New Tools for Estimating and Managing Local/Regional Air Quality Impacts of Prescribed Burns
RC-1648
Objective
This project will develop the data and tools needed to accurately assess the impact of DoD prescribed burns on regional air quality.
Prescribed burning is employed by Department of Defense (DoD) land managers in fire-adapted ecosystems to benefit native vegetation and wildlife, to maintain training areas and ranges, and to reduce wildfire risk on DoD and neighboring lands. However, many bases are in nonattainment areas or close to population centers and require permits for conducting prescribed burns. Such permits are declined if smoke management authorities determine that the impact of such fires on the local and regional air quality will be unacceptable. Unfortunately, little of the data needed to accurately estimate the impacts of prescribed fires on DoD managed lands exists, which makes the permitting process highly uncertain.
The objectives of this project are to (1) improve characterization of fuel types, fuel loadings, and consumption estimates across a variety of fire-adapted ecosystems found on southwestern DoD sites; (2) improve characterization of air emissions under both flaming and smoldering conditions with respect to particulate matter (PM2.5) (both primary and secondary sources), volatile organic compounds, heavy metals, and reactive gases; (3) model the contributions of burning to regional air quality relative to other sources, and (4) compare prescribed burning’s effects relative to wildfires in terms of fuel consumption, fire intensity, timing of emissions, and the resultant impacts on local and regional air quality.
Technical Approach
This project will be executed by a science team from three U.S. Forest Service laboratories, two universities, and DoD personnel from five bases with access to advanced emissions measurement facilities, specialized instruments, and the latest modeling techniques. Researchers will improve characterization of chaparral and oak savannah fuels, including loadings and consumption. Characterization of the air emissions of PM2.5, many volatile organic compounds, metals and other species also will be improved. Initial laboratory measurements will be validated with prescribed burns on DoD managed lands. Aircraft measurements will be used to follow postemission transformations. New real-time chemical and aerosol measurement techniques will be validated and the formation pathways for secondary PM explored. Advanced air quality models will be used to predict the impact of prescribed burns and compare the impacts from prescribed burns to those from wildfires and anthropogenic sources.
Benefits
This project will produce the data and tools needed for accurate impact assessment of prescribed burns and thus benefit both DoD and surrounding communities. Results will include: (1) fuel loading and fuel consumption for chaparral and oak savannah fuels, which are of most concern to southwestern DoD bases; (2) emission factors for numerous gases and PM specifically for DoD prescribed fires; (3) comprehensive measurements of downwind changes in smoke chemistry, including secondary PM; (4) detailed model-based comparisons of air quality impacts of prescribed burns versus wildfires; and (5) data from new instruments deployed in smoke for the first time. The improved smoke management forecasts will facilitate improved decisions regarding permitting of DoD burns and minimize DoD time, costs, and other problems associated with managing training areas, wildfire risk, and species that depend on fires. (Anticipated Project Completion 2011)
Symposium & Workshop
FY 2013 New Start Project Selections
Points of Contact
Principal Investigator
Dr. Wayne Miller
University of California, Riverside
Phone: 951-781-5579
Program Manager
Resource Conservation and Climate Change
SERDP and ESTCP
Document Types
- Fact Sheet - Brief project summary with links to related documents and points of contact.
- Final Report - Comprehensive report for every completed SERDP and ESTCP project that contains all technical results.
- Cost & Performance Report - Overview of ESTCP demonstration activities, results, and conclusions, standardized to facilitate implementation decisions.
- Technical Report - Additional interim reports, laboratory reports, demonstration reports, and technology survey reports.
- Guidance - Instructional information on technical topics such as protocols and user’s guides.
- Workshop Report - Summary of workshop discussion and findings.
- Multimedia - On demand videos, animations, and webcasts highlighting featured initiatives or technologies.
- Model/Software - Computer programs and applications available for download.
- Database - Digitally organized collection of data available to search and access.