Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2022-668
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2022-668
19 Oct 2022
 | 19 Oct 2022
Status: a revised version of this preprint was accepted for the journal ACP and is expected to appear here in due course.

High sulphur dioxide deposition velocities measured with the flux/gradient technique in a boreal forest in the Alberta oil sands region

Mark Gordon, Dane Blanchard, Timothy Jiang, Paul A. Makar, Ralf M. Staebler, Julian Aherne, Cris Mihele, and Xuanyi Zhang

Abstract. The emission of SO2 from the Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR) has been shown to impact the surrounding forest area and human exposure. Recent studies using aircraft-based measurements have demonstrated that deposition of SO2 to the forest is at a rate many times higher than model estimates. Here we use the flux/gradient method to estimate SO2 deposition rates at two tower sites in the boreal forest downwind of AOSR SO2 emissions. We use both continuous and passive sampler measurements and compare both techniques. The measurements predict SO2 deposition velocities ranging from 2.1–5.9 cm s-1. There are uncertainties associated with the passive sampler flux/gradient analysis, primarily due to an assumed Schmidt number, a required assumption of independent variables, and potential wind effects. We estimate the total uncertainty as ±2 cm s-1. Accounting for these uncertainties, the measurements are near (or slightly higher than) the previous aircraft-based measurements (1.2–3.2 cm s-1) and significantly higher than model estimates for the same measurement periods (0.1–0.6 cm s-1), suggesting that SO2 has a much shorter lifetime in the atmosphere than is currently predicted by models.

Mark Gordon et al.

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on acp-2022-668', Anonymous Referee #1, 19 Dec 2022
    • AC1: 'Comment on acp-2022-668', Mark Gordon, 16 Feb 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on acp-2022-668', Anonymous Referee #2, 05 Jan 2023
    • AC1: 'Comment on acp-2022-668', Mark Gordon, 16 Feb 2023
  • AC1: 'Comment on acp-2022-668', Mark Gordon, 16 Feb 2023

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on acp-2022-668', Anonymous Referee #1, 19 Dec 2022
    • AC1: 'Comment on acp-2022-668', Mark Gordon, 16 Feb 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on acp-2022-668', Anonymous Referee #2, 05 Jan 2023
    • AC1: 'Comment on acp-2022-668', Mark Gordon, 16 Feb 2023
  • AC1: 'Comment on acp-2022-668', Mark Gordon, 16 Feb 2023

Mark Gordon et al.

Mark Gordon et al.

Viewed

Total article views: 535 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total BibTeX EndNote
427 95 13 535 4 6
  • HTML: 427
  • PDF: 95
  • XML: 13
  • Total: 535
  • BibTeX: 4
  • EndNote: 6
Views and downloads (calculated since 19 Oct 2022)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 19 Oct 2022)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 538 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 538 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 05 Jun 2023
Download
Short summary
Measurements of the gas sulphur dioxide (SO2) were made in a forest downwind of oil sands mining and production facilities in northern Alberta. These measurements tell us the rate that SO2 is absorbed by the forest. The measured rate is much higher than what is currently used by air-quality models, which is supported by a previous study in this region. This suggest SO2 may have a much shorter lifetime in the atmosphere than is currently predicted by models.
Altmetrics