PM2.5 in Carlsbad Caverns National Park: Composition, sources, and visibility impacts

Carlsbad Caverns National Park in southeastern New Mexico is adjacent to the Permian Basin, one of the most productive oil and gas regions in the country. The 2019 Carlsbad Caverns Air Quality Study (CarCavAQS) was designed to examine the influence of regional sources, including urban emissions, oil and gas development, wildfires, and soil dust on air quality in the park. Field measurements of aerosols, trace gases, and deposition were conducted from 25 July through 5 September 2019. Here, we focus on observations of fine particles and key trace gas precursors to understand the important contributing species and their sources and associated impacts on haze. Key gases measured included aerosol precursors, nitric acid and ammonia, and oil and gas tracer, methane. High-time resolution (6-min) PM2.5 mass ranged up to 31.8 mu g m(-3), with an average of 7.67 mu g m(-3). The main inorganic ion contributors were sulfate (avg 1.3 mu g m(-3)), ammonium (0.30 mu g m(-3)), calcium (Ca2+) (0.22 mu g m(-3)), nitrate (0.16 mu g m(-3)), and sodium (0.057 mu g m(-3)). The WSOC concentration averaged 1.2 mu g C m(-3). Sharp spikes were observed in Ca2+, consistent with local dust generation and transport. Ion balance analysis and abundant nitric acid suggest PM2.5 nitrate often reflected reaction between nitric acid and sea salt, forming sodium nitrate, and between nitric acid and soil dust containing calcium carbonate, forming calcium nitrate. Sulfate and soil dust are the major contributors to modeled light extinction in the 24-hr average daily IMPROVE observations. Higher time resolution data revealed a maximum 1-hr extinction value of 90 Mm(-1) (excluding coarse aerosol) and included periods of significant light extinction from BC as well as sulfate and soil dust. Residence time analysis indicated enrichment of sulfate, BC, and methane during periods of transport from the southeast, the direction of greatest abundance of oil and gas development. Implications: Rapid development of U.S. oil and gas resources raises concerns about potential impacts on air quality in National Parks. Measurements in Carlsbad Caverns National Park provide new insight into impacts of unconventional oil and gas development and other sources on visual air quality in the park. Major contributors to visibility impairment include sulfate, soil dust (often reacted with nitric acid), and black carbon. The worst periods of visibility and highest concentrations of many aerosol components were observed during transport from the southeast, a region of dense Permian Basin oil and gas development.

Automated summary

The study conducted in Carlsbad Caverns National Park in 2019 aimed to examine the impact of regional sources on air quality, including urban emissions, oil and gas development, wildfires, and soil dust. The findings revealed that sulfate, soil dust, and black carbon were the major contributors to visibility impairment, with transport from the southeast direction, where oil and gas development is dense, having the worst impact.