Investigation of the impact of ship emission on air quality and atmospheric deposition in Alaska coastal landscapes

Motivation: During summer when insolation is highest in Alaska many ships cruise the Alaska coast. These cruise ships emit pollutants that react in the atmosphere and finally get deposited wet or dry in the National Parks along Alaska's coast.

Research goal: Our research examines the impact of ship emissions on air quality in Alaska coastal landscapes and assess the atmospheric input of highly reactive oxidants and acidic contaminants into coastal waters and adjacent land by means of numerical modeling techniques. Southwest Alaska and its adjacent ocean is exemplarily chosen for this research, because of its remote location and many land and ocean based measurements especially during IPY. Here ships are the main emission sources and by far outweigh the few anthropogenic emission sources. Thus, the impact of ship emission can be examined by simulations performed without and with emission consideration.

Method: The research is carried out by means of the WRFchem (Weather Research and Forecasting chemistry) modeling system

Personnel: Nicole Mölders, Stacey Porter

Sponsor: UAF Graduate School