Impact of Canadian wildfire smoke on air quality at two rural sites in NY State

We report high concentrations of black carbon aerosols (BC), present at two rural sites in New York during the last week in May 2010, that are linked to wildfire activity. At Mayville BC from wood smoke was recorded for a total of 20 h from three separate episodes, mean concentration was 1400 ng m−3. These three short events contributed 13% of the BC burden during the month of May. At Whiteface Mountain high concentrations of BC, carbon monoxide gas (CO), and fine particulate matter mass (PM2.5) are reported from a heavy smoke event that impacted the Adirondack region of the State on May 31, 2010. PM2.5 mass recorded at the Lodge site (600 m above mean sea level) was 150 μg m−3 at 8:30 am EST and the 24-h mean was almost twice the USEPA limits while CO concentration exceeded 1000 ppb and BC concentration reached 9600 ng m−3. The event was delayed several hours at the Summit site (1500 m above mean sea level) but at 5:45 pm BC concentration reached 1600 ng m−3 and CO was 317 ppbv. Detailed temporal profiles and correlations are presented.

► We report wildfire smoke from Canada impacting Whiteface Mt., NY on 31 May 2010.
► At WFM lodge (0.6 km amsl) extremely high PM2.5 mass, (150 μg m−3) was recorded.
► The 24-h average PM2.5 mass was 68 μg m−3or higher than the fine PM standard.
► BC reached 9600 ng m−3 at the lodge and 1600 ng m−3 at the summit (1.5 km amsl).
► We estimate that OC concentration at the lodge must have peaked at 75–120 μg m−3.