1. Turner Glasgow, Madison Toles, and Julieta Ramirez
For our experiment at Storm Peak Laboratory in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, we
are trying to see how diurnal changes in the boundary layer effect aersol
emissions throughout the day. The boundary layer is the lowest part of the
atmosphere which contains vertical mixing of temperature, moisture, and
pollution. The layers’ movement is mainly influenced by contact with the
planetary surface, and different inputs in solar radiation. These interactions
change the height of the boundary layer at different times throughout the day.
The variables we will be looking at are atmospheric aerosols with a diameter less
than 3 𝜇𝑔/𝑚3
, wind direction, wind speed, temperature, and pressure. Aerosol
particles will be measured with an Aerodynamic Particle Sizer known commonly
known as an Aerotrak. Other instruments include a barometer, thermometer,
and stopwatch which were used to record time, temperature, and elevation.
Wind direction will be measured to find the source apportionment of the
pollutants, along with wind speed to see the rate at which the particulates are
mixing and dispersing. In order to capture a vertical profile of the mountain, we
hiked from the base to the peak to collect our various environmental
parameters.
Abstract
Future Work
Methods
Particulate pollution smaller than 2.5 microns, not only has adverse effects on
the respiratorysystem, but also on cardiovascularsystem
Background on PBL
PM 3
Conclusions
Hypothesis
Results
Capturing Aerosol Emissions Within the Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL)
Vertical Profile of the Mountain
1. We hypothesized that in the early morning pollution levels will be
higher and more concentrated at the surface.
2. Throughout the day pollution levels will become more dilute as
the boundary layer rises.
.
We used an Aerotrak particle counter, handheld wind meter, and a
weatherman. The aerotrak measured the total aerosol
concentration for each bin, the bin sizes were 0.3, 0.5, 1, 3, 5, 10
microns.
Questions
1. How does the concentrationof mass particles change over elevation?
2. How does the concentrationof air pollutionchange throughout the day?
Future work in characterizing the PBL, and how
pollution effluents flow within the lower troposphere
are import in advancing environmental models used
for climate, weather predictions, and air pollution
monitoring.
Further knowledge is needed to contexualize the PBL,
and understand all of the factors that drive the lower
troposhperic system.
Finally, a more comprehensive understanding on how
aerosols flow within the PBL are critical to better
regulate sources of pollution in major cities.
Aerosol concentrations are higher in the morning
when the boundary layer has yet to rise.
• We found a significant reduction in the
qauntity of aerosol particules later on in the
afternoon.
Elevation and inversions in temperature also
played key factors.
• We recorded a significantly larger amount of
aerosol concentrations in the lower altitudes
compared to higher altitudes.