Characterizing Bioaerosols during Quiescent and Convective Conditions in a Grassland Environment

TERESA FELDMAN, Chamari Mampage, Claudia Mignani, Marina Nieto-Caballero, Thomas C. J. Hill, Brian Heffernan, Christine Neumaier, Ben Ascher, Jacob Escobedo, Nick Falk, Sean Freeman, Gabrielle Leung, Allie Mazurek, Daniel Veloso-Aguila, Noelle Bryan, Leah Grant, Susan van den Heever, Russell Perkins, Paul DeMott, Sonia Kreidenweis, Elizabeth Stone, University of Iowa

     Abstract Number: 455
     Working Group: Aerosol-Ecosystem Interactions

Abstract
Bioaerosols can impact public health through potential loading of allergens and toxins, as well as weather and climate, by acting as cloud condensation nuclei and ice nucleating particles. Additionally, their properties and effects can be altered in the atmosphere, such as by the rupturing of pollen in high humidity environments to release pollen fragments, subsequently enhancing the sites of cloud water and ice crystal nucleation. To study and describe potential interactions and feedbacks between bioaerosols and convective storms, we characterize bioaerosols based on their size distributions, concentrations, and using chemical tracers during quiescent and convective conditions in the first BioAerosol and Convective Storms field campaign (BACS-I). Samples were collected from May 23-June 17, 2022, at the Central Plains Experimental Range, a National Science Foundation National Ecological Observatory Network site in Northeastern Colorado. Ground based samples were collected using high flow impactors and a rainwater collector to be analyzed for chemical tracers of pollen, fungal spores, and bacteria, as well as with a Burkard spore trap for identification and concentrations of pollen using light microscopy. A Wideband Integrated Bioaerosol Sensor (WIBS-NEO), a single particle fluorescence spectrometer, was used to measure concentrations of fluorescent particles as a proxy for bioaerosols with high time resolution. These data reveal large variability in the response of fluorescent particles to the passage of cold pools, which are negatively buoyant regions of cold air associated with precipitating convective storms. Through complementary analysis of the highly time-resolved WIBS data with offline analysis of chemical tracers, a comprehensive investigation of bioaerosols during convective storms in a grassland environment will be presented. Understanding these impacts will improve modeling of bioaerosol feedbacks on weather and climate, as well as predictions of potential health impacts.