Black Carbon Optical Properties in El Paso Airshed

JOSCELYNE GUZMAN - GONZALEZ, Fatema Tuz Zohora, Rosa M. Fitzgerald, Laura Fierce, Payton Beeler, University of Texas at El Paso

     Abstract Number: 333
     Working Group: Aerosol Physics

Abstract
Abstract: Black carbon is a ubiquitous component of atmospheric particles that affects human health, disrupts ecosystems, and controls local and global climate. The El Paso, TX– Juarez, Mexico metropolis is one of the biggest in the country. With heavy traffic on the international bridges between the cities of El Paso and Juarez, the PM2.5 concentrations keep increasing in this airshed. In a previous study, the optical properties of black and brown carbon in the El Paso–Juárez airshed were examined by our research group. In this innovative study we will focus on the difference of optical properties of black carbon in the presence and absence of coating. To achieve this, we will be utilizing a Photoacoustic extinctiometer (PAX), a thermal denuder and available carbon optical data from local monitoring stations. We will collect data utilizing the PAX at 870 nm wavelength to obtain the optical measurements of black carbon with coating and, upon using a denuder, the measurements without the coating. Inter-comparisons of the optical measurements obtained against Mie extinction calculations with and without the carbon coating will be presented. This study will be the first to be conducted in this area.