A33B-3167:
Spatial trends in surface-based carbonaceous aerosol, including organic, water-soluble and elemental carbon, during DISCOVER-AQ in Houston, TX
Wednesday, 17 December 2014
Rebecca J Sheesley1, Tate Edward Barrett1, Subin Yoon2, Adelaide E Clark3, Lea Hildebrandt Ruiz4, Robert J Griffin5, Basak Karakurt Cevik6, Russell Long7, Rachelle Duvall7 and Sascha Usenko8, (1)Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States, (2)Baylor University, Environmental Science, Waco, TX, United States, (3)Baylor University, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Waco, TX, United States, (4)University of Texas at Austin, McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, Austin, TX, United States, (5)Rice Univ-Civil Envir Engr, Houston, TX, United States, (6)Rice University, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Houston, TX, United States, (7)US EPA, RTP, NC, United States, (8)Baylor University, Institute of Ecological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, Waco, TX, United States
Abstract:
DISCOVER-AQ (Deriving Information on Surface conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality) is a NASA funded air quality research program that focused on Houston, TX in September 2013. NASA’s P‐3B and B200 were deployed to sample vertical profiles over specific focus areas using a spiraling vertical profile flight plan on select days during the 30 day sampling campaign. In this project, we measured organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), inorganic carbon and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) from filter-based sampling efforts at four ground-based sites across the Houston metropolitan area. Ground-based sites were chosen to represent the downtown area, upwind and downwind as well as the Houston Ship Channel (industrial area). Ratios of EC:OC and WSOC:OC will be used to track contributions of primary and secondary organic carbon (POC and SOC), respectively. Spatial and temporal trends in POC and SOC for the Houston metropolitan area will be discussed.
