Motivation: atmospheric particulate matter with diameters smaller than 2.5 m (PM2.5) is a pollutant that contributes to the development of human disease. Satellite-derived estimates of surface-level…

This is a $161,545 cooperative agreement awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to Colorado State University (CSU) for the "Citizen-Enabled Aerosol Measurements for Satellites (CEAMS)" project. The goal is to deploy a large-scale citizen science network to collect ground-level particulate matter (PM2.5) and aerosol optical depth (AOD) data, which will be used to improve satellite-based estimates of surface PM2.5 concentrations. The project has three main aims: 1) prototype and validate low-cost PM2.5 and AOD sensors, 2) expand the CEAMS network to hundreds of stations across urban and rural areas, and 3) use the CEAMS data to characterize spatial and temporal PM2.5:AOD variability and validate satellite PM2.5 products. There is no set-aside designation for this award. The project leverages expertise from Colorado State University researchers as well as collaborators from Dalhousie University and the University of British Columbia.

Motivation: atmospheric particulate matter with diameters smaller than 2.5 m (PM2.5) is a pollutant that contributes to the development of human disease. Satellite-derived estimates of surface-level PM2.5 concentrations have the potential to contribute greatly to our understanding of how particulate matter affects health. However, these satellite-derived PM2.5 estimates are often uncertain due to a lack of information about the ratio of aerosol optical depth (AOD), which the primary aerosol retrieval made by satellite instruments, and surface-level PM2.5. While modelling and statistical analyses have improved estimates of PM2.5: AOD, large uncertainties remain in situations of high PM2.5 exposure (such as urban areas and in wildfire-smoke plumes) where the health impacts of PM2.5 may be the greatest. Surface monitoring networks for CO-incident PM2.5 and AOD measurements are extremely rare, even in the north america. This proposal aims to address the PM2.5: AOD characterization problem by deploying a citizen-based monitoring network for PM2.5 and AOD at spatial and temporal scales never-before achieved and in regions with large expected gradients in PM2.5 (citizen-enabled aerosol measurements for satellites [ceams]). Ceams will leverage novel, low-cost measurement technology that can be deployed at scales of 100S to potentially 1000S of units. We will leverage support from existing, successful citizen-science networks to develop best-practices that ensure sustainability and success of ceams. The project has three primary aims: aim 1 (prototype phase): conduct a pilot study of a low-cost sensor for PM2.5 and AOD in a panel of colorado citizen-scientists. Validate these data against standard PM2.5 and AOD measurements. Aim 2 (implementation phase): expand the ceams network to hundreds of stations across two urban areas and one rural, smoke prone area. Aim 3 (implementation phase): use the data from ceams to constrain spatial and temporal variability in surface PM2.5 and to validate satellite-derived PM2.5 estimates at high-resolution. Develop parameterizations of spatial/temporal PM2.5:AOD variability based on high-resolution emissions fields, meteorology, and land surface features. Investigative team: john volckens (PI), colorado state university (aerosol technology and exposure measurement) jeffrey pierce (CO-i), colorado state university (aerosol modeling and satellite analysis) shantanu jathar (CO-i), colorado state university (air pollution emissions and atmospheric processing) marilee long (CO-i), colorado state university (science communication and citizen-science) bonne ford (CO-i), colorado state university (aerosol modeling and satellite analysis) nolan doesken (collaborator), community collaborative rain, hail,&snow network (citizen-science) randall martin (collaborator), dalhousie university (satellite-based air quality) mike brauer (collaborator), university of british columbia (air quality and global health)