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. Endangered
Species
Act
Clean
Air
Act

3. 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.

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

5. Motivation: Fall-line Air Quality Study

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

7. 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

8. 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 (NTIS PB ), RTP, NC, 2000
Zheng et al., ES&T 2002

9. 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).

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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
VOC
C2-C6 n-alkanes, alkenes, branched alkenes, alkynes
isoprene
Cyclic compounds
monoterpenes (a-, b-pinene)
Aromatics, organic nitrates, halogenated species
methylchloride

14. …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)
Shaw AFB
Terry Madewell
AQ Program Manager
(803)
Fort Gordon
Stephen Willard AQ Program Manager (706)
Fort Benning
Polly Gustafson
AQ Program Manager (706)

15. Deliverables and Products
Sep ’ OLC site modifications, implementations, and preparations completed;
Dec ’ st progress report describing the sampling in Fall 2002;
Mar ’ nd progress report with prelim results of Fall sampling chemical analysis;
Aug ‘ rd progress report with detailed analysis of Fall ‘02 & Summer ‘03 results,
including improved site specific prescribed burning emission factors;
Oct ‘ 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.

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