The Association of Atmospheric Chemistry with Weather Patterns in Wilmington, NC

1. The Association of Atmospheric Chemistry with Weather Patterns in Wilmington, NC Sarah Beth Jenkins Spring 2006 Department of Earth Sciences

2. Introduction • Why is rainwater chemistry important? Air pollution Acid Rain in United States (Source: Lutgens and Tarbuck 2003)

3. Southeast North Carolina • What rainwater chemistry issue is important? Nitrate analytes

6. Hog Farm Flooding in Eastern North Carolina after Hurricane Floyd in September 1999 (Source: Mallin 2000)

7. MACRL Study • Feb 2002- Aug 2003 • 129 rain events • Ammonium, nitrate, organic nitrogen, free amino acids • Trajectory Analysis • Weather patterns?

8. Specific Objectives • Determine if weather conditions vary by seasons through comparison by six winter and six summer rain events as measured by the MACRL study on the UNCW campus (expanded data base) • Determine if weather conditions vary by terrestrial and marine trajectories as identified in previous studies • Determine if weather conditions vary by chemical type including hydrogen peroxide, nitrate, non-sea salt sulfate, chloride, and dissolved organic carbon as measured by the MACRL study on the UNCW campus

9. Terrestrial Mixed Coastal Mixed Air-mass back trajectories as produced by Long (2003) Oceanic

10. Methodology • Collect meteorological data: • Day/Hourly reports 48 hrs preceding each rain event. • Calculate descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, range, etc.) • Complete statistical tests to determine significant difference in meteorological conditions by season and storm trajectory

12. Generate WXP 24-Hour MeteogramStation: Wilmington/New NC US KILM 2 34.27 -77.90 10 99999 81Data for KILM from 0000Z 12 DEC 03 to 2300Z 12 DEC 03ID TIME T TD RH DIR SPD GST ALT SLP VIS CIL COV KILM 2353 48 38 68 270 7 991 129 10 CLR KILM 0053 44 38 79 260 5 993 134 10 CLR KILM 0153 43 39 86 240 6 995 142 10 CLR KILM 0253 42 38 85 270 5 997 147 10 CLR KILM 0353 42 38 85 260 5 997 149 10 CLR KILM 0453 41 38 89 260 6 998 151 10 CLR KILM 0553 39 37 92 260 5 999 153 10 CLR KILM 0653 38 37 97 270 4 002 164 10 CLR KILM 0753 38 33 83 310 4 003 169 10 CLR KILM 0853 36 33 89 300 5 005 176 10 CLR KILM 0953 35 32 88 320 6 006 180 10 CLR KILM 1053 34 31 88 310 4 009 189 10 CLR KILM 1153 35 31 84 320 4 013 202 10 CLR KILM 1253 33 32 96 0 0 014 207 10 CLR KILM 1353 40 33 76 0 3 016 212 10 CLR KILM 1453 43 32 65 40 7 017 216 10 CLR KILM 1553 46 31 55 340 6 017 217 10 CLR KILM 1653 49 31 50 0 6 015 208 10 CLR Source: Plymouth State Weather Center 24 HR Surface Station Summary Generator

13. Methodology • Examine NOAA daily weather maps 48 hrs before precipitation • Compare synoptic weather conditions by season and storm trajectory • Examine radar images to determine spatial distribution of rainfall • Compare rainfall distribution by seasons and storm trajectories

14. NOAA Daily Weather Map (2006)

15. Radar image of Eastern North Carolina Source: Wilmington NWS FO

16. Product • Description of local weather conditions and synoptic weather patterns associated with specific atmospheric chemistry patterns • Use information gained in study as environmental protection tools • Suggest management strategies and pre-storm procedures based on forecasted atmospheric chemistry