Investigating air emissions sources in Alberta using satellite, aircraft, and ground-based measurements

Abstract: This talk will discuss air quality and greenhouse gas emissions in Alberta, and approaches used to investigate these using satellite, aircraft, and ground-based datasets.  First, I will give an overview of some of the major air issues in Alberta, which include wildfire smoke, winter-time smog, and industrial emissions sources in the oil sands. Then, I will focus on three projects that I have been involved in during the past year: (1) estimating emissions of carbon monoxide, ammonia, and nitrogen oxides during the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire using satellite data; (2) investigating sulphur dioxide emissions sources in the Alberta oil sands using satellite data, ground-based data, and industrial emissions monitoring; and (3) quantifying greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas development using aircraft measurements.