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