Poster Session 1, Poster Session P1
Fourth Symposium on Fire and Forest Meteorology

P1.9

Comparison of Real-time Particulate Monitors with Gravimetric Samplers

Andy Trent, Mary Ann Davies, and Richard Karsky. USDA Forest Service, Missoula, MT 59804

The USFS Missoula Technology and Development Center's Watershed Soil and Air Program conducted a collocation study of real-time particulate monitors in the Missoula and Bitterroot Valleys during the large Montana/Idaho wildfires of 2000. The real-time particulate instruments use particle light-scattering (nephelometer) and light-absorption (aethalometer) principles to estimate particulate concentrations in real-time. Results from the 5 different real-time instruments were compared to gravimetric results from a collocated Federal Reference Method PM 2.5 Sampler.

Results from the collocation study indicate that the real-time instruments tend to overestimate particulate concentrations, sometimes by more than 2 times. However, the overestimated results from the real-time instruments were linear over the entire range of particulate concentrations (from less than 10 ug/m3 to more than 400 ug/m3 as calculated from the FRM sampler) so correction curves or equations can be established for each instrument.

5:00 PM, Tuesday, 13 November 2001

Fourth Symposium on Fire and Forest Meteorology Meeting
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