A21A-0017
Atmospheric Organic Gases from Fossil Fuel Extraction Activities: Analysis and Modeling
Tuesday, 15 December 2015
Poster Hall (Moscone South)
Nicola J Blake1, Isobel Jane Simpson1, Simone Meinardi1, Barbara Barletta1, Jason Schroeder1, Donald Ray Blake1, Eric C Apel2, Rebecca S Hornbrook3, Teresa Lynn Campos3, Louisa K Emmons3, Amy Townsend-Small4 and Glenn S Diskin5, (1)University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States, (2)University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, United States, (3)National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, United States, (4)University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States, (5)NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA, United States
Abstract:
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted into the atmosphere by a wide variety of anthropogenic and natural sources. Oil and natural gas extraction and distribution activities are a significant source of hydrocarbons, particularly of methane and alkanes, where they can impact atmospheric chemistry and air quality. This analysis will focus on four airborne data sets, namely INTEX-NA (2004), DC3 (2012), SEAC4RS (2013), and FRAPPÉ - C-130 (2014), as well as three ground-based data sets (Katzenstein et al., 2003, our global background monitoring data and FRAPPÉ - Ground). A broad suite of hydrocarbons were measured by UC-Irvine for all of these field campaigns. The NCAR Trace Organic Gas Analyzer (TOGA) also measured VOCs during DC-3 and FRAPPÉ. Oil and gas source signatures, identified by their characteristic emission ratios, were encountered during each of the US-based campaigns, especially over Colorado, Texas, and Oklahoma. The results from the campaigns and long-term trends will be compared to global model (CAM-chem) simulations with a view to improving emissions inventories for the oil and gas category.
