Science Investigation

Discussion of Results to Date&

Future WorkRed Deer Particulate Matter Information

Session

Maxwell MazurMaxwell.mazur@gov.ab.ca

Work to Date: Red Deer PM Response

Jan 2013

PM Exceedance Announced

April 2013

Stakeholders notified

Nov 2013

PAMZ Board Meeting

Jan 2014

• PM internal science investigation• Individual meetings with City of

Red Deer and PAMZ

Present

• Investigation aims to answer seven questions

• Multi-pronged investigation based around high

concentration events at Red Deer Riverside

• Based on historical data (2007-2014)

• Modelling

• Other data from PAMZ and regional stations where relevant

Capital Region PM Response Development

Nov 2012

PAMZ Board Meeting

Work to Date: Investigation methodology

• Event day = > 19 μg m-3 averaged over 24 hours• Excludes forest fire related particulate matter• Aligns with Action level for CAAQS

Management Level

OzoneDaily max 8h

(ppb)

PM2.5 Annual(µg m-3)

PM2.5 24h

(µg m-3)

2015 2020 2015 2020 2015 2020

Red Actions for Achieving Air Zone CAAQS

Threshold (CAAQS)

63 62 10.0 8.8 28 27

Orange Actions for Preventing CAAQS Exceedance

Threshold 56 6.4 19

Yellow Actions for Preventing AQ Deterioration

Threshold 50 4.0 10

Green Actions for Keeping Clean Areas Clean

Question 1:Is elevated PM2.5 concentration a wintertime issue?

• Events most frequent in winter but may occur in all seasons

Question 2:What meteorological conditions are associated with PM2.5 events?

• PM2.5 events characterized by low wind speeds

• PM2.5 events are most commonly associated with southerly winds

Question 3:Do PM2.5 events occur at multiple stations, or only at Riverside station?

• Multi-station events are observed frequently

• PM2.5 events in Red Deer may coincide with PM2.5 events in Edmonton and Calgary

• Similar emissions profiles and meteorology

Time series:- Daily 24 hour average concentrations- Concentrations from 10 air quality

monitoring stations

Question 3:Do PM2.5 events occur at multiple stations, or only at Riverside station?

Spatial Average:- Interpolation of

concentrations between 19 air quality stations

- Estimation of ambient air quality based on available information

- Illustrates changes in ambient concentrations over time and space

Question 3:Do PM2.5 events occur at multiple stations, or only at Riverside station?• Regional Emissions profile

– ie. Who contributes what?

  Large Facilities

Upstream Oil & Gas

Mobile & Area

Emissions (tonnes/yr)

PM2.5 2.5% 0.5% 97% 23,672

NOX 53% 14% 33% 34,236

SO2 71% 18% 10% 1,688

Primary PM2.5

Secondary PM2.5

Precursor Gasses

Non-point sources in the Red Deer Area

Question 3:Do PM2.5 events occur at multiple stations, or only at Riverside station?

• Secondary species: • Can we determine who might contribute to the problem?

• No direct measurements of particulate matter speciation in Red Deer, however:

• NO2 abundant, similar to Capital Region

Question 3:Do PM2.5 events occur at multiple stations, or only at Riverside station? • Engagement:

– Can we identify where source contributions are focused?– Who can most effectively address the problem?

• Additional information:– Passive measurements of secondary PM2.5 precusors

• Higher resolution than continuous (35 sites)• Long-term averages (monthly)• SO2/NO2/O3

– Spatial distribution ofsources:• By interpolation

between sites• Corroborate

emissions data

Continuing/ Future investigation and context related questions

Continuing investigation:• Question 2: What meteorological conditions are associated

with PM2.5 events?

Future investigation:• Question 4: Is there a relationship between PM2.5 events at

Riverside and traffic?• Question 5: Are all PM2.5 events similar?

Context related questions:• Question 6: Are the PM2.5 events at Red Deer Riverside due to

an analyzer switch? (FEM analyzer installed in 2009)• Question 7: Are there notable differences at Red Deer

Riverside due to instrument changes since 2009? (TEOM FDMS vs SHARP)