Back-trajectory analyses of fine particulate matter measured at Big Bend National Park in the historical database and the 1996 scoping study

Abstract

Analyses of the sources of fine particles associated with visibility reduction at Big Bend National Park during a 10-year period from 1989–1998 and from a regional visibility scoping study conducted during September and October 1996 at 19 sites in Texas and Mexico are summarized and compared. Fine sulfate particles are the largest fraction of the fine mass, and scattering by sulfates is estimated to be nearly half of the non-Rayleigh light extinction at Big Bend. Fine particulate sulfur concentrations are seasonal, with the highest values occurring during the summer and fall when back trajectory analyses show that air masses are most likely to arrive at Big Bend from the southeast after passing over Mexico or from areas to the northeast including east Texas. Episodically, high concentrations of fine mass and high light extinction values can be due to other species such as fine organic carbon or blowing soil dust. Organic carbon concentrations are often extremely high during the spring, especially during May. A combination of back trajectory analyses and the coincidence of high organic carbon and high non-soil potassium concentrations leads to the hypothesis that these concentrations are due to fires, primarily seasonal agricultural burning in Mexico and Central America. Fine soil concentrations often reach values that are twice the annual mean during July. These concentrations also frequently have high Al/Ca ratios, indicative of Saharan dust. Back trajectories associated with these events show air masses arriving from the southeast and are consistent with the hypothesis of transport of air masses from Africa during July. There is a high frequency of transport of air masses from Mexico to Big Bend, especially during the summer when fine mass concentrations and light extinction are highest. Therefore, sources and potential sources of sulfates and other fine particles in Mexico, particularly in areas southeast of the park have a high likelihood of contributing to visibility degradation at the park. Source areas to the northeast of the park, in east Texas and farther upwind also contribute to high fine sulfate concentrations.