Abstract
Lidar measurements of ozone and aerosol were conducted from a Twin Otter aircraft above the oil sands region of northern Alberta. For the majority of the flights, significant amounts of aerosol were observed within the boundary layer, up to an altitude of 2.0 km above sea level (ASL), while the ozone concentration remained at background levels (30-45 ppb) downwind of the industry. On August 24 th the lidar measured a separated layer of aerosol above the boundary layer, at a height of 2.0 km ASL, in which the ozone mixing ratio increased to 70 ppb. Backward trajectory calculations revealed that the air containing this separated aerosol layer had passed over an area of forest fires. Directly below the layer of forest fire smoke, pollution from the oil sands industry was observed. Measurements of the backscatter linear depolarization ratio were obtained with a ground based lidar operated by Environment Canada within the oil sands region. The depolarization measurements aided in discriminating between the separate sources of pollution from industry and forest fires. The depolarization ratio was 5-6% in forest fire smoke and 7-10% in the industrial pollution.
Highlights
A lidar system for tropospheric ozone and aerosol measurements was developed at York University for installation on aircraft [1,2]
This was installed on a Twin Otter aircraft in August 2013 for participation in a field campaign that was designed to study the air pollution from the oil sands extraction activities north of Fort McMurray, Alberta
The exposure of crops and living organisms to ozone concentrations higher than the background levels can result in damage to biological tissue and decrease the rate of photosynthesis in plants [3]
Summary
A lidar system for tropospheric ozone and aerosol measurements was developed at York University for installation on aircraft [1,2]. This was installed on a Twin Otter aircraft in August 2013 for participation in a field campaign that was designed to study the air pollution from the oil sands extraction activities north of Fort McMurray, Alberta. The background level of ozone in the troposphere is between 30 and 40 ppb. The Twin Otter aircraft provided a platform for nadir directed lidar ozone and aerosol measurements above and downwind from the oil sands industry. The results from flight segments on August 23 and 24, 2013 are shown in this paper
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