THE AIR UP THEREParticulate Matter in Melbourne,

FlDepartment of Marine and

Environmental SystemsFlorida Institute of Technology

Melbourne, Florida 32901July 17, 2002

Melbourne Air Quality

• What is particulate matter?• How was the data collected• Particulate matter trends• How is Melbourne’s air quality?• Visibility• How does meteorology affect

particulate matter?• The effect of fires on air quality• Conclusions

Background

•Small particles suspended in the atmosphere

•Categories- TSP, PM10, and PM2.5•Sources- combustion, industrial

processes, construction sites, dust from mining, agriculture, passing cars

•Combustion processes account for almost 50% of particulate matter

Why should we study this?

• Health Effects– Cancer– Asthma– Emphysema

• Reduced visibility

• Most relevant effects with an annual mean of 50μg/m3 or 24 hr average of 150 μg/m3 there is exacerbation of respiratory mean disease symptoms; excess deaths; visibility

Measuring TSP and PM10

Measuring TSP and PM10

: Mettler Toledo #110595 Air Filter Chamber

: Mettler Toledo AB104 high-resolution balance

Measuring TSP and PM10

• Measured every 3 days for 24 hours

• Machines set to begin at the same time

• Filters weighed before and after exposure to get particulate weight

GMW L-2000 high-volume sampler Sierra Aanderson Model 1200 PM10 sampler

Measuring Flow

Dweyer Corp. Flex Tube 24-D Water Manometer

GMW G 2000-2 Rotometer

High-VolumePM10

Results from January 20, 2002-June 13, 2002

TSP, PM10, and PM2.5 for Melbourne, FL from J an. 20, 2002- J une 10, 2002

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5

10

15

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Date (day)

TSP

PM10

PM2.5

TSP vs. PM10TSP vs. PM10 for Melbourne, FL for Jan. 20, 2002- June 10, 2002

R2 = 0.7214

0

5

10

15

20

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35

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

TSP (ug/m^3)

PM

10 (

ug

/m^3

)

PM10 vs. EPA Standard

•PM10 24hr average standard - 150μg/m3

•PM10 annual mean standard- 50 μg/m3

– Melbourne’s average PM10 for testing period (January 20, 2002- June 13, 2002) was 15 μg/m3

PM10 and Standards

Melbourne PM10- 15μ g/m3

24hr Standard- 150 μ g/m3

Annual standard

50 μ g/m3

15

50

150

0

20

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80

100

120

140

160

Concentration (ug/m 3̂)

1

PM10

PM10

PM10annual standard

PM10 24hr standard

Visibility

• Lv = 1000 Lv= visual length (km)

ρTSP

Typical visual ranges of 10 km are predicted by equation (100μg/m3)

*Lv < 10km is considered haze

For Melbourne1000/42 μg/m3= 24km

Precipitation and TSP

0

0.1

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0.6

20-J

an

29-J

an

7-Fe

b

16-F

eb

25-F

eb

6-M

ar

15-M

ar

24-M

ar

2-Ap

r

11-A

pr

20-A

pr

29-A

pr

8-M

ay

17-M

ay

26-M

ay

4-Ju

n

13-J

un

Date (day)

Prec

ip (i

n)

051015202530354045

TSP

(ug/

m^3

)

Precip (in)TSP(ug/m3)

Fires•February 11th- fire in Port St. John

– Fire covered over 50 acres

•Data on February 13th– TSP reading of 42μg/m3

– PM10 reading of 30 μg/m3

– PM2.5 reading of 21 μg/m3

– *Highest concentrations during testing period

Fires• Port. St. John to Melbourne

– 38 miles– Melbourne SSE of Port St. John– Wind from northwest

• Feb. 11- 360˚, Feb. 12- 270˚, Feb. 13- 350˚

• Average wind direction over 3 days = 327

– Light winds• Feb. 11- 6.2mph, Feb.12-

4.7mph, Feb. 13- 8.1mph• Average wind speed over

3 days= 6.3mph

Fires

• A clean filter and TSP filter from February 10, 2002 (18μg/m3) compared to TSP filter from February 13, 2002 (42μg/m3)

Conclusions

•TSP, PM10, and PM2.5 follow the same trends (linear relationship)

•Melbourne has low particulate matter concentrations compared to “polluted cities”

•Precipitation acts as a scavenger for particulate matter

•Fires, together with the correct wind direction, result in higher concentrations of particulate matter