Assessing Air-Quality of Delware by Integarting Satellite Observations with Field Measurements

Al Alexis, Yue An, Zayna Juracka, Zakaria Juracka, Ryan Bischof, MOHAMMAD KHAN, Delaware State University

     Abstract Number: 391
     Working Group: Instrumentation and Methods

Abstract
Local air-quality awareness is critically needed in the state of Delaware (DE). Many southern and northern regions in the state are very distinct, with diverse outdoor and indoor air pollution sources and greenhouse gas emissions. Air quality is impacted by many sources, including agriculture (primarily in Kent County), poultry (Sussex County) in Southern DE, and industry (Power plants and chemical refineries located in New Castle County) in Northern DE. A network of low-cost precision sensors is required to comprehensively profile emissions in a wide geographical area. This paper shows the design and development of integrated optical and satellite observations that enable a high spatiotemporal resolution map of emissions across the state- constraining biotic and abiotic sources. This project shows the field operation of laser-based methane, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, and Sulphur dioxide. The sensors are based on probing rotational, vibrational molecular transitions of a suite of chemical species using near-infrared and midinfrared distributed feedback lasers and modulation spectroscopy. The field deployment of the sensors was conducted in collaboration with Delaware Natural Resources and Environmental Commission (DNREC). The air quality between southern, central, and northern Delaware is compared with sensor deployment at multiple DNREC air monitoring sites across Delaware.