Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences

Abstracts: 4

The New England Air Quality Study (NEAQS): Advance Field Work and Planning Efforts

Brian Lerner

During July and August of 2002, CIRES scientists and their colleagues in NOAA and other organizations embarked on a multi-institutional research project focusing on air quality prediction & monitoring, weather, and climate-related issues in the 2002 New England Air Quality Study (NEAQS). The intensive research study program is designed to provide scientific information for environmental decision-makers in the region to aid in the development of effective strategies for air quality management.

In recent years, it has become increasingly evident that the most persistent air pollutants (e.g., ground-level ozone and fine particles) are inherently a regional problem requiring a regional approach. Finding effective solutions is particularly difficult in the case of ozone and fine particles since both of these pollutants are formed by a complex series of chemical reactions that occur in the atmosphere and involve pollutants emitted from a variety of sources, often far away and hence involving transport from long distances.

Nowhere is the regional nature of this problem more evident than in New England. There are currently several counties in southern New England where ozone and/or particulate matter (PM) levels exceed the standard established by EPA to protect public health and welfare. The number of counties in the region that are expected to violate EPA's proposed new standards is considerably greater (see the accompanying figure). The poor air quality responsible for these violations can adversely impact the health of the region's citizens and the environment with serious consequences for the local economy.

The summer 2002 mission used the NOAA Research Vessel Ronald H. Brown deployed in the Gulf of Maine, with CIRES scientists and their colleagues operating a complete complement of sensors and instruments for measuring gases and aerosol particles. The use of a ship in such an air quality study has afforded scientists a powerful vantage point to study the role of coastal meteorology in transporting polluted air from the Gulf of Maine to the populated areas in the region. Measurements from ground stations and from instrumented aircraft, as well as modeling forecasts and analyses, provide a powerful suite of information that will enable researchers to develop an understanding of the key processes that affect air quality in New England.