline: median UNC ~ <0.03; median MDL ~ 0.001

Estimated vs. Measured Light Scattering Nephelometers provide a direct measurement of particle light scattering (extinction without elemental carbon absorption and Rayleigh scattering terms) Comparison of estimated (aerosol) vs. measured (nephelometer) scattering possible at many IMPROVE sites Typically, the Old IMPROVE equation underestimates extinction on very dirty days and overestimates extinction on very clean days At most sites the New equation reduces this bias, though network-wide there is additional uncertainty Change more dramatic with dirtier sites Urban site (Phoenix) shows significant deviation from 1 to 1 line, may be due to poor characterization of urban haze, influence of NO2, or measurement errors Following slides taken from work done by NPS

Old IMPROVE Algorithm: Estimated vs Old IMPROVE Algorithm: Estimated vs. Observed Light Scattering for 21 Nephelometer Monitoring Sites

New IMPROVE Algorithm: Estimated vs New IMPROVE Algorithm: Estimated vs. Observed Light Scattering for 21 Nephelometer Monitoring Sites

Site Comparison – Grand Canyon ▲ Old Equ. ● New Equ.

Site Comparison – Gila Gila ▲ Old Equ. ● New Equ.

Site Comparison – Great Smoky Mtns. ▲ Old Equ. ● New Equ.

Site Comparisons – Pacific Northwest Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Columbia River Gorge Three Sisters

Site Comparisons – Southwest Sycamore Canyon Ike’s Backbone Phoenix Big Bend

Site Comparisons – Central Jarbidge Lone Peak

Summary of New Algorithm The New algorithm incorporates new terms to more completely account for haze, incorporates updated information, and reduces know biases Performance tests of the New algorithm show it reduces bias compared to the Old algorithm at the extremes it has as somewhat greater uncertainty that causes it to mis-select hazy days a little more frequently little sensitivity to which algorithm is used with regards to composition on the extreme days Following slides illustrate the difference between the 20% worst/best days calculated with the Old and New algorithm for selected sites

Selected Monitoring Locations

Comparison – 20% Worst Days, 2002

Comparison – 20% Worst Days, 2002

Comparison – 20% Best Days, 2002

Comparison – 20% Best Days, 2002

Implementation Steps for Regional Haze Rule Application IMPROVE Steering Committee has approved (12/05) Calculation of water growth functions for monthly & annual averaged conditions for each monitoring site has been completed (01/06) Recalculation of current (5-year baseline) and natural haze levels – VIEWS – by March ??? EPA modifies the regional haze guidance, so states can choose – 6 to 12 months VIEWS will support both versions of the algorithm for the foreseeable future