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During August and September 2013, a research aircraft was deployed in the oil sands region. The flight paths of the aircraft were designed to measure air pollutants in plumes around the immediate vicinity of the major oil sands surface mining facilities, as well as downwind of these sources, and also at various heights above the ground. These flight paths enabled measurements of how concentrations of air pollutants change with elevation in the atmosphere as well as with distance from pollution sources. The aircraft was equipped with a comprehensive suite of instruments to measure gases, particles and meteorological conditions.

Long Term Air Pollutant and Meteorological Monitoring at Fort McKay’s Oski-ôtin site: Validated data

Continuous monitoring of multiple air pollutants along with meteorological conditions began in Fort McKay at the Oski-ôtin site in August 2013. The purpose of Oski-ôtin’s enhanced monitoring is to gain a clearer picture of the mixture, transport and fate of air pollutants produced from the different oil sands related activities. Compared to the pre-existing monitoring conducted by Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) in Fort McKay and throughout the region, the Oski-ôtin site provides measurements for a larger number of pollutants using research grade instruments (configured to be more precise at lower concentrations). Instruments located at this site also monitor pollutants, winds and temperatures at multiple heights above the ground.

In the oil sands air monitoring component, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) levels are monitored by ground-based instruments, satellites and other measurements. Monitoring of air pollutants from satellites is becoming an alternative to surface and aircraft measurements, and allows for better understanding of the global distribution, sources and trends of pollutants. Using satellite data for the oil sands region, high-resolution air pollutant maps show distinct concentrations of NO2 (Figure 1a) and SO2 (Figure 1b) over an area (roughly 30 km x 50 km, or 19 miles x 31 miles) of intensive oil sands surface mining. The map shows that NO2 concentrations are significant and are comparable to measurements made over large, individual sources such as coal-burning power plants.

Long Term Air Pollutant and Meteorological Monitoring at Fort McKay’s Oski-ôtin site: Preliminary data

Continuous and integrated monitoring of multiple air pollutants along with meteorological conditions began in Fort McKay at the Oski-ôtin site in August 2013. The purpose of Oski-ôtin’s enhanced monitoring is to gain a clearer picture of the mixture, transport and fate of air pollutants produced from the different oil sands related activities. Compared to the pre-existing monitoring conducted by Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) in Fort McKay and throughout the region, the Oski-ôtin site provides measurements for a larger number of pollutants using research grade instruments (configured to be more precise at lower concentrations). Instruments located at this site also monitor pollutants, winds and temperatures at multiple heights above the ground.

In October and November 2015, ground-based air measurements of pollutants were made from two mobile laboratories in southeast Saskatchewan in an area within a 50 km radius of Stoughton, Saskatchewan by scientists of the Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada. Measurements were made while the mobile laboratories were driven downwind of oil production facilities in the region on a daily basis, starting approximately 0900 and ending approximately 1700 local time (CST). The objectives of these measurements included 1) scouting the Bakken shale plays in southern Saskatchewan, to determine whether petroleum resource development releases air pollutants to the atmosphere, 2) to determine the emission rates of CACs (NOx, SO2, CO, VOCs), GHG/SLCP (CO2, CH4, black carbon), and air toxics (H2S, aromatics) from these development activities and 3) to provide data that can be used in emission inventory development. The full suite of measurements made were; CH4, CO2, CO, CH4/CO2 carbon isotope, NO, NO2, SO2, H2S, VOCs in canisters (~150 VOCs) OVOCs + BTEX, Acids (organic and inorganic), Black carbon, PM2.5 and particle number size distribution and Met parameters (T, P, RH, 3-d wind speeds, wind direction, turbulence).

Measurements of the concentrations of air pollutants (Nitric oxide + Nitrogen dioxide - NOx, Sulfur dioxide - SO2, Ozone - O3 and PM2.5) were made at Resolute (2013-2017), Cape Dorset (2013-2017) and Pond Inlet (2018-), in addition to basic meteorology (wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity). The primary objective was to investigate the impact of increasing ship traffic on the air quality in northern communities, in support of Arctic Air Quality model development as well as policy work for the International Maritime Organization. A secondary objective was to evaluate the impact of community diesel power plants on the local air quality. Data consists of quality-controlled 1-minute averages, calibrated in post-processing against traceable standards.

Hourly values of AQHI (Air Quality Health Index) constituents (O3, NO2, PM2.5), other selected trace gases (SO2, H2S), and PM1 and PM10 mass concentrations collected at the Sable Island Upper Air Station, Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. Data is available from January 2017, and is updated at least annually. Supplemental Information

Lower Detection Limits (LDL) 0.4 ppbv for NOx, SO2, H2S, 1 ppbv for O3, 0.1 ugm-3 for PM (particulate matter). Error estimates:

+/- 10% and +/- 0.2 ppbv for NOx, SO2, H2S (except +/-20% NOx January 2017);

+/- 10% and +/- 1.0 ppbv for O3;

+/- 3% for PM2.5 (from manufacturer).

Air emissions from oil sands development can come from a number of sources including industrial smokestacks, tailings ponds, transportation, and dust from mining operations. Air quality monitoring under the Joint Canada-Alberta Implementation Plan for the Oil Sands is designed to determine the contribution of emissions from oil sands activities to local and regional air quality and atmospheric deposition both now and in the future. Ambient air quality data include:

• Filter Pack (24-hour integrated concentrations of particle-bound SO2-4, NO-3, Cl-, NH+4, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+ and gaseous SO2 and HNO3 collected daily by the Canadian Air and Precipitation Monitoring Network)

• Total Gaseous Mercury (hourly mixing ratios measured by the Canadian Air and Precipitation Monitoring Network and Prairie and Northern Region)

• Atmospheric speciated mercury (Hg) (2-hour average concentrations of gaseous elemental Hg (GEM), reactive gaseous Hg (RGM), and Hg on PM2.5 (total particulate Hg - TPM)

• Comprehensive set of measurements collected from an aircraft (various time resolutions) covering an area of 140,000 km2 over the oil sands region

• Comprehensive set of measurements collected from the Fort McKay Oski-ôtin monitoring site

• Ozone (hourly mixing ratios measured by the Canadian Air and Precipitation Monitoring Network)

• Ozone Vertical Profiles (ozone mixing ratios as a function of height) measured by the Canadian Ozone Sonde Network

• Aerosol Optical Depth (measure of the degree to which the presence of aerosols in the atmosphere prevents the transmission of light, from the ground to the top of the atmosphere) measured as part of the AErosol RObotic CANadian (AEROCAN) network

• Satellite overpass data have a relatively high spatial resolution over the Oil Sands region to produce images and geo-referenced data of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) “vertical column density” (which correlates with surface concentration)

The Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) program provides data and information to track Canada's performance on key environmental sustainability issues. The Air pollutant emissions indicators track emissions from human activities of 6 key air pollutants: sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, ammonia, carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter. Black carbon, which is a component of fine particulate matter, is also reported. Sectoral indicators on air pollutant emissions from transportation, off-road vehicles and mobile equipment, electric utilities and the oil and gas industry provide additional analysis on the largest sources of Canada's air pollutant emissions.

Measurements of aerosol optical depth (AOD) using sunphotometers are being made in the oil sands region (at Fort McKay’s Oski-ôtin site, and Fort McMurray). AOD is a measure of the degree to which atmospheric aerosols absorb or scatter sunlight anywhere from the top of the atmosphere to the ground. These tiny solid or liquid particles can have natural or anthropogenic sources including dust, sea salt, smoke, or pollutants. Measurements of AOD made in the oil sands region can be compared with data collected at other Canadian locations from the AErosol RObotic CANadian (AEROCAN) network, such as Kelowna, BC; Lethbridge, AB; Bratt’s Lake and Waskesiu, SK; and Yellowknife, NT.