EPA Tasmania

Smoke Complaint

Information Summary

Birralee 21 Apr 2017

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1 Introduction

This summary by the EPA Tasmania is a compilation of information relating to smoke com-plaints concerning an incident on the 21 Apr 2017 at Birralee, Tasmania.

This summary has been prepared by the EPA Tasmania Air Section to provide preliminaryinformation relating to a smoke event reported to the EPA. The summary is a collection ofinformation from a number of sources brought together into the one document.

Where appropriate, this summary will include air quality monitoring data from stations nearthe reported smoke event. It also provides an overview of recorded burns in the area. However,it should be noted that it may not include all burns, as not all burns are presently reported.

It is important to note that, in general, it is not the purpose of this initial summary tospecify the source of smoke from which a complaint has arisen, nor is it likely to determine ifan air quality standard has been exceeded. In many cases, a full technical analysis must beperformed to ascribe smoke to a specific source and to determine if an air quality standard islikely to have been exceeded. The level of detail required for a full technical analysis is beyondthe scope of this summary.

Officers of the EPA will review all the available data relating to this complaint and determinewhether a more detailed analysis is appropriate. In the event that a further report is compiled,it will be available from the EPA Tasmania website at http://epa.tas.gov.au/epa/air/

monitoring-air-pollution/real-time-air-quality-data-for-tasmania/blanket-reports,and the complainants will be notified.

This report has been completed as an initial first assessment of the event. It is possiblethat more detailed analysis may show the data are incomplete. Where a significant omission isidentified, this report may be revised.

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2 Complaint Details

An overview of the complaint received by the EPA Tasmania regarding smoke in the NorthernTasmania area between the 15th and 21st of April is provided in Table 1.

Table 1: Particulars of smoke eventDate Location Description

15 to 21-04-2017 Birralee Smoke in the Birralee/Westbury area.It has been hazy and smokey for the last few days to a week.Whole area smokey - to Western Tiers.Unable to go outside.Can’t hang out washing without it smelling of smoke.

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3 Satellite Imagery

Only three unobscured, cloud-free satellite images were available from the MODIS Aqua, satel-lite on the 18th, 19th and 20th of April (Figures 1 to 3). The locations of fires inferred fromNASA analysis are indicated by red polygons. However, not all fires will be detected by thismethod. The satellite images show several red polygons indicating the location of burns aroundBirralee. These polygons correspond to the location of several planned burns registered in theCSMS (Figures 6 and 8, Table 3). Smoke plumes from the fires are also visible in Figures 1to 3.

Figure 1: A MODIS Aqua satellite image of Northern Tasmania collected at 14:46 AEST onthe 18th of April. Arrows point to red fire polygons.

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Figure 2: A MODIS Aqua satellite image of Northern Tasmania collected at 15:30 AEST onthe 19th of April. Arrows point to red fire polygons.

Figure 3: A MODIS Aqua satellite image of Northern Tasmania collected at 14:34 AEST onthe 20th of April. Arrows point to red fire polygons.

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4 Air Quality Data

4.1 BLANkET Data

Air quality data are collected by the EPA Tasmania from the BLANkET network of air mon-itoring stations. Details of the data collected at the Westbury Station during the interval 15Apr 2017 until 21 Apr 2017 are shown in Figure 4. Westbury station was chosen as it is theclosest station to Birralee.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

15 Apr2017

16 Apr2017

17 Apr2017

18 Apr2017

19 Apr2017

20 Apr2017

21 Apr2017

22 Apr2017

PM (ug m-3)

Westbury

PM2.5 PM10

0

10

20

30

40

50

15 Apr2017

16 Apr2017

17 Apr2017

18 Apr2017

19 Apr2017

20 Apr2017

21 Apr2017

22 Apr2017

0C, km h-1, Azimuth0

Temperature Wind speed Wind azimuth/10

Figure 4: A plot of smoke concentrations (upper panel) and meteorological conditions (lowerpanel) measured by the BLANkET air monitoring station at Westbury , during the interval 15Apr 2017 until 21 Apr 2017 . In the upper panel PM2.5 data are shown in red. PM10 are shownin blue.

The top panel of the plot shows the air quality data. PM2.5 concentrations are given inmicrograms per cubic metre (in short form this is written as µg/m3, or µg m−3 in scientificnotation). PM2.5 is a better indicator of smoke than is PM10. PM2.5 is shown as the red squaresymbols in the air quality plots. PM2.5 values below 5 µg m−3 signify very clear air.

The lower panel of the plot shows the meteorological data of external (air) temperature,relative humidity, wind speed and wind direction. Wind speed is given in kilometres per hour(km/h, or km h−1 in scientific notation). Wind direction is given in degrees. Zero degrees is anorth wind, 90 degrees is an east wind, 180 degrees is a south wind, and 270 degrees is a westwind. Wind direction is divided by 10 before being plotted, so a wind direction of 18 units onthe plot means 180 degrees, or a wind from the south.

Elevated levels of PM2.5 were recorded at the Westbury air monitoring station between the19th of April and the 22nd of April (Figure 4). Levels of PM2.5 were also elevated overnight

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between the 15th and 22nd of April at the Westbury air monitoring station (Figure 4). Shortertimescale episodic changes in PM2.5 overnight across the time period in Figure 4 are mostlikely due to local woodheater smoke in proximity to the Westbury air monitoring station.However, background concentrations of PM2.5 were elevated between the 19th and 22nd ofApril. Meteorological data collected at the Westbury air monitoring station indicate that windspeeds and direction were predominantly low and from the northwest between the 15th and22nd of April (Figure 4).

Plots of the data from the BLANkET stations in the Birralee region are shown in Figure 5.Elevated levels of PM2.5 overnight between the 15th and 22nd of April were also captured at theDeloraine, Hadspen, Longford and Perth air monitoring stations (Figure 5). Levels of PM2.5 atthe air monitoring stations remained elevated during the day between the 19th and 22nd ofApril (Figure 5).

Please Note: The BLANkET data are indicative data, not reference data.For additional information regarding air quality data visit the EPA website at

http://epa.tas.gov.au/epa.

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Figure 5: A plot of smoke concentrations detected by the BLANkET air monitoring network atstations located in the Northern Tasmania region of Tasmania during the period 15 Apr 2017until 21 Apr 2017 .

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4.2 NEPM Air quality standards

Air monitoring results from the BLANkET stations located in the Northern Tasmania regionwere analysed to determine if any station recorded PM2.5 measurements above the Air NEPM24–hour (calendar day–averaged) advisory reporting standard value of 25 µg m−3.

The Westbury, Deloraine and Longford air monitoring stations recorded two days above theAir NEPM PM2.5 calendar–day advisory reporting standard between the 15th and 22nd of Apriland the air monitoring stations at Hadspen and Perth recorded one day.

4.3 DHHS Air Quality Advisories

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) publishes air quality notificationswhen hour–averaged PM2.5 data received from the BLANkET air monitoring network are above25 µg m−3.

DHHS air quality advisories can be found at http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/peh/alerts/

air.DHHS notification levels were exceeded for a number of hours at the BLANkET stations

located at Deloraine, Westbury, Hadspen, Longford and Perth between the 15th and 22nd ofApril. The total number of hours that smoke levels were above the health notification level atthe BLANkET stations in the Northern Tasmania region is provided in Table 2.

Table 2: Total number of hours PM2.5 was above the DHHS notification level between the 15thand 22nd of April at the BLANkET stations in the Northern Tasmania region

BLANkET Station No of hours >25 µg m−3

Deloraine 48

Westbury 43

Hadspen 32

Longford 37

Perth 36

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5 Planned Burns

5.1 Tasmania Fire Service Registered/Permit Burns

Details of burns either registered with or conducted under a permit issued by the TasmaniaFire Service up to the 21 Apr 2017, for the region of interest are shown on the plot in Figure 6.Note that burns shown in this figure have not necessarily taken place. There were a number ofburns in the area surrounding the Westbury air monitoring station in the days leading up toand including the 21 Apr 2017.

Figure 6: Map of planned burns recorded with the TFS for days up to and including 21 Apr2017.

5.2 Forest Practices Authority – Co–ordinated Smoke Management SystemPlanned Burns

The Co-ordinated Smoke Management System (CSMS) is intended to coordinate planned burnsin order to minimise the risk of high concentrations of smoke within individual air sheds. Thelocation and names of the air sheds recognised by the CSMS are displayed in Figure 7.

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Figure 7: Air sheds defined by the Co-ordinated Smoke Management System (CSMS).

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Burns recorded under the CSMS include those planned by Forestry Tasmania (FT), membersof the Forest Industries Association of Tasmania (FIAT) and the Parks and Wildlife Service(PWS). For details on smoke management please visit the FPA website at:http://www.fpa.tas.gov.au/forest_practices_system/smoke_management

Birralee is located in the Brushy Lagoon airshed. Burns in NE Tasmania for this burnseason are shown in Figure 8 (in blue), with between the 15 Apr 2017 until 21 Apr 2017 in theBrushy Lagoon, Diddleum and Surrey Hills air sheds displayed in Figure 8 (in red) and detailsprovided in Table 3.

Figure 8: Burns recorded in Co-ordinated Smoke Management System (CSMS) database forthis burn season in NE Tasmania and between the 15 Apr 2017 until 21 Apr 2017 in the BrushyLagoon, Diddleum and Surrey Hills air sheds.

5.3 Parks and Wildlife Service Planned Burns

Information on burns undertaken by the Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) is recorded on thePWS website at http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=908. PWS burns conducted inautumn are also recorded on the CSMS of the FPA.

A PWS burn was undertaken at Bridport (CSMS burn number 825) on the 21st of April(Figure 8, Table 3).

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Tab

le3:

CS

MS

bu

rns

for

wee

kb

egin

nin

gth

e15

Ap

r20

17in

Tas

man

ia.

FW

I(F

uel

Wei

ght

Ind

ex)

mu

ltip

lied

by

ten

give

sth

eap

pro

xim

ate

fuel

ton

nag

e

Bu

rnID

Dat

eIg

nit

ion

Tim

eA

irsh

edE

asti

ng

Nor

thin

gF

WI

un

its

Age

ncy

769

2017-0

4-18

10:1

5:0

0S

urr

eyH

ills

-41.

116

145.

726

500

PF

Ols

en

770

2017-0

4-18

10:0

0:0

0D

idd

leu

m-4

1.19

214

7.69

060

0P

FO

lsen

772

2017-0

4-18

12:1

5:0

0S

urr

eyH

ills

-41.

484

146.

097

1600

For

estr

yT

asm

ania

-N

orth

ern

area

773

2017-0

4-18

11:2

5:0

0S

urr

eyH

ills

-41.

471

146.

309

280

For

estr

yT

asm

ania

-N

orth

ern

area

774

2017-0

4-18

11:4

5:0

0S

urr

eyH

ills

-41.

448

146.

018

1320

For

estr

yT

asm

ania

-N

orth

ern

area

779

2017-0

4-18

10:2

0:0

0S

urr

eyH

ills

-41.

189

145.

777

250

For

ico

787

2017-0

4-19

10:2

0:0

0B

rush

yL

agoon

-41.

414

146.

466

3500

For

ico

788

2017-0

4-19

11:0

0:0

0S

urr

eyH

ills

-41.

189

145.

777

600

For

ico

805

2017-0

4-19

10:0

0:0

0S

urr

eyH

ills

-41.

236

145.

698

375

PF

Ols

en

806

2017-0

4-19

10:0

0:0

0S

urr

eyH

ills

-41.

236

145.

698

375

PF

Ols

en

792

2017-0

4-20

10:0

0:0

0B

rush

yL

agoon

-41.

414

146.

466

1750

For

ico

803

2017-0

4-21

11:0

0:0

0D

idd

leu

m-4

1.21

014

7.24

345

0F

oric

o

825

2017-0

4-21

10:3

0:0

0D

idd

leu

m-4

1.01

314

7.38

235

0P

arks

and

Wil

dli

feS

ervic

e-

Nor

ther

nR

egio

n

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6 Comments

A number of planned burns took place between the 15th and 21st of April in NE Tasmania.PM2.5 concentrations were elevated at the Deloraine, Westbury, Hadspen, Longford and Perthair monitoring stations between the 19th and 22nd of April, especially overnight. The airmonitoring stations at Deloraine, Westbury, Hadspen, Longford and Perth recorded at leastone day of day-averaged PM2.5 above 25 µg m−3 and each station recorded over 30 hours ofhour-averaged PM2.5 above 25 µg m−3. The location of several fires can be identified fromthe satellite images, TFS and CSMS maps and tables. These fires are likely to have increasedsmoke concentrations at the air monitoring stations with local woodheater emissions potentiallyfurther elevating the concentration of PM2.5 overnight. The wind was predominantly from thenorthwest during the smoke event period.

The source of smoke that gave rise to the complaint (Table 1) is likely to have originatedfrom several planned burns to the west and northwest of Birralee in the Brushy Lagoon airshed(CSMS numbers 787, 792 and 778)(Table 3, Figure 6). Smoke plumes from some of these burns,visible in Figures 1 to 3, can be seen to move towards Birralee and impact the Western Tiersarea. Smoke plumes from the CSMS burn numbers 772, 774 and 773 (Table 3, Figure 6) canalso be seen to move towards Birralee on the 18th of April (Figure 1). There were a number ofsmaller, private burns in the NE Tasmania area between the 15th and 22nd of April (Figure 6),possibly contributing to both localised and background smoke levels in the area. A more detailedanalysis of this event may be undertaken in the future.

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7 Further Information

For further Information please contact the following:

Air Monitoring Section134 Macquarie StreetGPO Box 1751Hobart TAS 7001Phone: (03) 6165 4599Fax: 03 6233 3800epaenquiries@environment.tas.gov.au

Report compiled: August 24, 2017

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