Atmospheric benzene observations from oil and gas production in the Denver-Julesburg Basin in July and August 2014

High time resolution measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were collected using a proton-transfer-reaction quadrupole mass spectrometry (PTR-QMS) instrument at the Platteville Atmospheric Observatory (PAO) in Colorado to investigate how oil and natural gas (O&NG) development impacts air quality within the Wattenburg Gas Field (WGF) in the Denver-Julesburg Basin. The measurements were carried out in July and August 2014 as part of NASA’s “Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality” (DISCOVER-AQ) field campaign. The PTR-QMS data were supported by pressurized whole air canister samples and airborne vertical and horizontal surveys of VOCs. Unexpectedly high benzene mixing ratios were observed at PAO at ground level (mean benzene = 0.53 ppbv, maximum benzene = 29.3 ppbv), primarily at night (mean nighttime benzene = 0.73 ppbv). These high benzene levels were associated with southwesterly winds. The airborne measurements indicate that benzene originated from within the WGF, and typical source signatures detected in the canister samples implicate emissions from O&NG activities rather than urban vehicular emissions as primary benzene source. This conclusion is backed by a regional toluene-to-benzene ratio analysis which associated southerly flow with vehicular emissions from the Denver area. Weak benzene-to-CO correlations confirmed that traffic emissions were not responsible for the observed high benzene levels. Previous measurements at the Boulder Atmospheric Observatory (BAO) and our data obtained at PAO allow us to locate the source of benzene enhancements between the two atmospheric observatories. Fugitive emissions of benzene from O&NG operations in the Platteville area are discussed as the most likely causes of enhanced benzene levels at PAO

Analysis and Assessment of national Atmospheric Deposition Program( NADP) and National Trends Network Texas Data

Report analyzing weekly rainfall data from 11 Texas sites over an 11-year period. The report notes that rainfall acidity increases from west to east across Texas

TACB Bulletin

Newsletter of the Texas Air Control Board including information about the Board as well as news, events, and other relevant information related to air quality in Texas

Air Quality Modeling Guidelines

Document "provid[ing] guidance on models and modeling procedures that are used in support of air permitting in the State of Texas" (p. i)

Bi-weekly Report, July 22, 1949

Bi-weekly progress report of the Air Traffic Control Project team

Bi-weekly Report, December 23, 1949

Bi-weekly progress report of the Air Traffic Control Project team

Bi-weekly Report, January 6, 1950

Bi-weekly progress report of the Air Traffic Control Project team

Bi-weekly Report, July 8, 1949

Bi-weekly progress report of the Air Traffic Control Project team

Bi-weekly Report, June 24, 1949

Bi-weekly progress report of the Air Traffic Control Project team

Bi-weekly Report, February 17, 1950

Bi-weekly progress report of the Air Traffic Control Project team