Monitoring the Urban Atmosphere in NYC Using Ground Based Remote Sensing Vertical Profilers and Surface Stations with Applications to Airborne Toxins

Multiple ground based remote sensing instruments have been used to characterize the vertical structure of the atmospheric boundary layer in the NYC metropolitan region. These include multiple types of lidars (a Doppler lidar an elastic back scatter lidar and a Raman lidar) a microwave radiometer, sodars and ceilometers. The information from this suite of instruments is complemented by data streams from various networks of surface weather stations. Keeping all instruments operational in a continuous fashion is challenging but opportunities exist when there is sufficient overlap in the operations to allow for comparisons between instruments. Such studies are useful for advancing the knowledge base of models that are used to predict local scale meteorology, transport and diffusion with unique applications in densely populated areas. Attention has recently been given to the impact of cooling systems on the state of the atmosphere in dense environments with a particular emphasis on how extreme heat and humidity conditions put strains on the systems and how such conditions can make poorly maintained systems susceptible to being a source of airborne toxins (e.g. Legionella). A consequence of this is that the outdoor urban environment becomes a vehicle for the conveyance of health hazards and these risks can exacerbate the traditional risks associated with the urban heat island. A few examples of recent heat waves in the summer 2015 will be used as case studies to illustrate the usefulness of the monitoring system and examples will be given on how processes are being tested so that the monitoring systems and modeling activities can have beneficial societal impact.