The Association of Atmospheric Chemistry with Weather Patterns in Wilmington, NC Sarah Beth Jenkins Spring 2006 Department of Earth Sciences

Introduction  Why is rainwater chemistry important? Air pollution Acid Rain in United States (Source: Lutgens and Tarbuck 2003)

Southeast North Carolina  What rainwater chemistry issue is important? Nitrate analytes

Hog Farm Flooding in Eastern North Carolina after Hurricane Floyd in September 1999 (Source: Mallin 2000)

MACRL Study  Feb Aug 2003  129 rain events  Ammonium, nitrate, organic nitrogen, free amino acids  Trajectory Analysis  Weather patterns?

Specific Objectives  Determine if weather conditions vary by seasons through comparison by six winter and six summer rain events as measured by the MACRL study on the UNCW campus (expanded data base)  Determine if weather conditions vary by terrestrial and marine trajectories as identified in previous studies  Determine if weather conditions vary by chemical type including hydrogen peroxide, nitrate, non-sea salt sulfate, chloride, and dissolved organic carbon as measured by the MACRL study on the UNCW campus

Air-mass back trajectories as produced by Long (2003) Mixed Terrestrial Mixed Coastal Oceanic

Methodology  Collect meteorological data:  Day/Hourly reports 48 hrs preceding each rain event.  Calculate descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, range, etc.)  Complete statistical tests to determine significant difference in meteorological conditions by season and storm trajectory

Dates of Storms Avg. Temp Avg. Wind Speed Avg. RHNO /11/2003 mar/mix %1 2/27/2004 coastal/mix % /14/2005 marine % /10/2003 terrestrial %1.89 2/14/2004 terrestrial % /9/2004 continental % /2/ marine % /26/ marine % /29/ marine % /17/2004 terrestrial % /24/ terrestrial % /25/ terrestrial %11.865

Generate WXP 24-Hour Meteogram Station: Wilmington/New NC US KILM Data for KILM from 0000Z 12 DEC 03 to 2300Z 12 DEC 03 ID TIME T TD RH DIR SPD GST ALT SLP VIS CIL COV KILM CLR KILM CLR KILM CLR KILM CLR KILM CLR KILM CLR KILM CLR KILM CLR KILM CLR KILM CLR KILM CLR KILM CLR KILM CLR KILM CLR KILM CLR KILM CLR KILM CLR KILM CLR Source: Plymouth State Weather Center 24 HR Surface Station Summary Generator

Methodology  Examine NOAA daily weather maps 48 hrs before precipitation  Compare synoptic weather conditions by season and storm trajectory  Examine radar images to determine spatial distribution of rainfall  Compare rainfall distribution by seasons and storm trajectories

NOAA Daily Weather Map (2006)

Source: Wilmington NWS FO Radar image of Eastern North Carolina

Product  Description of local weather conditions and synoptic weather patterns associated with specific atmospheric chemistry patterns  Use information gained in study as environmental protection tools  Suggest management strategies and pre-storm procedures based on forecasted atmospheric chemistry