Wildfires, Ozone and Particulate Matter During the 2005 CLARK County Regional Ozone and Precursor Study (CCROPS) and Clark County PM10 Saturation Studies

摘要

The Clark County Regional Ozone and Precursor Study (CCROPS) conducted in the greater Las Vegas area during the summer of 2005 was designed to increase the understanding of the origin of high ambient ozone and precursor levels in Clark County. An exceptional event occurred during the field program when plumes of smoke from wildfires engulfed Clark County accompanied by widespread ozone exceedances. During this event some of the highest ozone concentrations ever recorded in Clark County were experienced. Started by lightning, these fires burned for several days in the Mojave Desert, southwestern Utah, and even within approximately 30 km of Las Vegas. Though classified as an exceptional event and therefore somewhat outside of the CCROPS scope, the event occurred during one of the study's Intensive Operational Periods (IOP) during which a wide range of additional pollution, aircraft, and upper-air meteorological measurements were being conducted. In addition, the event came at the end of a PM_10 saturation study being conducted in Clark County, providing additional PM_10 measurements. With the CCROPS study area located directly in the plume of these fires, these additional measurements provide unique information regarding the relationship between ozone and wildfires.