In Texas, the University of Houston reported that James Flynn, research associate professor at the University of Houston, has been awarded a $1.2 million research grant by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
The award will support Flynn and his team’s research project aimed at assessing the impacts of biomass burning, wind-blown dust pollutants and soot on air quality in Texas.
“Smoke in particular has been linked to high ozone episodes. Along with the fine particulate matter in smoke, there are also gases in the smoke that form ozone. By looking at the optical properties of the fine particles, we can determine what is soot or dust or smoke, so we can then identify high ozone periods that have been impacted by smoke,” Flynn said.
The research group will use instruments including state-of-the-art tricolor absorption photometers and a nephelometer, which will enable the precise measurement of particulate matter and their optical properties. These instruments will be complemented by advanced air quality monitoring equipment, including trace gas detectors and high-volume filter samplers.
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