During summer 1998, a pilot study for the EPA sponsored program, NARSTO-NE-OPS (North American Research Strategy for Tropospheric Ozone - North East - Oxidant and Particle Study), was conducted in Philadelphia.  The research is being conducted by a consortium of researchers from several universities and government laboratories.  Several of the investigators from the group were involved in preparation of the Philadelphia field measurement site and conducted measurements during a two week period in August 1998.  The measurements were primarily carried out to prepare the site for future measurements and permit the results from various sensors to be compared and evaluated.  The measurement period included a significant pollution event, during which substantial increases in both ozone (concentrations up to 125 ppb) and air borne particulate matter (PM2.5 up to 65 µg/m3) were observed.  Measurement techniques used during the investigation included a wide range of instruments which measured the surface layer and boundary layer properties.  Several types of sensors were used to sample the particulate matter and gaseous species and concentrations at the surface level; instrumented tethersonde balloons were used to measure atmospheric properties up to 300 meters altitude; and the entire thickness of the boundary layer was measured using an instrumented aircraft and a Raman lidar to obtain profiles of the distribution of pollution concentrations and profiles of meteorological properties.  The pilot study of August 1998 was in preparation for the intensive measurements carried out during summer 1999 and for future campaigns.  Results from the 1998 program have been evaluated to determine instrument accuracy and examine the interesting air pollution event occurring during the NE-OPS pilot study.
 
 

C.R. Philbrick
Department of Electrical Engineering
Penn State University
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-2975
FAX 814-863-8457
crp3@psu.edu
Topic:  Atmospheric Science
Presentation:  Platform