Aerosolization from freshwater at the spillway of a small dam
Abstract
Aerosolization of biotic and abiotic matter from the surface of freshwater ecosystems may be an undervalued source of atmospheric aerosols globally. Aerosolized material can include bacteria, algae and organic detritus. As in marine systems, freshwater aerosolization is influenced by physical (i.e. turbulence and bubble bursting) and biological (i.e. super saturation of oxygen and disturbances) processes occurring in the open water. Additionally, aerosolization from freshwaters can occur at natural waterfalls and dam spillways. In this study, we examined the quantity and quality of material aerosolized over the spillway of a small (low head) dam on a Hudson River tributary. Using an optical partical counter, we found steady particle counts and size distributions during low wind conditions at the spillway and episodically higher values based on atmospheric forcing. In terms of aerosol quality, we measured the relative fluorescence of chlorophyll, color dissolved organic matter (CDOM), and phycocyanin (an indicator of cyanobacteria) of simultaneously collected water and air samples and found measurable chlorophyll and CDOM fluorescence in the water but generally only chlorophyll fluorescence in the air samples (phycocyanin was generally below detection for both water and air). Further analysis to characterize algae and the presence of ice nucleating bacteria in both water and air is currently under way. With over 2 million dams in the United States, many of which are small structures like the one we studied, it is important to better understand this potential source for climate and health-relevant bioaerosols.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018AGUFM.A11G2308H
- Keywords:
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- 0305 Aerosols and particles;
- ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTUREDE: 0315 Biosphere/atmosphere interactions;
- ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTUREDE: 0409 Bioavailability: chemical speciation and complexation;
- BIOGEOSCIENCESDE: 4801 Aerosols;
- OCEANOGRAPHY: BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL