Spatial trends in surface-based carbonaceous aerosol, including organic, water-soluble and elemental carbon, during DISCOVER-AQ in Houston, TX

DISCOVER-AQ (Deriving Information on Surface conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality) is a NASA funded air quality research program that focused on Houston, TX in September 2013. NASA's P-3B and B200 were deployed to sample vertical profiles over specific focus areas using a spiraling vertical profile flight plan on select days during the 30 day sampling campaign. In this project, we measured organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), inorganic carbon and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) from filter-based sampling efforts at four ground-based sites across the Houston metropolitan area. Ground-based sites were chosen to represent the downtown area, upwind and downwind as well as the Houston Ship Channel (industrial area). Ratios of EC:OC and WSOC:OC will be used to track contributions of primary and secondary organic carbon (POC and SOC), respectively. Spatial and temporal trends in POC and SOC for the Houston metropolitan area will be discussed.