AAAR 36th Annual Conference October 16 - October 20, 2017 Raleigh Convention Center Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Abstract View
Examine Spatial Gradients in Surface PM2.5 Fields by Integrating Low Cost Sensors with Satellite Data
PRAKASH DORAISWAMY, Pawan Gupta, Olga Pikelnaya, Brandon Feenstra, Andrea Polidori, Robert Levy, RTI International
Abstract Number: 466 Working Group: Remote and Regional Atmospheric Aerosols
Abstract This paper will present initial findings from a study that uses low-cost sensors to examine the spatial gradients in surface fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations and compare it to satellite observations of aerosols. Using sensors evaluated at the Air Quality Sensor Performance Evaluation Center (AQ-SPEC) of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), we will perform a prototype field deployment of about 20 sensors through citizen scientists. Sensors will be deployed in the South Coast air basin in the Los Angeles and in the inland Riverside/San Bernardino regions of Southern California. These regions were chosen to investigate spatial gradients of PM2.5 as well as to cover regions with discrepancy between surface and satellite measurements. The spatial gradients from these sensors will be compared with that in satellite derived aerosol optical depth estimates. The prototype deployment will help us characterize column to surface relationships in the region and the role of low cost sensors in evaluating spatial distribution of pollution observed by satellites. The findings from this prototype study will help improve the sensor framework for a larger field deployment at three different regions proposed for Phase 2.