Initial Measurements and Findings from the Atmospheric Science and Chemistry mEasurement NeTwork (ASCENT) Houston-Liberty site

SUBIN YOON, Fangzhou Guo, Shan Zhou, Robert Griffin, Roya Bahreini, Ann M. Dillner, Armistead G. Russell, Nga Lee Ng, James Flynn, University of Houston

     Abstract Number: 476
     Working Group: Coast to Coast Campaigns on Aerosols, Clouds, Chemistry, and Air Quality

Abstract
The Houston-Liberty site, situated approximately 70 km northeast of the Houston urban core, serves as one of twelve Atmospheric Science and Chemistry mEasurement NeTwork (ASCENT) U.S. measurement sites for characterizing aerosol chemical composition and physical properties. This semi-rural site measures background and/or downwind aerosol from the Houston metropolitan area depending on wind direction. The air quality in the region is characterized by a myriad of urban, industrial, and biogenic emission sources in a relatively highly oxidizing summer atmosphere.

The deployed ASCENT instruments include the Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (ACSM) for non-refractory aerosol composition and mass concentration, a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) for aerosol number size distribution and concentration, an Xact for trace metals, and an Aethalometer for black and brown carbon measurements. All four instruments were operational by early spring of 2024. This presentation will provide the initial findings of the spring and summer 2024 aerosol measurements coupled with meteorological parameters to better identify and understand potential sources, dynamics, and trends that are driving particle pollution in this region.