Development of an air pollution event during the NEOPS-DEP 2002 investigation
Document ID: 168
Willitsford, Adam H.1
Collier, Paul Jason1
Unni, Sameer1
Verghese, Sachin John1
Philbrick, C. Russell1
O’Donnell, Dennis2
Hohman, Eric2
Unruh, Dale2
Walker, Richard2
Clark, Richard D.2
1 The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, U.S.A.
2 Millersville University of Pennsylvania, Millersville, PA, U.S.A.
Abstract
The study of the evolution of pollution events are becoming increasingly more important because of the generally adverse effects on general public health. The EPA estimates that 5 to 20 percent of the total U.S. population is especially susceptible to the harmful effects of ozone and airborne particulate pollution. Those individuals with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, bronchitis or emphysema may experience an even greater risk. Long-term, repeated exposure to high levels of ozone may lead to inflammations of the lung lining as well as decreased efficiency of the lungs themselves. The NEOPS-DEP study was performed to gain a further understanding of the development and cause of pollution events. The NEOPS-DEP study focused on gathering vertical profiles of ozone and other particulate matter, thereby making it possible to study transport of air masses not only using surface sites, but also adding vertical and horizontal (as the air mass advects past the site) data using radar and lidar to characterize the planetary boundary layer. Through the characterization and investigation of developing pollution events it is expected that their occurrence can be more accurately predicted, thereby making it possible to issue public health warnings and institute regulations to reduce the severity of the event.