2021 Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium
Location
Ballroom, Maucker Student Union, University of Northern Iowa
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation (UNI Access Only)
Document Type
poster
Keywords
Boundary layer (Meteorology); Air--Pollution;
Abstract
The atmospheric mixed layer is the near-surface layer of air directly impacted by processes at the earth's surface, including the emission of air pollution. The dispersion and resulting concentration of pollutants within the atmosphere are affected by the depth of the atmospheric mixed layer. Sources of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 microns and smaller (PM2.5) include both natural (e.g., fugitive dust) and anthropogenic (e.g., fossil fuel combustion) emissions. Twenty-four-hour average concentrations of PM2.5 above 35.5 µg/m^3 are detrimental to human health and can affect lung and heart function. Other effects of particulate pollution include poor visibility and changes to atmospheric reflectance. This study evaluates the relationship between mixed layer depth and exceedances of the 24-hour National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in Iowa for 2012-2015.
Start Date
30-7-2021 11:30 AM
End Date
30-7-2021 1:15 PM
Event Host
Summer Undergraduate Research Program, University of Northern Iowa
Faculty Advisor
Alan Czarnetzki
Department
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Copyright
©2021 Madison Mckenna and Alan Czarnetzki
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Mckenna, Madison and Czarnetzki, Alan Ph.D., "Structure of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer During PM2.5 NAAQS Exceedances in Iowa" (2021). Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium. 26.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/surp/2021/all/26
Structure of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer During PM2.5 NAAQS Exceedances in Iowa
Ballroom, Maucker Student Union, University of Northern Iowa
The atmospheric mixed layer is the near-surface layer of air directly impacted by processes at the earth's surface, including the emission of air pollution. The dispersion and resulting concentration of pollutants within the atmosphere are affected by the depth of the atmospheric mixed layer. Sources of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 microns and smaller (PM2.5) include both natural (e.g., fugitive dust) and anthropogenic (e.g., fossil fuel combustion) emissions. Twenty-four-hour average concentrations of PM2.5 above 35.5 µg/m^3 are detrimental to human health and can affect lung and heart function. Other effects of particulate pollution include poor visibility and changes to atmospheric reflectance. This study evaluates the relationship between mixed layer depth and exceedances of the 24-hour National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in Iowa for 2012-2015.
