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Dirty Snow: the Impact of Urban Particulates on a Mid-Latitude Seasonal Snowpack

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Dirty Snow: the Impact of Urban Particulates on a Mid-Latitude Seasonal Snowpack Syracuse University SURFACE Theses - ALL June 2018 Dirty snow: The impact of urban particulates on a mid-latitude seasonal snowpack David James Kelley Syracuse University Follow this and additional works at: https://surface.syr.edu/thesis Part of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Kelley, David James, "Dirty snow: The impact of urban particulates on a mid-latitude seasonal snowpack" (2018). Theses - ALL. 242. https://surface.syr.edu/thesis/242 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by SURFACE. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses - ALL by an authorized administrator of SURFACE. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Abstract This thesis examines the spatial distribution of particulate matter in snow around a mid- size, midlatitude city. Particulates are small, light absorbing impurities that are produced from the incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuel. When deposited on the snowpack, these particles reduce snow albedo and accelerate melt. Two experiments were designed to explore the distribution and effect of urban particulate emissions on snow surrounding Syracuse, NY (43.049897, -76.149102, pop: 149,000). The “directional study” examined the relationship between distribution and cross-city prevailing wind, while, the “transect study” examined the variability of particulate concentration with distance from a busy interstate highway. Fifteen sites were sampled over two winter seasons (2016-2017 and 2017-2018). Eight sites were located in the suburbs roughly aligned to the cardinal directions with respect to the city, one site was located within the city boundaries and six sites were located on a transect across I-90. Snow temperature, air temperature, wind speed/direction and albedo were recorded at each site. A snow core was collected for laboratory analysis using the Light Meter Filter Analysis method and two photos were taken of the snow surface for a second albedo analysis using ImageJ. At the city-scale, trend analyses show that particulate concentration decreases from W to E across the urban center and albedo increases from NW to SE. The small westerly shift between albedo and particulate trend analysis may be explained by a slight difference in measurement parameters. Albedo analysis measures the effect of particulates on the snow surface since the end of snow accumulation. Particulate concentration, however, measures the total quantity of particulates in the entire snowpack. Both analyses align with the WSW to NW prevailing wind that is responsible for the formation of lake effect snow from Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. That said, the observed distribution was found to be opposite expectations. This is likely a result of wind circulation patterns within the urban core. At the local-scale, high particulate concentration/low albedo was found adjacent to the interstate highway. Results show that the concentration does not necessarily decrease with distance from vehicle emissions. Instead, particulate distribution is altered by the presence of any obstacles within 600m of the highway. Snow surface photo analysis was able to determine the relative albedo of each site but not actual albedo value. Despite this, the photo analysis method looks promising for future citizen science based studies of particulate matter. Overall, findings suggest that urban particulate distribution in midlatitude snow is altered by city morphology and proximity to local emission sources. Future research is necessary to examine how this distribution affects climatic processes in the midlatitudes. Dirty snow: The impact of urban particulates on a mid-latitude seasonal snowpack by David Kelley B.A., University at Albany, State University of New York, 2013 Thesis Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Geography Syracuse University June 2018 Copyright © David Kelley 2018 All Rights Reserved Preface and Acknowledgements When I told my friends and coworkers about my idea for a snow study I would always hear the same thing: “You are crazy! Why would anyone want to stand out in the snow for hours on end?!” Of course, most people would not want to brave sub-zero temperatures just to examine snow properties, but, I may be a bit unusual. Instead of cold and tiresome, I see snow as fun and exciting. Throughout my childhood, snow was always associated with family. Almost every Saturday from age 2 to 15 my Dad and I would head up to Gore Mountain to ski in what must have been a consistent -20 degree wind chill. On Sundays (and really every other day I was off of school) I would spend the time outside sledding with friends, or even sometimes by myself. When I finally came back in my Mom would be there with hot cocoa and a hug. While at the University at Albany, State University of New York, my undergraduate mentor, Dr. Andrei Lapenas, introduced me to the science behind the snow that I loved. Working with another research assistant, we tirelessly insulated small patches of snow (with bales of straw and a pitchfork!) to examine the effect of an elongated snow season on fine tree root growth. Here, I became interested in climate change and realized that I wanted to continue to study snow in graduate school. I found Syracuse University a few years later (after working an interesting job at the DEC sampling lakes from a canoe) and my advisor Dr. Susan Millar. Susan, a snow enthusiast herself, gave me the chance to develop my passion for snow into scientific scholarship. Over the last two years, she provided guidance and enthusiasm for my project. I owe her a debt of gratitude for this opportunity. I would also like to thank, Jane Read and Jake Bendix. Thank you for supporting me in my studies and for providing advice throughout this project. Thank you to the Syracuse v University Geography Department, especially those who agreed to host a rain gauge in their yard when I needed a back-up plan as a result of low snowfall in the first season: Dr. Tod Rutherford, Heather Ipsen, Emily Bukowski, Pat Oberle, Katie MacDonald and Sohrob Aslamy. Thank you to Heather, my partner in crime, for all the hikes, walks, sunsets, photos, happiness and adventures over the last two years. Thank you to my family: Mom, Dad, Matt, Megan, Aislynn, Teagan, Nolly, Riley, Wally and Poppy. Your love and support helped me throughout this process. Finally, thank you to Lake Ontario and the snow gods, I could not have done this without you – quite literally! vi Table of Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................... i Preface and Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................. v List of Illustrative Materials ........................................................................................................................ ix Figures ...................................................................................................................................................... ix Tables ....................................................................................................................................................... xi Equations ................................................................................................................................................. xi Chapter 1 – Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 The Importance of Particulate Matter in the Global Climate System ...................................................... 1 Terminology .............................................................................................................................................. 2 The Origin of Particulate Matter ............................................................................................................... 3 Dispersal of Particulate Matter ................................................................................................................. 5 The Importance of Particulates and their Interaction with Snow Cover .................................................. 6 Research Objectives .................................................................................................................................. 8 Chapter 2 – Study Area .............................................................................................................................. 12 Overview ................................................................................................................................................. 12 Pollution in Syracuse ............................................................................................................................... 14 Air pollution ........................................................................................................................................ 15 Particulate monitoring ........................................................................................................................ 19 Climate .................................................................................................................................................... 20 Snow in Syracuse................................................................................................................................. 23 A Necessary Study ..................................................................................................................................
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