Effect of Canadian Wildfires on Chicago's Air Quality
Location
SU-215
Department
Physics
Abstract
We report on the measurement and study of Particulate Matter (PM) from the Canadian wildfires and other events. PM is harmful to the environment and human health. The EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for PM is 12 micrograms per cubic meter. As part of the CROCUS collaboration, NEIU worked with collaborators from Argonne labs to install a large variety of meteorological and air quality sensors on the roof of Bernard Brommel Hall. This rooftop station has four different types of PM sensors, two weather stations, and three LIDARs (light detection and ranging). The LIDARs provide information about the structure, concentration, and composition of aerosols up to about 15.4 kilometers or 9.6 miles. Records of wind speed and direction help determine the origin of the PM.Our measurements during the Canadian wildfires and Fourth of July fireworks demonstrate that the PM associated with these events far exceed the EPA’s NAAQS. In particular, PM exceeded the EPA’s NAAQS for more than 4 days during the wildfire event and at its peak, PM was 40 times higher than the standard during both the wildfires and Fourth of July fireworks. Using data from our equipment and Python, we graphed plots of different sizes of PM during certain dates and the relationship between wind speed and direction to PM. Graphs from our LIDARS can show us the layers of aerosols in the atmosphere, while showing us where the mixing layer is. Health harms of particulate matter include different types of respiratory and heart problems. Environmental effects of particulate matter can lead to damaging of our forests and crops.
Faculty Sponsor
Gregory Anderson
Effect of Canadian Wildfires on Chicago's Air Quality
SU-215
We report on the measurement and study of Particulate Matter (PM) from the Canadian wildfires and other events. PM is harmful to the environment and human health. The EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for PM is 12 micrograms per cubic meter. As part of the CROCUS collaboration, NEIU worked with collaborators from Argonne labs to install a large variety of meteorological and air quality sensors on the roof of Bernard Brommel Hall. This rooftop station has four different types of PM sensors, two weather stations, and three LIDARs (light detection and ranging). The LIDARs provide information about the structure, concentration, and composition of aerosols up to about 15.4 kilometers or 9.6 miles. Records of wind speed and direction help determine the origin of the PM.Our measurements during the Canadian wildfires and Fourth of July fireworks demonstrate that the PM associated with these events far exceed the EPA’s NAAQS. In particular, PM exceeded the EPA’s NAAQS for more than 4 days during the wildfire event and at its peak, PM was 40 times higher than the standard during both the wildfires and Fourth of July fireworks. Using data from our equipment and Python, we graphed plots of different sizes of PM during certain dates and the relationship between wind speed and direction to PM. Graphs from our LIDARS can show us the layers of aerosols in the atmosphere, while showing us where the mixing layer is. Health harms of particulate matter include different types of respiratory and heart problems. Environmental effects of particulate matter can lead to damaging of our forests and crops.