scholarly journals Now you see it, now you don't: impact of temporary closures of a coal-fired power plant on air quality in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 14235-14261 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Jaffe ◽  
D. R. Reidmiller
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Columbia River ◽  
Back Trajectories ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Full Capacity ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Plant Emissions ◽  
East End

Abstract. We have analyzed 14 years of aerosol data spanning 1993–2006 from the IMPROVE site at Wishram, Washington (45.66° N, 121.00° W; 178 m above sea level) in the Columbia River Gorge (CRG) National Scenic Area (http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/columbia/) of the Pacific Northwest of the US. Two types of analyses were conducted. First, we examined the transport for days with the highest fine mass concentrations (particulate matter with diameter <2.5μm or, PM2.5) using HYSPLIT back-trajectories. We found that the highest PM2.5 concentrations occurred during autumn and were associated with easterly flow, down the CRG. Such flow transports emissions from a large coal power plant and a large agricultural facility into the CRG. This transport was found on 20 out of the 50 worst PM2.5 days and resulted in an average daily concentration of 20.1 μg/m3, compared with an average of 18.8 μg/m3 for the 50 highest days and 5.9 μg/m3 for all days. These airmasses contain not only high PM2.5 concentrations but also elevated aerosol NO3− concentrations. These results suggest that emissions from large industrial and agricultural sources on the east end of the CRG, including the coal-fired power plant at Boardman, Oregon, have a significant impact on air quality in the region. In the second analysis, we examined PM2.5 concentrations in the CRG during periods when the Boardman power plant was shut down due to repairs and compared these values with concentrations when the facility was operating at near full capacity. We also examined this relationship on the days when trajectories suggested the greatest influence from the power plant on air quality in the CRG. From this analysis, we found significantly higher PM concentrations when the power plant was operating at or near full capacity. We use these data to calculate that the contribution to PM2.5 mass in the CRG from the Boardman plant was 0.90 μg/m3 averaged over the entire year, 3.94 μg/m3 if only the month of November is considered and 7.40 ug/m3 if only November days when the airflow is "down-gorge" (from east to west). This represents 15–56% of PM2.5 mass in the CRG. In all 3 cases the difference in PM2.5 concentrations are statistically significant at a >95% confidence interval for the comparison of normal plant emissions vs shutdown conditions. We, therefore, find that the coal-fired power plant at Boardman, Oregon is a significant contributor to PM2.5 concentrations in the CRG.

scholarly journals Now you see it, now you don't: Impact of temporary closures of a coal-fired power plant on air quality in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (20) ◽  
pp. 7997-8005 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Jaffe ◽  
D. R. Reidmiller
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Columbia River ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Full Capacity ◽  
Daily Concentration ◽  
Coal Power

Abstract. The goal of this study is to identify major point sources that contribute to elevated particulate matter in the Columbia River Gorge, USA and to quantify their contribution. To answer this question we analyzed 14 years of aerosol data spanning 1993–2006 from the IMPROVE site at Wishram, Washington (45.66° N, 121.00° W; 178 m a.s.l.) in the Columbia River Gorge (CRG) National Scenic Area of the Pacific Northwest of the USA. Two types of analyses were conducted. First, we examined the transport for days with the highest fine mass (PM2.5) concentrations using HYSPLIT backtrajectories. We found that the highest PM2.5 concentrations occurred during autumn and were associated with easterly flow, down the CRG. Such flow transports emissions from a large coal power plant in Boardman, Oregon and a large agricultural facility into the CRG. This transport was found on 20 out of the 50 worst PM2.5 days and resulted in an average daily concentration of 20.1 μg/m3, compared with an average of 18.8 μg/m3 for the 50 highest days and 5.9 μg/m3 for all days. These airmasses contain not only high PM2.5 concentrations, but also elevated levels of aerosol NO3−. In the second analysis, we examined PM2.5 concentrations in the CRG during periods when the Boardman power plant was shut down due to repairs and compared these values with concentrations when the facility was operating at near full capacity. We also examined this relationship on the days when backtrajectories suggested the greatest influence from the power plant on air quality in the CRG. From this analysis, we found significantly higher PM2.5 concentrations when the power plant was operating at or near full capacity. We use these data to calculate that the contribution to PM2.5 mass in the CRG from the Boardman power plant was 0.90 μg/m3 averaged over the entire year, 3.94 μg/m3 if only the month of November is considered and 7.40 μg/m3 if only November days when the airflow is "down-gorge" (from east to west). This represents 14, 46 and 56% of the PM2.5 mass in the CRG for the full year, November only and November days with "down-gorge" transport, respectively.

Response of the Columbia River Fluvial System to Holocene Climatic Change

1992 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
James C. Chatters ◽  
Karin A. Hoover
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Columbia River ◽  
River System ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Columbia River Basin ◽  
Fluvial System ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Floodplain Development

AbstractAn understanding of the response of a fluvial system to past climatic changes is useful for predicting its response to future shifts in temperature and precipitation. To determine the response of the Columbia River system to previous climatic conditions and transitions, a well-dated sequence of floodplain development in the Wells Reservoir region was compared with the paleoenvironmental history of the Columbia River Basin. Results of this comparison indicate that aggradation episodes, occurring approximately 9000-8000, 7000-6500, 4400-3900, and 2400-1800 yr B.P., coincided with climatic transitions that share certain characteristics. The inferred climates associated with aggradation had at least moderate rates of precipitation that occurred mainly in winter coupled with moderate winter temperatures. Such conditions would have resulted in the buildup of snowpacks and a high frequency of rain-on-snow events. The warming and precipitation increases predicted for the Pacific Northwest under most CO2-doubling scenarios are likely to repeat these conditions, which could increase the frequency of severe, sediment-laden floods in the Columbia River Basin.

Air quality impacts of power plant emissions in Beijing

2007 ◽  
Vol 147 (2) ◽  
pp. 401-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiming Hao ◽  
Litao Wang ◽  
Minjia Shen ◽  
Lin Li ◽  
Jingnan Hu
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Power Plant Emissions ◽  
Plant Emissions

scholarly journals FORECASTING THE WAVE-CURRENT INTERACTIONS AT THE MOUTH OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER, OR, USA

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (33) ◽  
pp. 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Kassem ◽  
H. Tuba Ozkan-Haller
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Mean Squared Error ◽  
River Mouth ◽  
Columbia River ◽  
Tidal Currents ◽  
General Effect ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Wave Forecast ◽  
Channel Wave ◽  
Wave Heights

An operational wave forecast of the area near the mouth of the Columbia River is presented. This region is known for its large waves and strong tidal currents. The forecast is forced with full directional spectra obtained from a refined WaveWatchIII forecast of the Pacific Northwest, and tidal current inputs are obtained from an estuarine circulation forecast of the Columbia River. The forecast has been operational since August 2011 providing short-term predictive wave information at the mouth of the Columbia River. Results from a 6-month period are promising, with a normalized root-mean-squared error (NRMSE) of 16% at the location of an inshore buoy, which is located outside the zone of tidal influence in 25 m water depth. Near the river mouth and in the channel, wave heights are heavily dominated by the tidal currents which significantly increase wave heights on ebb tides. Hindcast results shows that the model is able to predict the general effect of the tidal currents with a NRMSE of 30% in wave heights at the river mouth. Despite some of the model limitations, it still provides valuable information to navigators and bar pilots since it includes the effects of the tidal currents.

Climate Change Impacts on Power Plant Emissions, Air Quality and Health in the Eastern US

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 (1) ◽  
pp. 3509
Author(s):  
Limaye Vijay ◽  
Monica Harkey ◽  
Paul Meier ◽  
Tracey Holloway ◽  
Jonathan Patz
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Power Plant Emissions ◽  
Plant Emissions

Modeling Ozone and Aerosol Formation and Transport in the Pacific Northwest with the Community Multi-Scale Air Quality (CMAQ) Modeling System

2006 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 1286-1299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan M. O'Neill ◽  
Brian K. Lamb ◽  
Jack Chen ◽  
Candis Claiborn ◽  
Dennis Finn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Aerosol Formation ◽  
Multi Scale ◽  
The Pacific

scholarly journals Impacts of the July 2012 Siberian Fire Plume on Air Quality in the Pacific Northwest

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Teakles ◽  
Rita So ◽  
Bruce Ainslie ◽  
Robert Nissen ◽  
Corinne Schiller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Smoke Plume ◽  
Air Quality Standards ◽  
Wildfire Smoke ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Modis Aod

Abstract. Biomass burning emissions emit a significant amount of trace gases and aerosols and can affect atmospheric chemistry and radiative forcing for hundreds or thousands of kilometers downwind. They can also contribute to exceedances of air quality standards and have negative impacts on human health. We present a case study of an intense wildfire plume from Siberia that affected the air quality across the Pacific Northwest on July 6–10, 2012. Using satellite measurements (MODIS True Colour RGB imagery and MODIS AOD), trajectories, and dispersion modelling, we track the wildfire smoke plume from its origin in Siberia to the Pacific Northwest where subsidence ahead of a subtropical Pacific High made the plume settle over the region. The normalized enhancement ratio of O3 and PM1 relative to CO of 0.26 and 0.09 are consistent with a plume aged 6–10 days. The aerosol mass in the plume was mainly submicron in diameter (PM1/PM2.5 = 0.97) and the part of the plume sampled at the peak of Whistler Mountain was 87 % organic material. Stable atmospheric conditions along the coast limited the initial entrainment of the plume and caused local anthropogenic emissions to buildup. A synthesis of air quality from the regional surface monitoring networks describes changes in ambient O3 and PM2.5 during the event and contrasts them to baseline air quality estimates from the AURAMS chemical transport model without wildfire emissions. Overall, the smoke plume contributed significantly to the exceedances in O3 and PMM2.5 air quality standards and objectives that occurred at several communities in the region during the event. Peak enhancements in 8-hr O3 of 34–44 ppbv and 24-hr PM2.5 of 14–32 μg/m3 were attributed to the effects of the smoke plume across the Interior of British Columbia and at the Whistler Peak high elevation site (2182 m ASL). Lesser enhancements of 10–12 ppbv for 8-hr O3 and of 4–9 μg/m3 for 24-hr PM2.5 occurred at Whistler Peak and across coastal British Columbia and Washington State. The findings suggest that the large air quality impacts seen during this event were a combination of the efficient transport of the plume across the Pacific, favorable entrainment conditions across the BC interior and the large scale of the Siberian wildfire emissions. A warming climate increases the risk of increased wildfire activity and events of this scale re-occurring under appropriate meteorological conditions.

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