Air Pollutant Measurements Aloft Flight Review

1. Air Pollutant Measurements AloftFlight Review Robert A. Baxter, CCM T&B Systems, Inc. Kevin Durkee, Project Manager SCAQMD Chris Nelson SCAQMD March 26, 2009

2. Overview • Overview of the measurements -- Bob • Measurements to date • Changes along the way • Measurement issues • Individual flight review • Changes in flight strategy • Measurement goals – Kevin • Original goals and strategy • Recommended changes/focus of goals • Data availability • Graphic Displays – Chris

3. Measurements to date • Aircraft • Ozone • Temperature • Optical PM2.5 • GPS Position • Carbonyl • Summa canister • VOC and Sulfur compounds • Ozonesonde • Winds • Temperature, RH • Ozone

4. Measurements to date • Aircraft • Ozone • Temperature • Optical PM2.5 • GPS Position • Carbonyl • Summa canister • VOC and Sulfur compounds • Ozonesonde • Winds • Temperature, RH • Ozone

5. Measurements to date • Aircraft • Ozone • Temperature • Optical PM2.5 • GPS Position • Carbonyl • Summa canister • VOC and Sulfur compounds • Ozonesonde • Winds • Temperature, RH • Ozone

6. Measurements to date • Aircraft • Ozone • Temperature • Optical PM2.5 • GPS Position • Carbonyl • Summa canister • VOC and Sulfur compounds • Ozonesonde • Winds • Temperature, RH • Ozone

7. Measurements to date • Aircraft • Ozone • Temperature • Optical PM2.5 • GPS Position • Carbonyl • Summa canister • VOC and Sulfur compounds • Ozonesonde • Winds • Temperature, RH • Ozone

8. Measurements to date • Aircraft • Ozone • Temperature • Optical PM2.5 • GPS Position • Carbonyl • Summa canister • VOC and Sulfur compounds • Ozonesonde • Winds • Temperature, RH • Ozone

9. Measurements to date • Aircraft • Ozone • Temperature • Optical PM2.5 • GPS Position • Carbonyl • Summa canister • VOC and Sulfur compounds • Ozonesonde • Winds • Temperature, RH • Ozone

10. Measurements to date • Aircraft • Ozone • Temperature • Optical PM2.5 • GPS Position • Carbonyl • Summa canister • VOC and Sulfur compounds • Ozonesonde • Winds • Temperature, RH • Ozone

11. Measurements to date • Aircraft • Ozone • Temperature • Optical PM2.5 • GPS Position • Carbonyl • Summa canister • VOC and Sulfur compounds • Ozonesonde • Winds • Temperature, RH • Ozone

12. Measurements to date • Aircraft • Ozone • Temperature • Optical PM2.5 • GPS Position • Carbonyl • Summa canister • VOC and Sulfur compounds • Ozonesonde • Winds • Temperature, RH • Ozone

13. Measurements to date • Flight 1 - November 14, 2008 -- Initial test flight • Evaluate flight times • Evaluate carbonyl sample collection times • Flight 2 - January 8, 2009 • Test new carbonyl flow rates • Implement sampling times • Flight 3 - February 1, 2009 • Flight 4 - March 10, 2009 • Change ozonesonde to just rawinsonde with 2/day • Increase the flight duration with extended soundings to higher altitudes

14. Original Flight Plan Sample 2 Sample 1 Sample 3 Sample 4

15. Flight 1- November 14, 2008

16. Flight 1- November 14, 2008 Ozone

17. Flight 1- November 14, 2008 PM2.5

18. Flight 1- November 14, 2008

19. Flight 1- November 14, 2008 What was learned? • Carbonyl sample breakthrough at 5 l/m • Need lower flow rate • Need longer sample times • Desired lower detection and reporting limits for VOC • Requires a pre-analysis of the canisters for canister background • Comments on the sulfur detection limits? • Redesigned the flight plan

20. Refined Flight Plan

21. Refined Flight Plan

22. Flight 2 – January 8, 2009

23. Flight 2 – January 8, 2009

24. Flight 2 – January 8, 2009

25. Flight 2 – January 8, 2009 What was learned? • Problems identified with the radiosonde system preamplifier • Some questions raised on what levels to fly when conditions define the need to fly above the mixed layer

26. Flight 3 – February 1, 2009

27. Flight 3 – February 1, 2009

28. Flight 3 – February 1, 2009 What was learned? • Problems resolved with the rawinsonde system preamplifier, but issues with the ozone inlet after launch • Suggest a modified plan with higher aircraft soundings, no ozone sondes and two rawinsondes (beginning and end) • Again, some questions raised on what levels to fly when conditions define the need to fly above the mixed layer

29. Flight 4 – March 10, 2009 • Clear conditions for lower flying over water • Earlier start time due to Pacific Missile Test Range activities • Implemented the higher beginning and ending soundings resulting in a longer flight

30. Flight 4 – March 10, 2009

31. Flight 4 – March 10, 2009 What was learned? • Modified plan with higher aircraft soundings worked well to obtain the beginning and ending ozone and temperature profiles • One issue with the temperature on the first rawinsonde launch appearing about 5° C high. This was not present on the ending launch. Winds looked good from both with a layer of northeast winds aloft.

32. Key Issues • Detection and reporting limit questions and the cost-effectiveness of the canister pre-analysis • Flight altitude variations when stratus is present • Observations of low level PM increase associated with ozone decrease – chlorine from salt spray? • Review of offshore soundings to evaluate the focus of flight altitudes • Cost and differences in weekend Saturday versus Sunday flights