Characterization of Characterization of 2007 Waycross Wildfires2007 Waycross Wildfires

Jeff DennisJeff DennisGraduate Student, University of GeorgiaGraduate Student, University of GeorgiaProspective Master’s of Environmental Prospective Master’s of Environmental

Health ScienceHealth Science

B.S. in Chemistry from Columbus B.S. in Chemistry from Columbus State UniversityState University

22ndnd year Master’s Student in year Master’s Student in Environmental Health ScienceEnvironmental Health Science Dr. Naeher’s GroupDr. Naeher’s Group

WaycrossWaycross

Characterization of the 2007 Waycross Characterization of the 2007 Waycross Wildfires by Using Real-time MonitorsWildfires by Using Real-time Monitors Characterization paper from an emergency Characterization paper from an emergency

management situationmanagement situation

BackgroundBackground

March 29March 29thth, 2007 wildfires broke out in , 2007 wildfires broke out in southern Georgiasouthern Georgia Brought about by prolonged droughtBrought about by prolonged drought

April 19April 19thth, 2007 Dr. Naeher contacted by , 2007 Dr. Naeher contacted by the Southeastern District Health the Southeastern District Health Department for smoke monitoringDepartment for smoke monitoring April 21, 2007 UGA smoke monitoring crew April 21, 2007 UGA smoke monitoring crew

arrived in Waycross for monitoringarrived in Waycross for monitoring

WaycrossWaycross

Monitoring of particulate Monitoring of particulate matter and carbon matter and carbon monoxidemonoxide

Used to help with Used to help with emergency operations in emergency operations in the areathe area

WaycrossWaycross

Primary focus was Primary focus was Health Dept. needsHealth Dept. needs Monitoring of schoolsMonitoring of schools Suggestions for public Suggestions for public

functionsfunctions Daily report of Daily report of

monitoringmonitoring

GoalsGoals Help decision makers Help decision makers

with datawith data Try to minimize harm to Try to minimize harm to

the publicthe public

WaycrossWaycross

ObjectivesObjectives To characterize the To characterize the

activity of the smoke in a activity of the smoke in a wildfire emergency wildfire emergency situationsituation

Incorporate particulate Incorporate particulate matter, carbon monoxide matter, carbon monoxide and wind dataand wind data

Show how wind direction Show how wind direction affects the levels of affects the levels of different constituents of different constituents of smokesmoke

Two parts of the studyTwo parts of the study

Waycross portion was Waycross portion was an emergency response an emergency response actact

The Fargo study was for The Fargo study was for normalizing the normalizing the DustTrak’s for the DustTrak’s for the Waycross studyWaycross study

WaycrossWaycross

Sampling ApparatusSampling Apparatus DustTrak Aerosol DustTrak Aerosol

MonitorMonitor

Langan CO monitorLangan CO monitor

PQ200 Ambient Fine PQ200 Ambient Fine Particulate SamplerParticulate Sampler

DustTrakDustTrak

Measures Particulate Measures Particulate Matter in the airMatter in the air

Can sample different Can sample different sizes of particulatessizes of particulates

Spectrophotometric Spectrophotometric analysisanalysis

Measurements are Measurements are known to be elevatedknown to be elevated

LanganLangan

Carbon monoxide Carbon monoxide monitormonitor

0.1 ppm resolution0.1 ppm resolution

Easy to use, durable, Easy to use, durable, and lightweightand lightweight

PQ200PQ200

EPA federal reference EPA federal reference methodmethod

Gold standardGold standard

Accurate Accurate

Sampling locationsSampling locations Varied initially Varied initially

Sampling durations variedSampling durations varied

34 data sets34 data sets

6 days in smoky conditions6 days in smoky conditions

5 days at selected locations5 days at selected locations

1 day co-located for normalization and reduction 1 day co-located for normalization and reduction purposespurposes

WaycrossWaycross

Data AnalysisData Analysis Fargo normalization and Fargo normalization and

reduction ratio appliedreduction ratio applied

Basic statistical analysisBasic statistical analysis Mean, Standard Mean, Standard

Deviation, 95% Deviation, 95% Confidence IntervalConfidence Interval

Kernel Smoothing and Kernel Smoothing and Area under Curve Area under Curve

Normalization MethodNormalization Method

Median average chosen Median average chosen as benchas bench

Normalization ratio:Normalization ratio: Bench/DustTrakBench/DustTrak

Applied to each data setApplied to each data set

Reduction MethodReduction Method PQ200 gravimetric data PQ200 gravimetric data

analyzed analyzed

Reduction ratioReduction ratio DustTrak BenchDustTrak Bench

Gravimetric Ave.Gravimetric Ave.

Ratio applied to each Ratio applied to each data setdata set

Preliminary Data from FargoPreliminary Data from Fargo

Preliminary Data from FargoPreliminary Data from Fargo

Preliminary Data from FargoPreliminary Data from Fargo

Preliminary Data from FargoPreliminary Data from Fargo

Statistical AnalysisStatistical Analysis

Kernal smoothingKernal smoothing Used to reduce the Used to reduce the

variation in measurementvariation in measurement Allows for easier analysis Allows for easier analysis

by SASby SAS Area under the CurveArea under the Curve

Possibility to incorporate Possibility to incorporate wind data wind data

Associate wind with Associate wind with increase in particulate increase in particulate mattermatter

Corrected Conc. in micrograms/m^3 for Waycross Police Station 4/21 to 4/22/2007

02468

1012

12:4

8:0

4

14:0

1:0

4

15:1

4:0

4

16:2

7:0

4

17:4

0:0

4

18:5

3:0

4

20:0

6:0

4

21:1

9:0

4

22:3

2:0

4

23:4

5:0

4

0:5

8:0

4

2:1

1:0

4

3:2

4:0

4

4:3

7:0

4

5:5

0:0

4

7:0

3:0

4

8:1

6:0

4

9:2

9:0

4

Time

Co

nc.

Date: 1 -th day

0.80.91.01.11.21.31.41.51.61.71.81.92.02.12.22.32.4

Time

21APR07:12:00:00 22APR07:00:00:00 22APR07:12:00:00

Date: 1 -th day

0.80.91.01.11.21.31.41.51.61.71.81.92.02.12.22.32.4

Time

21APR07:12:00:00 22APR07:00:00:00 22APR07:12:00:00

Corrected Conc. in micrograms/m^3 for Waycross Police Station 4/21 to 4/22/2007

02468

1012

12:4

8:04

14:0

1:04

15:1

4:04

16:2

7:04

17:4

0:04

18:5

3:04

20:0

6:04

21:1

9:04

22:3

2:04

23:4

5:04

0:58

:04

2:11

:04

3:24

:04

4:37

:04

5:50

:04

7:03

:04

8:16

:04

9:29

:04

Time

Co

nc.

Waycross DataWaycross Data

Next few slides show all the Next few slides show all the data collected for a single day data collected for a single day and all locations on that dayand all locations on that day

Show what exactly we are Show what exactly we are working withworking with

Preliminary Data from WaycrossPreliminary Data from Waycross

Preliminary Data from WaycrossPreliminary Data from Waycross

CO 4-24

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

Time

pp

m

Charlton Co. Douglas Pierce Co.

Ware Co. High Police

Preliminary Data from WaycrossPreliminary Data from Waycross

Wind Direction and Velocity for 4-24-2007 to 4-25-2007

050

100150200250300350

4/24/20077:00

4/24/200713:00

4/24/200718:00

4/24/200723:00

4/25/20074:00

4/25/20079:00

4/25/200714:00

Time

Win

d Di

rect

ion

0

1

2

3

4

5

Velo

city

(m/s

)

Wind Direction

wind Velocity

CO 4-24

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

Time

pp

m

Charlton Co. Douglas Pierce Co.

Ware Co. High Police

Wind Direction and Velocity for 4-24-2007 to 4-25-2007

050

100150200250300350

4/24/20077:00

4/24/200713:00

4/24/200718:00

4/24/200723:00

4/25/20074:00

4/25/20079:00

4/25/200714:00

TimeW

ind

Dire

ctio

n

0

1

2

3

4

5

Velo

city

(m/s

)

Wind Direction

wind Velocity

One location showed an average above the 35 One location showed an average above the 35 μμg/m^3 24 hr average set by the EPA for PM 2.5g/m^3 24 hr average set by the EPA for PM 2.5 Ga. Forestry Commission on 4/25/2008Ga. Forestry Commission on 4/25/2008 Staging area for firefighters and close proximity to fireStaging area for firefighters and close proximity to fire

No location showed an 8 hr average over 9 ppm No location showed an 8 hr average over 9 ppm set forth by the EPA for carbon monoxideset forth by the EPA for carbon monoxide

No location showed a 1 hr average of above 35 No location showed a 1 hr average of above 35 ppm set forth by the EPA for carbon monoxideppm set forth by the EPA for carbon monoxide

WaycrossWaycross

Characterization paperCharacterization paper Will include particulate Will include particulate

matter, carbon monoxide, matter, carbon monoxide, and wind dataand wind data

to show how the smoke to show how the smoke reacts to different reacts to different conditions and locationsconditions and locations

Will be able to interpret Will be able to interpret data to understand data to understand

Smoke from a wildfire Smoke from a wildfire for better public health for better public health awarenessawareness

Actions to reduce public Actions to reduce public exposure exposure

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Dr. Luke NaeherDr. Luke Naeher Jeff GarnettJeff Garnett Dr. Trina VanWaldnerDr. Trina VanWaldner Southeastern Georgia Health Southeastern Georgia Health

DepartmentDepartment Adam GrayAdam Gray

Questions, Comments?Questions, Comments?