Development of an Improved Method for Estimating Fugitive PM10 Emissions from Windblown Dust from Agricultural Lands

摘要

The standard methodology for estimating agricultural windblown dust, referred to as the wind erosion equation (WEQ), tends to produce inflated emission estimate for California. This occurs in part because it was developed in the Midwestern United States, and therefore, does not take into account many of the environmental conditions and farm practices specific to California. The California Air Resources Board (ARB) staff has modified the WEQ to improve the emission estimate. This revision includes improved climatic factors, adjustment for the long-term effects of irrigation (cloddiness), as well as the short-term effects of irrigation on erodibility (surface wetness). Crop canopy coverage, postharvest soil cover, postharvest replanting to a different crop, as well as bare and border field regions are also accounted for in this revision. The monthly emissions profile now reflects variations in temperature, precipitation, irrigation, canopy coverage, postharvest soil cover, postharvest replanting to another crop, as well as wind.