PM2.5 in Carlsbad Caverns National Park: Composition, sources, and visibility impacts

Aerosol composition and sources in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, influenced by oil and gas development, wildfires, urban emissions, and soil dust, significantly impact visibility. The study found that sulfate, soil dust (often reacted with nitric acid), and black carbon are major contributors to light extinction, with the worst visibility periods occurring during transport from the southeast, a region dense with Permian Basin oil and gas development. High-time resolution measurements revealed PM2.5 concentrations up to 31.8 µg/m³, with sulfate and soil dust being primary factors in modeled light extinction. Residence time analysis indicated enrichment of sulfate, black carbon, and methane during transport from the southeast, highlighting the regional influence on air quality.

Naimie, L. E., Sullivan, A. P., Benedict, K. B., Prenni, A. J., Sive, B. C., Schichtel, B. A., Fischer, E. V., Pollack, I., & Collett, J. (2022). PM_2.5 in Carlsbad Caverns National Park: Composition, sources, and visibility impacts. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 72(11), 1201–1218. https://doi.org/10.1080/10962247.2022.2081634