DRAFT – PLEASE REVIEW
University of Washington Bothell “Data Workshop on Pacific
Pollutants” October 13-14th, 2004
ATTENDEES
Yoshi KAJII (Tokyo Metropolitan University)
Shungo KATO (Tokyo Metropolitan University)
Akinori TAKAMI (National Institute of Environmental Studies – Japan)
Matt Landis (EPA-ORD)
Bob Stevens (Florida DEP at EPA-ORD)
Marilyn Engle (EPA-OIA)
Don Martello (DOE-NETL)
Warren Buck (University of Washington – Bothell)
Dan Jaffe (University of Washington – Bothell)
Lyatt Jaeglé (University of Washington)
Staci Simonich (Oregon State University)
Eric Prestbo (Frontier Geosciences)
Peter Weiss-Penzias (University of Washington-Bothell)
Isaac Bertschi (University of Washington)
David Schmedding (Oregon State University)
Phil Swartzendruber (University of Washington)
Sarah Strode (University of Washington)
Toby Primbs (Oregon Statue University)
J.B. Dennison (University of Washington-Bothell)
WORKSHOP GOALS:
1) Share data and discuss results from spring 2004 observations at Cape Hedo
Observatory
2) Share data and discuss results from spring 2004 observations at other sites
3) Discussion of collaborative publications from the spring 2004 campaigns
4) Future collaborations and funding opportunities
WEDNESDAY PRESENTATIONS
Marilyn Engle – Briefing on mercury from a global perspective.
 Many bilateral and multilateral mercury research and reduction efforts were
reviewed, but the current focus by EPA is on China due to their clear dominance
in mercury emissions and the fact that they are “upwind” of N. America.
Shungo Kato - Long range transport of pollutants detected at remote islands,
Okinawa and Ogasawara
 The CO, O3 and VOC measurements and data interpretation presented for Cape
Hedo Observatory (CHO) underscores what a unique sampling site we have for
the observation and evaluation of NW Pacific marine boundary layer chemistry
during the summer and exported continental pollution from urban, biomass and
industrial sources in the fall, winter and summer.
Dan Jaffe – Export of mercury from Asia
 Testable hypotheses were presented to explain why the observed CO/Hg ratio at
CHO were found to be higher than those calculated from Asian and Chinese
emission inventories; the observed Asian CO/Hg ratio was used, along with
supporting data, to identify a significant Asian long-range transport event at Mt.
Bachelor.
Eric Prestbo - Analysis of Atmospheric Mercury Speciation at Cape Hedo
Observatory, Okinawa
 Many pollution episodes of mercury were observed at CHO and were found to be
>98% in the elemental form and highly correlated with CO (r2=0.84). Particulate
Hg was also moderately correlated with CO (r2=0.24), but RGM was not (r2=0.01)
and appears to be more strongly influence by marine boundary layer
photochemistry.
Sarah Strode – Global modeling of mercury
 Mercury is being added to the GEOS-CHEM chemical transport model.
Comparisons were made to measurements for oceanic Hg0 flux and the sensitivity
of the model was explored relative to constant dissolved gaseous mercury,
radiation, net primary productivity and evasion coupled to deposition.
Peter Weiss-Penzias – Characteristics of Asian Pollution at Mt. Bachelor
Observatory during Spring 2004
 For Mt. Bachelor Observatory (MBO), the advantages of this high elevation site
(2673 m asl) were clearly evident in the spring 2004 data set of long-range
transport events, which were highly coherent, greater concentrations, more
frequent and better correlated than previous observations at CPO.
PUBLICATIONS EXPECTED FROM HEDO, OKINAWA SPRING 2004
CAMPAIGN
1) Jaffe et al., Export of Hg from Asia - submitted to Atmospheric Environment.
2) Prestbo et al., Analysis of Atmospheric Mercury Speciation at HEDO Station
3) Takemi et al., – AMS, TEOM, EC/OC
4) Primbs et al., – SOC measurements
5) Kajii – Short report on biomass burning verses combustion as observed in the
VOC measurements
6) Weiss-Penzias and Swartzendruber – Asian Events observed at MBO
There was some discussion about coordinating a special section in a journal. No decision
was made, essentially leaving the individual groups free to make their own decisions.
STATUS OF CAPE HEDO, CHEEKA PEAK AND MT.BACHELOR
 Current measurements include, AMS, EC/OC, TEOM, O3 (2x), CO, VOC, HNO3,
Carbon (Teco), HC < C4 (G.C.), Met, SO2, NOx, dust, nephelometer, radiometry.
 More equipment is moving to Cape Hedo from other island sites, mostly optical
sensors.
 Funding for new buildings at Cape Hedo have been allocated and construction
will be completed by March 2005. There will be three additional 32 m2 buildings
with and additional 200 amps of power (100 VAC) for each building.
 The Ministry of the Environment controls the meteorological, NOx, SO2, O3 and
dust measurements. Finally data is released by a review committee. Dr.
Hatakeyama is on the committee and may be helpful in obtaining data.
 No research funding has been obtained because the funding cycle is just
completing. Funding for the next 3 years is being requested by NIES and Tokyo
Metropolitan University to MOE. Other groups may be applying for funding
from MOSCE.
 Telephone lines are only analog with maximum of 56K. Many lines can be
obtained, but high speed data is not possible.
 It is difficult to find a full time operator – so automated instruments are best. We
discussed the possibility of how we might obtain help from local university
science faculty or students.
 U.S. participant suggested that continuing mercury observations at CHO would be
highly desirable.
CHEEKA PEAK Observatory (CPO) – Current measurements (CO, O3, aerosol scatter
and met) will be in place for next year at a minimum – but very likely ongoing into future
years.
MT. BACHELOR Observatory (MBO) – 3 years minimum at current configuration,
except for 1 year minimum for Hg. Funding for continued Hg will be vigorously
pursued, especially because of the value for identifying sources based on Hg/CO ratio
For policy and political reasons, EPA representatives anticipate that any new sites must
be in China, which ideally would be regionally representative. We briefly discussed site
locations for China and although there was no consensus, the Beijing industrial region
was suggested as a desirable location.
THURSDAY PRESENTATIONS
Isaac Bertschi – Aircraft observations of Siberian smoke plumes transported to the
Pacific Northwest
 In the summer of 2003, Asian/Siberian boreal zone biomass burning was a major
source of observed long-range transport events in the NE Pacific troposphere and
under certain circumstances, had a significant impact on ground-level CO, O3 and
aerosol levels in Western North America.
Akinori Takami – Results from the the Aerosol Mass Spectrometer at Cape Hedo
Observatory, Spring 2003
 At CHO, the aerosols are sulfate dominated and much more processed and
oxygenated than observations in China or Fukue, Japan as indicated by the
aerosol mass ratios of NO3/SO4, NH4/SO4, Org/SO4 and m/z=44/Org.
Don Martello – DOE-NETL global mercury research and collaboration
 There is a two-pronged effort by DOE-NETL. First, expansion of the Regional
Air pollution INformation and Simulation-Asia (RAINS-ASIA) project to include
a model of Hg emissions from all sources (David Streets, Argonne NL). Second,
to develop a mercury emissions, stack sampling plan with Dr. Jinsong Zhou of
Zhejiang University’s Thermal Power Research Institute under a M.O.U. with the
Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST). These two efforts, one to
build an in depth theoretical understanding of the relationship between
technology, fuel choices and Hg emissions, and the second to obtain Hg emissions
data from Chinese coal-fired electricity plants contribute to a collaboration
between NETL, EPA and USGS.
Matt Landis – Measurements of Mercury by EPA-ORD
 Observations and modeling of atmospheric mercury for multiple sources and
locations by EPA-ORD were presented; upper air measurements at MLO and on
an aircraft platform in S. Florida indicate highly elevated concentrations and
dynamic behavior of reactive gaseous and particulate mercury.
Stacy Simonich – Trans-Pacific atmospheric transport of semi-volatile organic
compounds
 Several individual and unique trans-Pacific events observed at CPO in spring
2002 contained anthropogenic semi-volatile organic carbon compounds (SOC).
The concentrations and relative profiles of both PAHs and pesticides were
evaluated for their potential to help identify source signatures.
Toby Primbs – Measuring anthropogenic semi-volatile organic compounds in
Eurasian air masses at Okinawa, Japan
 Preliminary results show that enhanced levels of PCBs and PAH were transported
to Okinawa from the Asian mainland on the 2nd of April, 2004: further analysis of
this and other LRT events will help identify combustion-type sources through the
use of PAH ratios and other chemical indicators.
SCIENCE QUESTIONS:
What are the key factors that determine the observed levels of mercury species downwind
of major sources – especially with respect to the observation of very low RGM levels in
Okinawa?
Is there production of RGM in free troposphere? Is there production of RGM in the
marine boundary layer and if so, what is its impact, if any?
The EPA, as part of its policy, would like to know what chemical species of mercury can
be transported to the United States (from Asia?).
How do the observations of SVOCs and their ratios change with time and season with
respect to source-type signatures?
What are the significant chemical transformations of aerosols during transport –
especially the relationship between SO4 and organic compounds? What are the long-term
trends in chemical composition of aerosols, which is expected to change as emission
source and strength change?
How consistent are the observations with current emission inventories and fate of
mercury. What are the links between CO, O3 and mercury transport pathways?
What are the sources and sinks of ozone in the northeast Pacific/western North America
region? How is ozone changing and are there responses to up-stream industrialization?
What are the trends in CO, O3 and VOCs? How do these compounds change with
changing sources, especially for bio-fuel and coal emissions?
How does cloud processing impact mercury speciation and fate and what is the Hg0
concentration in the interstitial air of stratus clouds.
What is the linkage of air concentration to wet and dry deposition? How much of the
imported mercury as a result of enhanced trans-Pacific transport, deposits to the US and
where?
POSSIBLE FUNDING SOURCES TO CONTINUE US-JAPAN
COLLABORATION AT OKINAWA
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Generate a 1-page communiqué that would be simple research questions,
investigators, priorities, how much it would cost.
Equipment and expertise from EPA is possible from both the organics and
inorganics group.
EPA-OIA suggests that linkage between OSU (POPs) and UWB (mercury) will
be helpful in proposals/funding