Air quality at a snowmobile staging area and snow chemistry on and off trail in a Rocky Mountain subalpine forest, Snowy Range, Wyoming |
| |
Authors: | Robert C Musselman John L Korfmacher |
| |
Institution: | (1) Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service, 240 West Prospect Road, Fort Collins, CO 80526-2098, USA |
| |
Abstract: | A study was begun in the winter of 2000–2001 and continued through the winter of 2001–2002 to examine air quality at the Green
Rock snowmobile staging area at 2,985 m elevation in the Snowy Range of Wyoming. The study was designed to evaluate the effects
of winter recreation snowmobile activity on air quality at this high elevation site by measuring levels of nitrogen oxides
(NO
x
, NO), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3) and particulate matter (PM10 mass). Snowmobile numbers were higher weekends than weekdays, but numbers were difficult to quantify with an infrared sensor.
Nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide were significantly higher weekends than weekdays. Ozone and particulate matter were not
significantly different during the weekend compared to weekdays. Air quality data during the summer was also compared to the
winter data. Carbon monoxide levels at the site were significantly higher during the winter than during the summer. Nitrogen
oxides and particulates were significantly higher during the summer compared to winter. Nevertheless, air pollutants were
well dispersed and diluted by strong winds common at the site, and it appears that snowmobile emissions did not have a significant
impact on air quality at this high elevation ecosystem. Pollutant concentrations were generally low both winter and summer.
In a separate study, water chemistry and snow density were measured from snow samples collected on and adjacent to a snowmobile
trail. Snow on the trail was significantly denser and significantly more acidic with significantly higher concentrations of
sodium, ammonium, calcium, magnesium, fluoride, and sulfate than in snow off the trail. Snowmobile activity had no effect
on nitrate levels in snow. |
| |
Keywords: | Anions Carbon monoxide Cations Dispersion High elevation Nitrogen oxides Ozone Particulate matter Winter recreation |
本文献已被 PubMed SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|