High-resolution multi-pollutant mapping in Denver, Colorado
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Abstract
Characterizing traffic-related air pollutants (TRAPs), which significantly impact health, and greenhouse gases (GHGs) can be challenging in urban environments. Mobile monitoring has the potential to capture the spatial distribution of these pollutants. We present results from a campaign using the Denver Mobile Monitoring Laboratory (DMML) in the summer of 2023 when we measured ultrafine particles (UFPs), black carbon (BC), ozone (O3), methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in Denver, CO. Despite our campaign being brief, we obtained several interesting results. We observed elevated UFP and BC concentrations on major roads. In contrast, O3 concentrations were higher on neighborhood streets and roads and in the industrial neighborhood of Commerce City. We consistently observed elevated CH4 concentrations (>2.5 ppm) on highway I-70, suggesting the presence of a previously unknown major source of CH4. The CH4 concentrations measured in our campaign did not align with those from an overlapping aerial campaign, suggesting that mobile monitoring is crucial to capture important, potentially intermittent CH4 hotspots in cities. We evaluated if trees mitigated pollution concentrations, as planting trees is a key policy initiative of the city of Denver. We observed significant negative associations between tree canopy coverage and UFPs, BC, and CH4, and a positive association with O3 when using linear mixed-effects regression models. Our work highlights the importance of investigating the role of tree canopy coverage to mitigate TRAPs.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | High-resolution multi-pollutant mapping in Denver, Colorado |
| Series title | Atmospheric Environment X |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100364 |
| Volume | 27 |
| Year Published | 2025 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Contributing office(s) | Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center |
| Description | 100364, 10 p. |
| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado |
| City | Denver |