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

Motivation: During summer when insolation is highest in Alaska many ships cruise the Alaska coast on their way to or fram Asia. These ships emit pollutants that react in the atmosphere and finally get deposited wet or dry along Alaska's coast and into Alaska waters.

Research goal: Our research examines the impact of ship emissions on air quality in Alaska coastal landscapes and waters. It also assess the atmospheric input of highly reactive oxidants and acidic contaminants into coastal waters and adjacent land by means of numerical modeling techniques. Here ships are the main emission sources and by far outweigh the few anthropogenic emission sources.

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

Personnel: Nicole Mölders, Stacy E. Porter, Trang Thu Tran

Sponsors: UAF Graduate School, CNSM, GI (Porter), ARSC (Tran)

First results:

Thesis by Stacy E. Porter

Mölders, N., Porter, S.E., Tran, T.T., Cahill, C.F., 2009: Impact of unregulated ship emissions on air and water quality in southern Alaska.