Association of airmass transport patterns and particulate sulfur concentrations at Big Bend National Park, Texas

Abstract

The Big Bend Regional Aerosol and Visibility Observational (BRAVO) study was initiated to understand the causes of haze at Big Bend National Park. BRAVO included the measurement of aerosols throughout Texas from July to October 1999 and extensive modeling of these aerosols. In support of BRAVO, the potential contributions from source regions to particulate sulfur at Big Bend during the BRAVO period were examined via an airmass history analysis. This was done using residence time analysis and a new technique of decomposing the residence time probability density function into its basic components, an airmass transport directional frequency and inverse characteristic transport speed. Trajectory heights over potential source regions were also examined. The system was validated using inert perfluorocarbon tracers that were released from four Texas sites. Airmass transport to Big Bend was examined on days with high (>80th percentile), and days with low (<20th percentile), particulate sulfur. High particulate sulfur concentrations were associated with low-level and low-speed airmass transport from the eastern United States, eastern Texas, and northeastern Mexico. All three of these regions have high SO 2 emissions that could contribute to Big Bend's haze. Examination of individual trajectories showed that the highest particulate sulfur concentrations occurred when transport over several of these regions coincided. Low particulate sulfur concentrations coincided with low-level but high-speed airmass transport from the Gulf of Mexico and along the Mexico–Texas border. Precipitation often occurred along these trajectories. Low sulfur was also associated with transport from low SO 2 emission regions north and west of Big Bend. Days with high SO 2 or selenium concentrations were also examined. High SO 2 concentrations were associated with prior transport from nearby sources, particularly the Carbón power plants located in Mexico ∼230 km southeast of Big Bend. High selenium concentrations were associated with prior transport over Carbón and eastern Texas.