Dust Emissions Joint Forum: Documents

Final Feasibility Analysis of the Implementation of the WRAP's Dust Definition (01/07) PDF or DOC
The goal of this project was to evaluate the feasibility of applying the WRAP's draft dust definition, particularly for delineating anthropogenic from natural sources of dust. The report describes criteria and related data and methods that could be used in this delineation. It also provides conclusions as to the general level of feasibility for implementing the draft dust definition for regional haze purposed based on readily available data and methods for each source type.

• Appendix A: Data Resources Table PDF or XLS
• Appendix B: Saguaro West Cast Study PDF or DOC
• Appendix C: Salt Creek Cast Study (including appendices) PDF
  • Salt Creek Case Study without appendices DOC
  • Salt Creek Case Study appendices DOC

Summary of the WRAP Dust Emissions Inventory (09/22/06) PDF
The WRAP dust emission inventory is derived from a variety of sources and estimation methodologies. These include regional emission models (e.g., Windblown Dust model), region-wide assessments (e.g., paved and unpaved road dust), and state/local data submissions. ENVIRON has summarized the entire WRAP PM2.5 and PM10 fugitive dust emissions inventories for 2002 and 2018. Summaries were developed by state/county and major source category. Analyses of the model-ready gridded inventories by major source category were also considered.

• Also see the Fugitive Dust Handbook

Proposed Wind Blown Dust Modeling & Monitoring Study (07/19/06)

Assessment of the Principal Causes of Dust-Resultant Haze at IMPROVE Sites in the Western United States (06/05/06)

Final Report: Fugitive Wind Blown Dust Emissions and Model Performance Evaluation: Phase II (05/05/06)

• Final Report PDF (5.1 MB)
• Appendix A: Results of Model Sensitivity Simulations PDF (0.2 MB)
• Appendix B: Scatter Plots of Predicted Dust Emissions and Ambient Data PDF (7.8 MB)
• Project Summary PDF (1.7 MB) or PPT (1.5 MB)

Final Report: Analysis of the Fine Fraction of Particulate Matter in Fugitive Dust (10/12/05) PDF (1.3MB)
This study was sponsored and supervised by the WRAP and conducted by Midwest Research Institute (MRI). One of its primary conclusion is that concentration measurements used to develop PM-2.5 emission factors in AP-42 were biased high by a factor of two, as compared to PM-2.5 measurements from US EPA reference method samplers. The results also show that the ratio of fine to coarse PM for fugitive dust should be around 0.1. Currently, the fine to coarse ratios in AP-42 range from 0.15 to 0.4 for most fugitive dust sources. This factor of two bias helps to explain why researchers often see a discrepancy in the proportion of fugitive dust found in PM-2.5 emission inventories as compared to the proportion on ambient filter samples. The results of this study will be used to improve PM-2.5 emission factors for paved and unpaved roads, wind blown dust, construction, and other fugitive dust sources. Specifically, the WRAP's Dust Emissions Joint Forum and MRI will propose appropriate revisions to the AP-42 emission factors and will post these proposals on this website.

Final Report - Determining Fugitive Dust Emissions from Wind Erosion - Phase 1 (PDF, 4.7MB)
On behalf of the Emissions and Dust Emissions Forums, a team of contractors led by ENVIRON Corporation has produced a 1996 windblown dust emission inventory by employing an empirical methodology based on the method developed by MacDougall. A limited number of wind tunnel studies have been conducted in the western United States that include descriptions of vacant land that require characterization. Based upon vacant land categories, wind tunnel study results were reviewed and applied appropriately to each category. This Phase 1 project had two primary goals: 1) to develop a general methodology and program code for estimating fugitive dust emissions from wind erosion, and 2) to develop 1996 PM2.5 and PM10 windblown dust emissions inventories for the WRAP region modeling domain.

This final report is the starting point for Phase 2 of this project, which will improve the performance of the windblown dust emissions estimates for use in regional air quality modeling. Phase 2 will be a 2004 task for the WRAP Regional Modeling Center. Please contact Tom Moore with any questions about the Phase 1 report, or the Phase 2 task activities. (3/12/04)

Maps of Dust Contribution to Visibility Impairment at All IMPROVE Sites (01/14/04) PDF or PPT

Follow-Up to the Final Report of the WGA Expert Panel: A Review and Update of Fugitive Dust Emissions Estimation Methods (November 2002) PDF

Final Report of the WGA Expert Panel: Methodology for Estimating Fugitive Windblown and Mechanically Resuspended Rd. Dust Emissions Applicable for Regional Scale Air Quality Modeling (April 2001) DOC or PDF

Application of the WRAP's Draft Definition and Categorization of Dust to the Saguaro West Class I Area, A Case Study (03/28/06) DOC (4.1 MB) or PDF (4.7 MB) Comments should be provided to Lee Alter by May 12.

04/12/05 Summary and Status of Dust Forum Projects PDF or DOC

• Flowchart showing inter-relationship of dust forum projects (updated 4/25/05) PDF or PPT

DEJF Draft Mission Statement 2003-06 (05/06/03) PDF or DOC

Presentation by Mark Scruggs from 05/06/03 TOC Meeting PDF or PPT

Empirical Method for Determining Fugitive Dust Emissions from Wind Erosion of Vacant Land (06/07/02) DOC

Additional Documents Regarding Fugitive Dust:

• Asian Aerosols in North America: Frequency and Concentration of Fine Dust PDF
  Recent research indicates that much of the fine mineral dust observed at IMPROVE sites does not originate within the WRAP modeling domain. This suggests that problems with the dust algorithms may not be the only cause for poor closure between modeled and observed mineral aerosol concentrations. I have spent the last two years pondering this problem and submit for your consideration the attached paper. - Tony VanCuren, CARB (12/28/02)
   
• Reconciling Urban Fugitive Dust Emissions Inventory And Ambient Source Contribution Estimates: Summary of Current Knowledge and Needed Research: Part 1 PDF, Part 2 PDF
  DRI Document No. 6110.4F by Watson and Chow. May, 2000. Part 1, 87 pgs, Part 2, 153 pgs. References.
   
• Fugitive Dust Emissions PDF
  Article by Watson, Chow, and Pace. 2000. 20 pgs.
   
• Emissions Estimates for Assessing Visual Air Quality on the Colorado Plateau PDF
  Technical Paper by Dickson, Oliver, and Ballentine. 1997. 9 pgs.
   
• Interpretation of Trends of PM2.5 and Reconstructed Visibility from the IMPROVE Network PDF
  Technical Paper by Sisler and Malm. May 2000. 15 pgs.