CALPUFF whaa…?

An on-going Beacon feature on planning -- to alert, inform, and prompt community action -- and to celebrate success!

The May 2007 meeting of the James Bay Neighbourhood Environment Association (JBNEA) somehow felt much more environmental than usual, with talk of NO2, SO2, NOx, and an explanation of CALPUFF, an air-quality monitoring and pollution tracking system.

Presenters Eleanor Setton and Karla Poplawski from the Spatial Sciences Laboratory at the University of Victoria presented detailed plans for the air quality study to take place in James Bay during the 2007 cruise ship season.

The study is designed to answer 2 very specific questions:

– What levels of pollution exist in James Bay – spatially and temporally?

– Can we tell how different (individual) pollution sources are affecting air quality in James Bay?

The three phased study will conduct air quality monitoring to establish pollutant levels and the relative contribution of different emission sources. Specifically, the study will monitor the following pollutants: nitrogen dioxide (NO2), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and sulphur dioxide (SO2). The study will also record the trace metals nickel (N) and Vanadium (V), which are associated with the combustion of marine fuel by large ocean-going vessels, and black carbon (BC) which is associated with diesel exhaust and heavy vehicular traffic.

Phase 1 (in progress) will compare existing records of meteorological and environmental data from 2006 with the cruise ship schedule from that same period and from May 2007. This information will be translated into a spatial model estimating anticipated concentrations of cruise-ship specific pollution levels by a process called CALPUFF. CALPUFF is an advanced meteorological and air quality modeling system designed to assess the hourly movement of pollutants and their impact during complex meteorological conditions.

These modelled results will indicate both daily average and seasonal average levels of emissions, as well as the meteorological conditions associated with apparent differences in the impacts of cruise-ship emissions. Phase 1, to be completed in May 2007, will assist site selection for the placement of the Phase 2 field monitoring equipment.

During Phase 2 the emissions inventory from all sources will be recorded in greater detail while monitoring and recording non-cruise-ship pollution levels. Various passive diffusion monitors, placed according to the findings from Phase 1, will be employed. One group of ten sample sites will be monitored for a 2-month period. Then a second group of ten collection sites will be monitored for a second 2-month period.

Four specific 6-day periods over the 4 months have been chosen to monitor and compare cruise-ship versus non-cruise-ship pollution levels.

An important piece of equipment on 2-day loan for this project from Malispina University & College, uses a process called Membrane Introduction Mass Spectrometry (MIMS), to allow real-time identification of environmental contaminants. This equipment rapidly and simultaneously measures concentrations of volatile and semi-volatile contaminants directly from air, water, soil or biological samples without time consuming preparation steps. Investigations can take place at low concentrations in complex mixtures, allowing the observation of effects and the monitoring of chemical transformations of contaminants and naturally occurring substances as they occur.

This equipment is the only part of the current study which will be able to identify volatile organic carbons (VOCs) believed to be carcinogenic. VOCs include chemical compounds such as the non-combusted fuel emissions from helijets and cruiseships which, under normal conditions, vaporize and enter the atmosphere. Identification of the pollution mix associated with a specific source, will establish an emissions signature for future study.

The CALPUFF model will be calibrated with the additional information from this phase as well as daily marine vessel, air and motor vehicle traffic counts for a year, to produce a more comprehensive model of pollution levels in the area.

Phase 3, scheduled as a thesis project to begin in September 2007, will bring the enhanced emissions inventory data together within CALPUFF to create a detailed modeling of the air quality in James Bay.

James Bay residents were delighted to share their not inconsiderable knowledge to the study process when the floor was opened to questions. Suggestions included infra-red photography from high-rise apartments or low flying air craft, and making use of the meteorlogical monitoring and humidity sensors from the school net weather system.

A representative from the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) indicated that this study is a first step and not a one-off. James Bay was identified as a health issue hot spot by VIHA over one year ago through earlier air-quality monitoring. Further studies will be required after the basic data from this study is evaluataed.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Locations are required throughout James Bay to place the monitoring equipment. If you have an appropriate location, or have other suggestions or questions regarding the study, contact Karla Poplawski at (250) 472-4624 email: poplawsk@uvic.ca

PEDESTRIANS & PARKS

The City of Victoria is undertaking separate reviews of pedestrian walkways and neighbourhood parks. Timelines for resident input are limited on both the Pedestrian Master Plan and the Parks Master Plan.

Please be prepared to complete a questionnaire at the upcoming June 13 monthly JBNEA at New Horizons:

– on parks within James Bay and what changes, if any, you would like the City to make to parks near you, and

– on the condition of sidewalks which you regularly use and where, if anywhere, you think James Bay needs more walkways.

Completed questionnaires may be left at New Horizons addressed to the JBNEA, or email comments to: info@jbnea.org prior to the June 29th deadline.