1. 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

2. The Conflict
Clean
Air
Act
Endangered
Species
Act

3. Issues on Local to Global Scales
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 (NTIS PB ), RTP, NC, 2000
Effects on
Health
Visibility
Air Quality
Climate Do
prescribed burns
reduce the risk
of wild fires?

4. FAQS Observations: Regional Problem of PM2.5
Period
MAY-OCT
NOV-APR

5. PM2.5 Eceedance at Columbus-OLC near Fort Benning for SE winds in Winter 2001/02
Despite regional character of PM2.5, local PM sources on military installations dominant in winter half.

6. Seasonal Differences in Diurnal Cycles: O3 & PM2.5
PM2.5 Sources Near Columbus Driving Nighttime Averages in Winter 2001/02

7. PM2.5 Eceedance Event at Columbus-OLC in Oct-Nov 2001

8. Objectives and Outlook
In this initial pilot study, establish understanding of the direct and indirect impact of current burn practices on sub-regional Air Quality.
Lay foundation for more comprehensive and better focused Phase II Study to optimize burn practices toward minimum AQ impact.
Create results of general applicability for the benefit of LMBs on other military installations in the SE-US and beyond.
Learn lessons that help create and implement new revised land management strategies for the benefit of other agencies and institutions that face often times devastating wild fires in other parts of the Nation.

9. Preliminary Results March’03
Progressively increasing
fine PM mass
and increasing
organics fraction.
Increased fine PM mass and organics fraction correlate with increased temperature, solar radiation, and O3, indicating increased oxidizing potential, hence formation of SOA.

10. Still To Do Collect more samples as progressing into summer
Analyze VOC samples
Analyze POC High-Volume samples
QA/QC all met, gas and PM data
Do source apportionment for select samples
Integrate ECMI met data from Ft Benning
Merge all AQ data with fuel data
Evaluate fuel-type – AQ relationship
Prepare data for model integration
Develop strategy for phase II

11. Find this presentation as 030507 FAQS Mac briefg in ppt-format at
For more information
Dr. Karsten Baumann (PI)
Dr. Mei Zheng
Dr. Michael Chang
Dr. Ted Russell
Find this presentation as FAQS Mac briefg in ppt-format at