Air quality and greenhouse gases - Fylde - Revision history

Ajhil: /* Greenhouse gases */

2026-10-21T12:17:28Z

Greenhouse gases

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:17, 21 October 2026
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	==Greenhouse gases==		==Greenhouse gases==
	Greenhouse gas concentrations were measured from December 2014. A time series of the data is shown in Figure 3. A general correlation between ~~CO<sub>2</sub>~~ and ~~CH<sub>4</sub>~~ can be seen over the measurement period. There are clear periods of background where CO<sub>2</sub> and CH<sub>4</sub> concentrations appear relatively flat at around 400 parts per million (ppm) and 2 ppm respectively. These periods coincide with westerly winds and represent the relatively unpolluted air from the Atlantic. The periods of generally enhanced CO<sub>2</sub> and CH<sub>4</sub> (between 400 and 450 ppm and 2 and 4 ppm, respectively) are most often with moderate easterly and southerly winds. The short-term events (spikes on the graph) coincide most often with light south easterly and northerly wind directions.		Greenhouse gas concentrations were measured from December 2014. A time series of the data is shown in Figure 3. A general correlation between CO2 and CH4 can be seen over the measurement period. There are clear periods of background where CO<sub>2</sub> and CH<sub>4</sub> concentrations appear relatively flat at around 400 parts per million (ppm) and 2 ppm respectively. These periods coincide with westerly winds and represent the relatively unpolluted air from the Atlantic. The periods of generally enhanced CO<sub>2</sub> and CH<sub>4</sub> (between 400 and 450 ppm and 2 and 4 ppm, respectively) are most often with moderate easterly and southerly winds. The short-term events (spikes on the graph) coincide most often with light south easterly and northerly wind directions.

	[[Image:plumptonCH4CO2.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]		[[Image:plumptonCH4CO2.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]

Ajhil: /* Greenhouse gases */

2026-10-21T12:12:15Z

Greenhouse gases

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:12, 21 October 2026
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	==Greenhouse gases==		==Greenhouse gases==
	Greenhouse gas concentrations were measured from December 2014. A time series of the data is shown in Figure 3. A general correlation between ~~CO2~~ and ~~CH4~~ can be seen over the measurement period. There are clear periods of background where ~~CO2~~ and ~~CH4~~ concentrations appear relatively flat at around 400 parts per million (ppm) and 2 ppm respectively. These periods coincide with westerly winds and represent the relatively unpolluted air from the Atlantic. The periods of generally enhanced ~~CO2~~ and ~~CH4~~ (between 400 and 450 ppm and 2 and 4 ppm, respectively) are most often with moderate easterly and southerly winds. The short-term events (spikes on the graph) coincide most often with light south easterly and northerly wind directions.		Greenhouse gas concentrations were measured from December 2014. A time series of the data is shown in Figure 3. A general correlation between CO<sub>2</sub> and CH<sub>4</sub> can be seen over the measurement period. There are clear periods of background where CO<sub>2</sub> and CH<sub>4</sub> concentrations appear relatively flat at around 400 parts per million (ppm) and 2 ppm respectively. These periods coincide with westerly winds and represent the relatively unpolluted air from the Atlantic. The periods of generally enhanced CO<sub>2</sub> and CH<sub>4</sub> (between 400 and 450 ppm and 2 and 4 ppm, respectively) are most often with moderate easterly and southerly winds. The short-term events (spikes on the graph) coincide most often with light south easterly and northerly wind directions.

	[[Image:plumptonCH4CO2.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]		[[Image:plumptonCH4CO2.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]

Ajhil: /* Meteorology */

2026-10-21T12:08:37Z

Meteorology

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:08, 21 October 2026
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	[[Image:plumptonMet.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]		[[Image:plumptonMet.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]

	<center>'''Figure 2'''    Wind rose showing wind speed and direction statistics for the period November 2014 to March 2016.<br>The radius defines the percentage of time the wind in each of 12 wind direction cones (30° span),<br>while the colour scale defines the wind speed (red colours indicate strong wind speeds over 6 ms<sup>-1</sup> and yellow colours indicate lighter winds). BGS © UKRI.</center>		<center>'''Figure 2'''    Wind rose showing wind speed and direction statistics for the period November 2014 to March 2016.<br>The radius defines the percentage of time the wind in each of 12 wind direction cones (30° span),<br>while the colour scale defines the wind speed (red colours indicate strong wind speeds over 6 ms<sup>-1</sup><br>and yellow colours indicate lighter winds). BGS © UKRI.</center>
	<br>		<br>
	This is important for understanding the local baseline. The position of the site near to the Blackpool shoreline means that winds bringing air from the Atlantic will typically carry relatively well-mixed and background airmasses to the measurement site. (In this context, a ‘background’ can be conceived to be an airmass relatively unaffected by local or regional pollution sources, broadly representative of the average composition of northern hemispheric air at the time.)		This is important for understanding the local baseline. The position of the site near to the Blackpool shoreline means that winds bringing air from the Atlantic will typically carry relatively well-mixed and background airmasses to the measurement site. (In this context, a ‘background’ can be conceived to be an airmass relatively unaffected by local or regional pollution sources, broadly representative of the average composition of northern hemispheric air at the time.)

Ajhil: /* Meteorology */

2026-10-21T12:08:22Z

Meteorology

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:08, 21 October 2026
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	[[Image:plumptonMet.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]		[[Image:plumptonMet.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]

	<center>'''Figure 2'''    Wind rose showing wind speed and direction statistics for the period November 2014 to March 2016.<br>The radius defines the percentage of time the wind in each of 12 wind direction cones (30° span), while the colour scale defines the wind speed (red colours indicate strong wind speeds over 6 ms<sup>-1</sup> and yellow colours indicate lighter winds). BGS © UKRI.</center>		<center>'''Figure 2'''    Wind rose showing wind speed and direction statistics for the period November 2014 to March 2016.<br>The radius defines the percentage of time the wind in each of 12 wind direction cones (30° span),<br>while the colour scale defines the wind speed (red colours indicate strong wind speeds over 6 ms<sup>-1</sup> and yellow colours indicate lighter winds). BGS © UKRI.</center>
	<br>		<br>
	This is important for understanding the local baseline. The position of the site near to the Blackpool shoreline means that winds bringing air from the Atlantic will typically carry relatively well-mixed and background airmasses to the measurement site. (In this context, a ‘background’ can be conceived to be an airmass relatively unaffected by local or regional pollution sources, broadly representative of the average composition of northern hemispheric air at the time.)		This is important for understanding the local baseline. The position of the site near to the Blackpool shoreline means that winds bringing air from the Atlantic will typically carry relatively well-mixed and background airmasses to the measurement site. (In this context, a ‘background’ can be conceived to be an airmass relatively unaffected by local or regional pollution sources, broadly representative of the average composition of northern hemispheric air at the time.)

Ajhil: /* Meteorology */

2026-10-21T12:08:12Z

Meteorology

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:08, 21 October 2026
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	[[Image:plumptonMet.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]		[[Image:plumptonMet.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]

	<center>'''Figure 2'''    Wind rose showing wind speed and direction statistics for the period November 2014 to March 2016. The radius defines the percentage of time the wind in each of 12 wind direction cones (30° span), while the colour scale defines the wind speed (red colours indicate strong wind speeds over 6 ms<sup>-1</sup> and yellow colours indicate lighter winds). BGS © UKRI.</center>		<center>'''Figure 2'''    Wind rose showing wind speed and direction statistics for the period November 2014 to March 2016.<br>The radius defines the percentage of time the wind in each of 12 wind direction cones (30° span), while the colour scale defines the wind speed (red colours indicate strong wind speeds over 6 ms<sup>-1</sup> and yellow colours indicate lighter winds). BGS © UKRI.</center>
	<br>		<br>
	This is important for understanding the local baseline. The position of the site near to the Blackpool shoreline means that winds bringing air from the Atlantic will typically carry relatively well-mixed and background airmasses to the measurement site. (In this context, a ‘background’ can be conceived to be an airmass relatively unaffected by local or regional pollution sources, broadly representative of the average composition of northern hemispheric air at the time.)		This is important for understanding the local baseline. The position of the site near to the Blackpool shoreline means that winds bringing air from the Atlantic will typically carry relatively well-mixed and background airmasses to the measurement site. (In this context, a ‘background’ can be conceived to be an airmass relatively unaffected by local or regional pollution sources, broadly representative of the average composition of northern hemispheric air at the time.)

Ajhil: /* Air quality */

2026-10-21T12:02:29Z

Air quality

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:02, 21 October 2026
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	==Air quality==		==Air quality==
	The time series for O3, NO, ~~NO2~~, NOx, ~~PM1~~, ~~PM2~~.5, ~~PM4~~ and ~~PM10~~ are shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7. The data indicates that there are times when the site is affected by higher levels of pollution in the form of NO, ~~NO2~~ and PMs (spikes on the graphs). O3 shows elevated typical maritime concentrations from the west and is indicative of an aged air mass, broadly reflective of prevailing Atlantic ozone. The influence of the Atlantic air is also shown in the PM measurements, which are all enhanced when the wind is from the west as a result of maritime aerosols.		The time series for O<sub>3</sub>, NO, NO<sub>2</sub>, NOx, PM<sub>1</sub>, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, PM<sub>4</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub> are shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7. The data indicates that there are times when the site is affected by higher levels of pollution in the form of NO, NO<sub>2</sub> and PMs (spikes on the graphs). O<sub>3</sub> shows elevated typical maritime concentrations from the west and is indicative of an aged air mass, broadly reflective of prevailing Atlantic ozone. The influence of the Atlantic air is also shown in the PM measurements, which are all enhanced when the wind is from the west as a result of maritime aerosols.

	Local influence can also be observed as spikes on the graphs. Further investigation is being carried out but a road running close to the site may be a contributory factor.		Local influence can also be observed as spikes on the graphs. Further investigation is being carried out but a road running close to the site may be a contributory factor.
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	[[Image:TimeSeriesOfOzoneConcentrationsLancs.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]		[[Image:TimeSeriesOfOzoneConcentrationsLancs.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]

	<center>'''Figure 5'''    Time series of Ozone (O3) concentrations. BGS © UKRI.</center>		<center>'''Figure 5'''    Time series of Ozone (O<sub>3</sub>) concentrations. BGS © UKRI.</center>
	<br>		<br>
	[[Image:TimeSeriesOfPMConcentrationsLancs.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]		[[Image:TimeSeriesOfPMConcentrationsLancs.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]

Ajhil: /* Greenhouse gases */

2026-10-21T12:01:23Z

Greenhouse gases

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:01, 21 October 2026
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	[[Image:fig2a_CH4_CO2.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]		[[Image:fig2a_CH4_CO2.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]

	<center>'''Figure 4a'''    hourly–averaged data for a 24–hour period for ~~CH4~~. BGS © UKRI.</center>		<center>'''Figure 4a'''    hourly–averaged data for a 24–hour period for CH<sub>4</sub>. BGS © UKRI.</center>
	<br>		<br>
	[[Image:fig2b_CH4_CO2.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]		[[Image:fig2b_CH4_CO2.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]

	<center>'''Figure 4b'''    hourly–averaged data for a 24–hour period for ~~CO2~~. BGS © UKRI.</center>		<center>'''Figure 4b'''    hourly–averaged data for a 24–hour period for CO<sub>2</sub>. BGS © UKRI.</center>

	==Air quality==		==Air quality==

Ajhil: /* Greenhouse gases */

2026-10-21T12:01:05Z

Greenhouse gases

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:01, 21 October 2026
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	The elevated concentrations above the background represent a wide mix of pollutant sources upwind, both local and regional, that are being further investigated. It should be noted that the concentrations of greenhouse gases measured are not toxic or known to be hazardous to health.		The elevated concentrations above the background represent a wide mix of pollutant sources upwind, both local and regional, that are being further investigated. It should be noted that the concentrations of greenhouse gases measured are not toxic or known to be hazardous to health.

	Figure 4 shows a sample of the measured data in Figure 2 for ~~CH4~~ and ~~CO2~~ but for a 24-hour period. All measurements over a given hour of day for the dataset period are shown together. This gives an idea of when, during an average day, there were changes in concentration relative to the expected baseline. The bold line is the average for that hour of day and the shaded area is the 95 per cent confidence interval. The data shows that there are relative peaks in both the morning and afternoon, as is generally expected for these species.		Figure 4 shows a sample of the measured data in Figure 2 for CH<sub>4</sub> and CO<sub>2</sub> but for a 24-hour period. All measurements over a given hour of day for the dataset period are shown together. This gives an idea of when, during an average day, there were changes in concentration relative to the expected baseline. The bold line is the average for that hour of day and the shaded area is the 95 per cent confidence interval. The data shows that there are relative peaks in both the morning and afternoon, as is generally expected for these species.

	[[Image:fig2a_CH4_CO2.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]		[[Image:fig2a_CH4_CO2.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]

Ajhil: /* Non-methane hydrocarbons results */

2026-05-12T10:27:30Z

Non-methane hydrocarbons results

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:27, 12 May 2026
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	The plots in figures 8, 9 and 10 show the distribution of individual species (ethane, propane and benzene) at the Little Plumpton and Kirby Misperton sites, together with distributions from a site at Auchencorth Moss in Scotland and samples taken from air above BGS’s boreholes around Kirby Misperton. The dataset for hydrocarbons from 2016 is available on the [https://catalogue.ceda.ac.uk/uuid/4878d1fcd0694c07a0dc08ceaccae9e1/ BADC website archive.]		The plots in figures 8, 9 and 10 show the distribution of individual species (ethane, propane and benzene) at the Little Plumpton and Kirby Misperton sites, together with distributions from a site at Auchencorth Moss in Scotland and samples taken from air above BGS’s boreholes around Kirby Misperton. The dataset for hydrocarbons from 2016 is available on the [https://catalogue.ceda.ac.uk/uuid/4878d1fcd0694c07a0dc08ceaccae9e1/ BADC website archive.]

	[[Image:~~environbaselinemonitoringvideo~~.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]		[[Image:figure8_boxplot (3).jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]

	<center>'''Figure 8'''    Box plots showing the distributions of ethane from Kirby Misperton (KM), Little Plumpton (LP), air above BGS boreholes (BH) and Auchencorth Moss (AM). BGS © UKRI.</center>		<center>'''Figure 8'''    Box plots showing the distributions of ethane from Kirby Misperton (KM), Little Plumpton (LP), air above BGS boreholes (BH) and Auchencorth Moss (AM). BGS © UKRI.</center>

	[[Image:~~TimeSeriesOfOzoneConcentrationsLancs~~.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]		[[Image:figure9_boxplot (2).jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]

	<center>'''Figure 9'''    Box plots showing the distributions of propane from Kirby Misperton (KM), Little Plumpton (LP), air above BGS boreholes (BH) and Auchencorth Moss (AM). BGS © UKRI.</center>		<center>'''Figure 9'''    Box plots showing the distributions of propane from Kirby Misperton (KM), Little Plumpton (LP), air above BGS boreholes (BH) and Auchencorth Moss (AM). BGS © UKRI.</center>

	[[Image:~~environbaselinemonitoringvideo~~.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]		[[Image:figure10_boxplot.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]

	<center>'''Figure 10'''    Box plots showing the distributions of benzene from Kirby Misperton (KM), Little Plumpton (LP), air above BGS boreholes (BH) and Auchencorth Moss (AM). BGS © UKRI.		<center>'''Figure 10'''    Box plots showing the distributions of benzene from Kirby Misperton (KM), Little Plumpton (LP), air above BGS boreholes (BH) and Auchencorth Moss (AM). BGS © UKRI.

Ajhil: /* Non-methane hydrocarbons results */

2026-05-12T10:22:49Z

Non-methane hydrocarbons results

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:22, 12 May 2026
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	[[Image:environbaselinemonitoringvideo.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]		[[Image:environbaselinemonitoringvideo.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]

	Box plots showing the distributions of ethane from Kirby Misperton (KM), Little Plumpton (LP), air above BGS boreholes (BH) and Auchencorth Moss (AM).		<center>'''Figure 8'''    Box plots showing the distributions of ethane from Kirby Misperton (KM), Little Plumpton (LP), air above BGS boreholes (BH) and Auchencorth Moss (AM). BGS © UKRI.</center>

	[[Image:~~environbaselinemonitoringvideo~~.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]][[Image:environbaselinemonitoringvideo.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]		[[Image:TimeSeriesOfOzoneConcentrationsLancs.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]

			<center>'''Figure 9'''    Box plots showing the distributions of propane from Kirby Misperton (KM), Little Plumpton (LP), air above BGS boreholes (BH) and Auchencorth Moss (AM). BGS © UKRI.</center>

			[[Image:environbaselinemonitoringvideo.jpg\|frameless\|center\|500px\|]]

			<center>'''Figure 10'''    Box plots showing the distributions of benzene from Kirby Misperton (KM), Little Plumpton (LP), air above BGS boreholes (BH) and Auchencorth Moss (AM). BGS © UKRI.

			Benzene annual mean concentration at Little Plumpton: 0.412 ppb; observed range: 0.046 to 2.4 ppb (n=26 samples over October 2015 to October 2016).

			Note: EC Air Quality Directive limit value for benzene (annual mean) = 1.54 ppb. Observations to date indicate a mean baseline concentration around a factor of three lower than the EC directive limit value.</center>

	[[category:Environmental baseline monitoring in the Fylde, Lancashire]]		[[category:Environmental baseline monitoring in the Fylde, Lancashire]]