Mass, Composition, Source Identification and Impact Assessment for Fine and Coarse Atmospheric Particles in the Desert Southwest

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dc.contributor.advisorGriffin, Robert J.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberFraser, Matthew P.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberCohan, Daniel S.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberSiemann, Evanen_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberHerckes, Pierreen_US
dc.creatorClements, Andreaen_US
dc.date.accessioned2013-06-05T14:00:08Zen_US
dc.date.accessioned2013-06-05T14:00:14Zen_US
dc.date.available2013-06-05T14:00:08Zen_US
dc.date.available2013-06-05T14:00:14Zen_US
dc.date.created2012-12en_US
dc.date.issued2013-06-05en_US
dc.date.submittedDecember 2012en_US
dc.date.updated2013-06-05T14:00:14Zen_US
dc.description.abstractA year-long study was conducted in Pinal County, Arizona to characterize fine and coarse particulate matter as a means of furthering our understanding of ambient concentrations and composition in rural, arid environments. Detailed measurement of ambient fine and coarse mass, ion, metal, and carbon concentrations at one-in-six day resolution was conducted at three sites from February 2009 to February 2010. Detailed organic carbon speciation was collected at 5-week resolution. A series of samples representing native soil, agricultural soil, road dust, and cattle feed lot material was collected, resuspended in the laboratory, and analyzed to provide a chemical source profile for each soil type yielding insights into unique source signatures. Observations within the chemical speciation data and subsequent modeling analysis show a strong impact from local sources at the Cowtown site where mass concentrations are highest. Source apportionment results confirm the significant impact from the cattle feedlot adjacent to the site. Chemical analysis of ambient particles and local feedlot material shows the presence of chemical marker species including phosphate which is unique to this source. Fugitive dust is a significant contributor to ambient particulate matter concentrations at all monitoring locations. Seasonal observations show higher concentrations during tilling and harvesting indicating the large role agricultural sources play on particle concentrations in this area. Chemical characterization and modeling show that re-entrained road dust is a significant factor. Fine particle modeling results indicate that concentrations are influenced significantly by motor vehicles including impacts from direct emissions including brake wear and indirect emissions including resuspended road dust. A significant fraction is also associated with crustal sources while about 5 g/m3 appears to be transported into the region from beyond the air shed. Detailed analysis of the local monsoon season indicates that monsoon rains serve to clean the atmosphere resulting in a marked decrease in ambient coarse mass and resulted in a period where local coarse PM concentrations measured at all sites became more uniform. The monsoon season also featured localized high wind events which severely increased coarse PM concentrations and often caused exceedences of the PM National Ambient Air Quality Standard.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.citationClements, Andrea. "Mass, Composition, Source Identification and Impact Assessment for Fine and Coarse Atmospheric Particles in the Desert Southwest." (2013) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/71270">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/71270</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.slug123456789/ETD-2012-12-279en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/71270en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.subjectCoarse particlesen_US
dc.subjectRural Environmentsen_US
dc.subjectSource apportionmenten_US
dc.subjectSource characterizationen_US
dc.titleMass, Composition, Source Identification and Impact Assessment for Fine and Coarse Atmospheric Particles in the Desert Southwesten_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentCivil and Environmental Engineeringen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineEngineeringen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen_US
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