1. New Approaches to Air Measurements in AOSR
- Preliminary Results-
Black Carbon real time monitor:
AE22 and AE33
January 17, 2016
Yu-Mei Hsu1, Michael Martineau1,
1Wood Buffalo Environmental Association
Eric Edgerton2
2Atmospheric Research & Analysis, Inc

2. Introduction Black Carbon (BC)
Climate change, Adverse health effects
Source apportionment
Incomplete combustion( e.g., Diesel exhaust, Biomass burning)
Aethalometer: BC real time WBEA
AE22 (Old Version). Con: filter loading effect. Underestimate.
AE33 (New Version).
Data Output
880 nm (IR) = BC concentration, BC880 (BCIR)
370 nm (UV) = BC + organic absorption (compound-dependent), BC370 (BCUV)
BC370 is an indicator and should not be interpreted as the concentration for any specific compound
The combination of BC370 and BC880 can be used to identify the emission source

3. Results BC880 and BC370 data comparison for AE22 and AE33 monitors
Comparison of 24-hr BC880 with EC (element carbon)
Application of BC880 and BC370 data to identify emission source
2015 PM2.5 characterization at AMS 1

4. BC hourly concentration comparison
Results
BC hourly concentration comparison
August 1st to Dec 31st, 2015.
(BCIR)
(BCUV)
1:1
1:1
There is a statistically significant difference.
No statistically significant difference.
AE22= a×AE33+b
BC370 =BC880 + aromatic compounds
BC370 is used as an indicator.
880 a b r2 OR
0.995
-0.005
0.97
SLR
0.981
0.002
0.983 -
370 a b r2 OR
0.779
-0.022
0.97
SLR
0.770
0.013
0.762 -
OR: orthogonal regression. SLR: simple linear regression.

5. 24-hr BC880 and EC comparison
Results
EC (Element Carbon)
Jan 1st to Dec 31st, 2015
Aug 1st to Dec 31st, 2015.
AE22 (n=56)
FOREST FIRE
AE33 (n=24)
BC= a×EC+b (μg m-3)
AE33 a b r2
ECTTC
1.15
0.13
0.82
ECTRC
0.88
0.79
AE22 a b r2
ECTTC
1.51
0.08
0.93
ECTRC
1.08
0.12
0.92
ECTTC is transmittance concentration and ECTRC is reflectance concentration.
Correlated well between BC and EC.
There is a statistically significant difference between EC and BC for AE22 and no difference for AE33.

6. Results: Application of BC monitor
BC370 >> BC880
Biomass burning
BC370 >> BC880
Biomass burning resulted in PM2.5.
BC370BC880
Vehicle emission resulted in NOx.
BC370BC880
Vehicle emission
BC and NOx concentrations had the same trending since it’s from the same source “combustion”.
BC370  BC880 indicating “Vehicle emission”.
BC370 >>BC880 indicates “biomass burning”. (with elevated PM2.5 concentrations)

7. Ratio of BC370 to BC880 increased from ~1.1 to 1.7.
Results: Application of BC monitor
BC370 >> BC880
Biomass burning. PM2.5.
BC370>>BC880 indicates “biomass burning”. (with elevated PM2.5 concentrations)
Ratio of BC370 to BC880 increased from ~1.1 to 1.7.

8. Biomass Burning: BC vs PM2.5
Results: Application of BC monitor
Biomass Burning: BC vs PM2.5
July 2015
BC370 = 0.051×PM2.5
R2 = 0.96
BC880 = 0.029×PM2.5
R2 = 0.92
During forest fire, BC and PM2.5 concentrations correlated very well suggesting the elevated PM2.5 was resulting from forest fire.
Difference between BC370 and BC880 increased as PM2.5 concentration increased.

9. 2015 PM2.5 Characterization at AMS 1
Results
PM2.5 concentrations measured by FRM and FEM (SHARP) had a good agreement and showed the same temporal trending.
FRM & FEM PM2.5 correlated well with total measured species (OC, EC, Ions and Metals).
OC was the major component in summer months and increased significantly during forest fire periods.

10. BC and EC concentrations show the same temporal pattern.
Results: 2015 PM2.5 at AMS 1
BC and EC concentrations show the same temporal pattern.
Unknown = FRM PM2.5 – (EC + OC + total ions+ total metals)
Indicator of the oxidation status of organic compounds
Overall, OC > total ions > EC  total metals.
Measurements for EC, OC, ions, and metals cover the majority of PM2.5 chemical species.
Unknown
OC: summer
Ions & EC: winter
Metals: summer
Other: winter & spring

11. Summary BC880 concentrations between AE22 and AE33 agreed very well.
BC370 results from AE33 were higher than those from AE22.
BC880 concentrations correlated well with EC concentration with a good temporal trend.
The combination of BC370 and BC880 was used to differentiate PM2.5 emission sources.
For 2015 PM2.5 at AMS 1: OC>Ions>ECMetals

12. Wood Buffalo Environmental Association
Any Questions?!
Wood Buffalo Environmental Association
# Thickwood blvd. Fort McMurray AB T9K 1Y1
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