AAAR 32nd Annual Conference
September 30 - October 4, 2013
Oregon Convention Center
Portland, Oregon, USA
Abstract View
Measurement of Gas and Aerosol Agricultural Emissions
PHILIP SILVA, USDA - Agricultural Research Service
Abstract Number: 713 Working Group: Remote and Regional Atmospheric Aerosols
Abstract Studies of air quality indicate that agricultural emissions may impact particulate mass concentrations through both primary and secondary processes. Agriculture impacts can include primary dust emission, on-facility combustion from vehicles or seasonal field burning, and gaseous emissions such as ammonia that produce secondary aerosol. During this study we field tested an ambient ion monitor (AIM) adapted for detection and quantification of gaseous agricultural emission components that potentially convert to the aerosol phase. Ions of interest include ammonia, small amines, and carboxylic acids. Sampling took place at Mammoth Cave National Park where the AIM instrument was co-located with regulatory measurements for the state of Kentucky and an IMPROVE network monitor. Sampling took place during two time periods; one during spring when seasonal burns take place and a second during summer in peak ozone season. Results in both cases show that ammonia dominates the cation component of the particles. While sulfate is the dominant anion detected by the AIM at the site, carboxylic acids were also detected as significant components by anion chromatography. Correlations of the AIM data with other measurements and implications for its suitability for detecting primary and secondary aerosol from agricultural emissions will be discussed.