AAAR 33rd Annual Conference
October 20 - October 24, 2014
Rosen Shingle Creek
Orlando, Florida, USA
Abstract View
Winter Fine Particle Haze Episodes in the Bakken Oil and Gas Production Region
ASHLEY EVANOSKI-COLE, Anthony Prenni, Derek Day, Misha Schurman, Amy P. Sullivan, Yi Li, Barkley Sive, Yong Zhou, Jenny Hand, Kristi Gebhart, Bret Schichtel, Jeffrey Collett, Colorado State University
Abstract Number: 216 Working Group: Aerosol Sources from Emerging Energy Technologies and Production
Abstract Oil and natural gas production in the Bakken formation region in North Dakota and Montana has rapidly increased in recent years due to the use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Though impacts of oil and gas drilling in other areas of the United States have been examined, the impacts on air quality in the rapidly developing Bakken formation region are relatively unknown. While fine particle concentrations are decreasing across much of the country in response to emission reductions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides, IMPROVE aerosol measurements reveal increased sulfate and nitrate concentrations in this region during winter. In order to better characterize winter air quality in the region, measurements of fine particle composition and precursor gases in the north unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and other nearby national park sites were conducted. In a pilot study, conducted February-April 2013, elevated concentrations of PM$_(2.5) ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate were observed. These high particle episodes were often in periods of stagnant wind conditions and were associated with higher concentrations of NO$_x and NO$_y. Excess ammonia remained in the gas phase in these episodes despite the formation of substantial ammonium nitrate. Elevated concentrations of SO$_2 were also observed throughout the measurement period. A second, more comprehensive measurement campaign was conducted from November 2013 to March 2014 with higher time resolved gas and particle composition measurements (MARGA and HR-AMS) as well as VOC characterization. The characteristics, sources and transport patterns of these high particle episodes and gaseous precursors are examined to gain a better understanding of the impacts of oil and gas production activities on regional air quality.