Comprehensive Chemical and Physical Characterization of Wildfire Emissions: From Source Profiles to Urban Air Quality Impacts in Reno, Nevada

Abstract

With wildfire seasons getting longer and more intense across western North America, understanding wildfire smoke properties has never been more critical for understanding its impact on environment and human health. In this talk, I will summarize our research on fire emissions using both controlled lab burns and real-world field measurements.

Our toolkit included detailed chemical characterization of both gases and particles, as well as measurements of aerosol volatility, particle size distributions, and their optical properties. Using positive matrix factorization and machine learning, we've been able to determine how much wildfire smoke contributes to air pollution in Reno – findings directly applicable to cities throughout the West Coast. During peak fire season, we observed wildfires contributing approximately 60% of fine particles and 20% of carbon monoxide. The chemical composition of smoke differs significantly from non-smoke urban air and undergoes substantial changes as smoke ages during transport. This work provides crucial data for predicting smoke impacts and protecting public health as we face increasingly smoky summers.

Biography

Dr. Andrey Khlystov is a Research Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry and Director of the Organic Analytical Laboratory at the Desert Research Institute (DRI) in Reno, Nevada. His research focuses on the chemical and physical properties of atmospheric aerosols, including their sources, transformation, and health impacts. He is particularly known for his work on wildfire smoke, electronic cigarette emissions, and aerosol volatility. At DRI, he leads efforts to develop and apply advanced measurement techniques to better understand air pollution from both indoor and outdoor sources, with the goal of informing public health and environmental policy.