Identifying Biomass Burning Impacts on Air Quality in Southeast Texas Using Satellites, Models, and Surface Data

As ambient air quality standards are strengthened in the U.S., understanding transported pollution becomes more important. We present an approach developed to identify transported biomass burning plumes using an ensemble of in situ ambient monitors, remote sensing instruments, and chemical transport models. An example for Houston, Texas over a multi-day period in 2011 is examined in detail. Enhancements in ozone, aerosols and carbon monoxide confirm the presence of transported parcels, likely originating from upwind regions with pervasive biomass burning.