0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
Co
ncen
trati
on
, n
g/m3
n-Alkanes Hopanes Steranes PAHs Resin scids Aromatic carboxylic acidsOther compounds Levoglucosan Branched alkanesn-alkanoic acids Alkenoic acids Alkanedioic acids
Mixing ratio enhancements above background
1.0E-02
1.0E-01
1.0E+00
1.0E+01
1.0E+02
1.0E+03
1.0E+04
1.0E+05
1.0E+06
1.0E+07
CH
4
CO
CO
2
CH
Cl3
CH
2C
l2
C2
HC
l3
C2
Cl4
CH
3C
l
CH
3B
r
Me
ON
O2
EtO
NO
2
i-P
rON
O2
n-P
rON
O2
2-B
uO
NO
2
Eth
an
e
Pro
pa
ne
i-B
uta
ne
n-B
uta
ne
i-P
en
tan
e
n-P
en
tan
e
2-M
eth
ylp
en
tan
e
3-M
eth
ylp
en
tan
e
n-H
exa
ne
n-H
ep
tan
e
n-O
cta
ne
Eth
en
e
Eth
yn
e
Pro
pe
ne
1-B
ute
ne
i-B
ute
ne
tra
ns-2
-Bu
ten
e
cis
-2-B
ute
ne
1,3
-Bu
tad
ien
e
Be
nze
ne
To
lue
ne
Eth
ylb
en
ze
ne
m-X
yle
ne
p-X
yle
ne
o-X
yle
ne
Iso
pro
pylb
en
ze
ne
Pro
pylb
en
ze
ne
3-E
thly
tolu
en
e
4-E
thylto
lue
ne
2-E
thylto
lue
ne
Iso
pre
ne
alp
ha
-Pin
en
e
be
ta-P
ine
ne
CH
4, C
O (
pp
mv)
O
thers
(p
ptv
)
Flamming Smoldering
Air Quality Impacts from Prescribed BurningAir Quality Impacts from Prescribed BurningSangil Lee1, Karsten Baumann2, Mei Zheng2, Fu Wang2
1School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2School of Earth and Atmospheric SciencesGeorgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
ObjectiveObjectiveGuided by the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the DOI through the Fish and
Wildlife Service mandates that most army and air force bases in the South-
Eastern US use prescribed burning to maintain the health of its native long
leaf pine forest and thus protecting the habitat of the endangered red-
cockaded woodpecker. In recognition of the conflicting requirements between
the ESA and the Clean Air Act (CAA) statutes, the “Study of Air Quality
Impacts Resulting from Prescribed Burning on Military Facilities” was initiated
and sponsored by the DOA/CERL in support of the DOD Pollution prevention
Partnership.
Prescribed BurningPrescribed Burning Develops, maintains, and enhances wildlife habitat.
Protects endangered plants and animals.
Preserves and protects cultural resources and wilderness.
Minimizes potentials of catastrophic wildfires that could result from heavy
accumulations of vegetative fuels.
Air Quality Issues associated with Prescribed BurningAir Quality Issues associated with Prescribed BurningEmissions from prescribed burning are important primary sources of gases
and particulate matter (PM) to the atmosphere.
fine particles and gases are main contributor to smoke, impairing visibility.
particles less than 2.5 m are released, which are respirable.
organic compounds make a large portion of particles, which might have
potential of adverse health effects.
25%
6%
7%
2%
28%
12%
5%
3%
12%Sulfate
Nitrate
Ammonium
EC
OC
OOE
LOA
Others
UnID
Average mass = 10.4 +-2.6 g m-3
Period 20 - 22 January
Measurement Site (Oxbow Learning Center) and Prescribed Burning Site (Fort Benning) near Columbus, GAMeasurement Site (Oxbow Learning Center) and Prescribed Burning Site (Fort Benning) near Columbus, GA
18%
4%
12%
2%
35%
14%
8%
3% 4%
Average mass = 12.8 +-1.8 g m-3
Period 2 - 6 February
24%
5%
3%
4%
34%
14%
3%
8%5%
Average mass = 13.2 +-1.9 g m-3
Period 10 - 11 March
17%
2%
7%
2%
42%
17%
4%
8%1%
Average mass = 24.1 +-4.9 g m-3
Period 24 - 27 March
26%
1%
12%
1%31%
12%
4%1%
12%
Average mass = 22.1 +-5.2 g m-3
Period 13 - 17 April
30%
1%
8%
1%
27%
11%
4%1%
17%
Average mass = 17.41 +-6.4 g m-3
Period 28 April - 01 May
17%
1%
8%
1%
35%
13%
4%
1%
20%
Average mass = 20.6 +-3.9 g m-3
Period 28 - 31 May
Measurements of particle-phase organic compounds (POC) have been made by a
High Volume Sampler with pre-baked quartz filters. Sampled quartz filters were
extracted by organic solvent and then analyzed by Gas Chromatography/Mass
Spectrometry (GC/MS). Total 105 POCs are identified: n-alkanes (20), hopanes (10), steranes (4), polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons (19), resin acids (9), aromatic carboxylic acids (3), branched
alkanes (3), n-alkanoic acids (17), alkenoic acids (3), alkanedioic acids (19). Cellulose, which provides structural strength to plants, constitutes 40-50 % dry
weight of wood. Thermal decomposition of cellulose produces mainly levoglucosan,
a good marker for biomass burning. Burning conifers containing resin produce resin
acids. Samples for the February event have been analyzed so far. Levoglucosan is
dominant among organic compounds identified by GC/MS. Two biomass tracers have
very similar trend of concentrations. Their concentrations 5 hours after burning is a
factor of 2 to 5 higher than those of background and right after burning, respectively.
This increase is associated with relatively calm conditions at nighttime.The contribution of wood smoke to total organic carbon increases from 11 +- 2 %
before to 53 +- 5 % after the flaming phase of the prescribed burn, conducted ca. 28
km to the east of the sampling site. A wind shift from strong westerly to weaker
easterly component causes to impact the samples collected after 1700.
Time Series Plot of Measured Gases and Particulate MatterTime Series Plot of Measured Gases and Particulate Matter
Organic Compounds Organic Compounds of PMof PM2.52.5 and Source Apportionment from Chemical Mass Balance Approach and Source Apportionment from Chemical Mass Balance Approach
Weekly Average Diurnal Cycles of Weekly Average Diurnal Cycles of
Meteorological Parameters and Air Pollutant Concentrations in MarchMeteorological Parameters and Air Pollutant Concentrations in March
Larger differences between the daily minimum and maximum air T and RH were observed on two burn weeks
in March, indicating overall less cloud coverage, more stably stratified nocturnal BL and generally drier conditions.
An overall increasing warming trend leads to more intense atmospheric photochemical activity and higher daytime
O3 maxima. The two burn weeks were also characterized by elevated nighttime PM2.5, CO and NOy concentrations
associated with calmer conditions under weak easterly component winds. Continued emissions from smoldering
fuel of the prescribed burnings likely account for this nighttime increase, since the relatively cold plumes
(compared to daytime flaming condition) are being mixed into the shallow nocturnal boundary layer.
Non-burn week Non- burn weekBurn week Burn week
Background measurement
without prescribed burning.
Low pressure system with showers
and T-storm from 3rd to 4th. Cold
air moved into the region at early
morning of the burn day.
Highest PM2.5 event associated
with relatively calm and clear
conditions on 25th.
Decrease in temperature and PAR
plus increase in wind speed in the
wake of a front lead to decreasing
O3 maxima and PM2.5 levels.
937 acres 1256 acres 3770 acres 4067 acres 504 acres 251 acres
Build-up in PM2.5 and O3 maxima
after record rainfalls earlier in May;
strong daytime winds.
Relatively stagnant
conditions all week.
January February March April May
Increasing fractions of Unidentified
Mass (grey) with time progressing
into warmer season, indicates likely
larger OOE (turquoise) fraction,
reflecting an organic mass to
organic carbon ratio (OM/OC)
increasingly larger than 1.4 possibly
due to higher oxygenated PM.
Quantification of water-soluble OC
fraction pending!
34.4
34.2
34.0
33.8
33.6
33.4
33.2
33.0
32.8
32.6
32.4
32.2
32.0
-85.5 -85.0 -84.5 -84.0 -83.5 -83.0 -82.5 -82.0
Atlanta
FAQS measurement sites GA-EPD monitoring sites coal burning power plants point sources w/ CO:NOx > 1
20x20 km
N
E
S
W9 18
µg m-316.7
15.5Macon SBP
N
E
S
W9 18
µg m-3
Columbus OLC 16.6 19.3
N
E
S
W9 18
µg m-3
15.8 13.4 Griffin
N
E
S
W9 18
µg m-315.0
14.2Augusta RP
300
200
100
0
PA
R (
W/m
2 )
100
80
60
40
20
RH
(%
)
December
50
40
30
20
10
0PM
2.5(
g/m
3) N
O N
Oy
O3
(pp
bv
)
00:00 06:00 12:00 18:00 00:00
Time (EST)
January February March April
450
400
350
300
250
200
CO
(pp
bv
)
May 30
20
10
Air T
(°C)
3
2
1
WS
(m/s
)
June
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
CO
(
ppbv)
30min avgslope = 10.6 ± 0.1i-cept = 152.9 ± 2.5
R2 = 0.920
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
CO
(
ppbv)
120100806040200
NOy (ppbv)
y = 8x + 140 reference
December
30min avgslope = 8.5 ± 0.1i-cept = 166.4 ± 2.0
R2 = 0.876
y = 8x + 140 reference
March
30 min avgslope = 9.0 ± 0.2i-cept = 183.9 ± 2.8
R2 = 0.745
y = 8x + 140 reference
February
y = 8x + 140 reference
January
30 min avgslope = 10.3 ± 0.1i-cept = 199.0 ± 1.7
R2 = 0.778
30 min avgslope = 12.4 ± 0.2i-cept = 198.7 ± 1.5
R2 = 0.815
y = 8x + 140 reference
April
30 min avgslope = 13.3 ± 0.3i-cept = 198.3 ± 1.7
R2 = 0.653
y = 8x + 140 reference
May
30min avgSlope = 16.9 ± 0.3i-cept = 181.1 ± 1.9
R2 = 0.701
y = 8x + 140 reference
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
NO
/NO
y
0.00
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
Win
d D
irect
ion
(d
eg
N)
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
NO
/NO
y
1.00
00:00
06:00
12:00
18:00
00:00
Tim
e o
f D
ay (
ES
T)
Monthly Diurnal Patterns and CO/NOy RelationshipsMonthly Diurnal Patterns and CO/NOy Relationships
Dec’02
Feb’03
Jan’03
Mar’03
May’03
Jun’03
Wind Rose Plots of Major pollutantsWind Rose Plots of Major pollutants
Emission Factors (dVOC/dCO2)
1.0E-03
1.0E-02
1.0E-01
1.0E+00
1.0E+01
1.0E+02
1.0E+03
1.0E+04
CH
4
CO
CH
Cl3
CH
2C
l2
C2H
Cl3
C2C
l4
CH
3C
l
CH
3B
r
MeO
NO
2
EtO
NO
2
i-P
rON
O2
n-P
rON
O2
2-B
uO
NO
2
Eth
ane
Pro
pane
i-B
uta
ne
n-B
uta
ne
i-P
enta
ne
n-P
enta
ne
2-M
eth
ylpenta
ne
3-M
eth
ylpenta
ne
n-H
exa
ne
n-H
epta
ne
n-O
ctane
Eth
ene
Eth
yne
Pro
pene
1-B
ute
ne
i-B
ute
ne
trans-
2-B
ute
ne
cis-
2-B
ute
ne
1,3
-Buta
die
ne
Benze
ne
Tolu
ene
Eth
ylbenze
ne
m-X
ylene
p-X
ylene
o-X
ylene
Isopro
pyl
benze
ne
Pro
pyl
benze
ne
3-E
thly
tolu
ene
4-E
thyl
tolu
ene
2-E
thyl
tolu
ene
Isopre
ne
alp
ha-P
inene
beta
-Pin
eneC
H4,
CO
(p
pm
v/p
pm
v)
O
thers
(p
ptv
/pp
mv)
0.1
1.0
10.0
100.0
Sm
old
eri
ng
/Fla
mm
ing
Rati
o o
f E
mis
sio
n F
acto
rs
Flamming Smoldering Ratio (S/F)
VOC Emissions at Prescribed Burning SiteVOC Emissions at Prescribed Burning Site
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
02/02 00-1200 02/05 12-1700 02/05 17-2200 02/06 22-0300 02/06 03-0800 02/06 08-1300
Day, Sampling Period (mmdd hh-hhmm)
Co
nc
en
tra
tio
n, u
g/m3
Diesel exhaust Gasoline exhaust Wood combustion Vegetative detritus Other OC
Apr’03
N
E
S
W6 12
N
E
S
W2 4
N
E
S
W9 18
N
E
S
W150 300
N
E
S
W4 8
N
E
S
W6 12
N
E
S
W2 4
N
E
S
W8 16
N
E
S
W160 320
N
E
S
W6 12
N
E
S
W4 8
N
E
S
W2 4
N
E
S
W7 14
N
E
S
W180 360
N
E
S
W9 18
N
E
S
W8 16
N
E
S
W9 18
N
E
S
W200 400
N
E
S
W14 28
N
E
S
W2 4
N
E
S
W9 18
N
E
S
W170 340
N
E
S
W7 14
N
E
S
W2 4
N
E
S
W7 14
N
E
S
W2 4
N
E
S
W11 22
N
E
S
W190 380
N
E
S
W7 14
N
E
S
W6 12
N
E
S
W2 4
N
E
S
W12 24
N
E
S
W150 300
N
E
S
W4 8
N
E
S
W6 12
WD Frequency (%) WS (m/s) PM (g/m3) CO (ppbv) NOy (ppbv)
Distinct increase of PM concentration at Columbus is associated
with air masses coming from southeast during Nov-Apr, which is
the prescribed burning period.
Period 2001+ 02MAY-OCTNOV-APR
Nighttime (18:00 - 11:00)
Daytime (11:00 - 18:00)
Measurement site is
characterized by weak easterly
component flow at night, and
stronger westerly component
flow at daytime. Weak SE flow
carries pollutant emissions from
prescribed burning at military
installation during active burn
period (Dec-Apr), however, for
May & June (little burn activity)
no distinct increase of pollutants
in air masses coming from SE.
VOC sampling was conducted at different stages of
burning (i.e., pre-ignition, flaming, smoldering) and locations (i.e.,
upwind, downwind, burn unit) at prescribed burning sites for
each burning event. The collected samples were analyzed at the
University of California, Irvine, for total 47 gas species including
CO, CO2, and CH4. Mixing ratio enhancements were calculated
by subtracting mixing ratio of upwind (background) from that of
flaming or smoldering stage. As seen by higher CO2/CO ratio,
flaming is more efficient combustion than smoldering, leading to
larger mixing ratio enhancement. However, less efficient
combustion (smoldering ), which has longer duration (8-12 h)
than flaming (2-3 h), makes higher emission factors. The
prolonged emissions at higher relative rates during smoldering
potentially causes the observed increase of pollutant
concentrations at night under calm conditions in a stable
nocturnal BL.
Acknowledgement
This work was sponsored by the Department of the Army/ U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories (CERL) via subcontract with the University of South-Carolina (USC), Grant No. DACA42-02-2-0052, in support of the DOD Pollution Prevention Partnership. The authors gratefully acknowledge the collaboration and field support received by Jill Whiting, Jim Trostle, and Becky Champion (CSU-OLC), Jack Greenlee, Hugh Westbury, Polly Gustafson, and John Brent (Ft. Benning), Frank Burch and Steven Davis (Columbus Water Works), Allen Braswell and Stephen Willard (Ft. Gordon), Venus Dookwah, Wes Younger and Michael Chang (GIT-EAS).
Background CO concentration
increases with increased
prescribed burning activities.
Peak values stay about three
months and decrease a month
after burns have largely ceased.
Background CO levels are
determined from linear CO vs
NOy regressions. Standard
errors vary between 1.5 and 2.8
ppbv. Slopes indicate mixed
influence from mobile, small
industrial and PB sources.
PB start at noon
120
140
160
180
200
220
Dec-02 Jan-03 Feb'03 Mar'03 Apr'03 May'03 June'03
Month
CO
(p
pbv)
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
Bu
rned
Acr
es
Mil Base (acr)
Surr Region (acr)
CO bkgrd (ppbv)
Impact on Regional CO BackgroundImpact on Regional CO Background
Wind shift