The Great Midwestern PM2.5 Episode of February 2005

A compendium of data from the LADCO ftp site

Compiled by Donna Kenski

from data contributed by Rudy Husar, Wash. Univ; Matthew Harrell, Ill EPA; Neal Conatser,

Mich. DEQ; Bob Swinford, Ill. EPA; and Jay Turner, Wash. Univ.

Background• Midwest experienced a multiday PM episode from ~Jan

28 to Feb 7, 2005• Concentrations led to AQIs > 100, poor visibility, media

attention • LADCO dedicated an ftp site as a repository for episode-

related data and information• Email listserv of interested analysts periodically share new

info as it becomes available• LADCO intends to produce a summary of the episode that

will include some historical perspective, meteorological factors, etc. Others (Canadians) are modeling the episode; AIRNOW is presenting paper to AMS.

• Slides that follow are examples of data available and posted to ftp site

Regional Average PM25 Concentration PatternBased on AIRNOW

• Time pattern of the 0502 Event– The overall event lasted about 10 days, Jan 28-February 7– The Upper Midwest peaked first (Jan 31-Feb 2); Industrial MW later (Feb 3 – 6) – The Industrial MW region show more diurnal variation (lowest in the mid-afternoon)

0502 PM Event

PM Event

From Rudy Husar

AIRNOWJan.24, 2005 Jan.25, 2005 Jan.26, 2005 Jan.27, 2005

Jan.28, 2005 Jan.29, 2005 Jan.30, 2005 Jan.31, 2005

Feb. 1, 2005 Feb. 2, 2005 Feb. 3, 2005 Feb. 4, 2005

Feb. 5, 2005 Feb. 6, 2005

From Rudy Husar

February 3, 200524-hr PM2.5 Values

Data obtained from USEPA's AIRNOW mapping system. All values are unverified.

From Matt Harrell, Illinois EPA

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Date

24 h

r PM

-2.5

Con

cent

ratio

n (µ

g/m

3 )

DEARBORN

DETROIT ALLEN PARK

FLINT

GRRAPIDS

HOLLAND

KALAMAZO

LANSING

PTHURON

YPSILANTI

24 hr Average PM-2.5 Concentrations in Michigan (1/26/05 thru 2/10/05)

From Neal Conatser, Mich. DEQ

Dirty Below / Clean Above

From Neal Conatser, Mich. DEQ

12Z Soundings (02/01/05 to 02/08/05)

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

10,000

11,000

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55

Temperature (deg F)

Heig

ht (f

t)

02/01

02/0202/0302/0502/0602/07

02/08

From Neal Conatser, Mich. DEQ

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Date

24 h

r PM

-2.5

Con

cent

ratio

n (µ

g/m

3 )

DEARBORN

DETROIT ALLEN PARK

FLINT

GRRAPIDS

HOLLAND

KALAMAZO

LANSING

PTHURON

YPSILANTI

24 hr Average PM-2.5 Concentrations in Michigan (1/26/05 thru 2/10/05)

weak cold front passes

strong cold front passes

cold front approaches

warm air advection From Neal

Conatser, Mich. DEQ

Jan 30 2005 Jan 31 2005

Feb 5 2005Feb 4 2005Feb 3 2005

Feb 2 2005Feb 1 2005

Feb 6 2005

Feb 7 2005

Plots of average daily temperature from Midwest Climate Center

Jan. 30 2005 Jan 31 2005 Feb 1 2005 Feb 2 2005

Feb 3 2005 Feb 4 2005 Feb 5 2005 Feb 6 2005

Feb 7 2005

Maps of snow cover from NOAA:http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/SNOW/

PM2.5 Episode February, 2005Chicago - Com Ed, IL

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

00 06 12 18 00 06 12 18 00 06 12 18 00 06 12 18 00 06 12 18 00 06 12 18 00 06 12 18

ug/m

3

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

PM2.

5 ug

/m3

CTOTNO3

SO4PM25C

31-Jan 1-Feb 2-Feb 3-Feb 4-Feb 5-Feb 6-Feb

Data from Bob Swinford, Illinois EPA

St. Louis - Midwest SupersiteEast St. Louis, IL

PM 2.

5 Mas

s (

g/m3 )

0

20

40

60

80

100

Date and Time (CST)

PM 2.

5 Sul

fate

( g

/m3 )

0

4

8

12

16

PM 2.

5 Nitr

ate

( g

/m3 )

0

4

8

12

16

PM 2.

5 Org

anic

Car

bon

( g

/m3 )

0

4

8

12

16

PM 2.

5 Ele

men

tal

Car

bon

( g

/m3 )

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Date and Time (CST)

01/2

7/20

05

01/2

8/20

05

01/2

9/20

05

01/3

0/20

05

01/3

1/20

05

02/0

1/20

05

02/0

2/20

05

02/0

3/20

05

02/0

4/20

05

02/0

5/20

05

02/0

6/20

05

02/0

7/20

05

02/0

8/20

05

02/0

9/20

05

02/1

0/20

05 P

M 2.5 B

lack

Car

bon

( g

/m3 )

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

UNVALIDATED METONE BAM DATACOURTESY ILLINOIS EPA

(FEBRUARY 4-9 DATA PENDING)

DATA PENDING (Sunset ECOC)

DATA PENDING (Sunset ECOC)

Data from Jay Turner, WU