Emissions from dairy facilities are thought to be an important contributor to air quality violations in Central California, but emissions inventories from these sources contain significant uncertainties. In this work, VOC, greenhouse gas (CO2, N2O and methane) and particulate matter precursor (primarily ammonia) emissions were measured from Central California dairies during 2010 and 2011. Flux measurements were made using two approaches: a) isolation flux chambers were used to measure direct emissions from specific dairy sources; and b) upwind/downwind ambient profiles were measured from ground level up to heights of 100 m followed by back-trajectory calculations to determine emissions. Samples were collected using a combination of canisters and sorbent tubes, and were analyzed by GC-MS. Additional in situ measurements were made using infrared photoaccoustic detectors and Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy. Temperature and ozone profiles up to 250 m above ground level were also measured using a tethersonde. Implications of these measurements for regional air quality will be discussed, and the two techniques used to measure fluxes will be compared.

Emissions of volatile organics, greenhouse gases and particulate matter precursors from dairy facilities in Central California

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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