Analyzing Aerosol Properties of Air Parcels Above Boone, NC, During the 2023 Summer Canadian Wildfire Season

Air mass source regions and meteorological factors significantly influenced aerosol loading along air mass trajectories over Boone, North Carolina, between June 1, 2023, to August 31, 2023. This study examines the impact of northeast Canadian wildfires on aerosol loading, quantified by the particle light scattering coefficients at 550 nm measured at the NOAA Federated Aerosol Monitoring site at Appalachian State University (APP). Using NOAA’s HYSPLIT trajectory model, hourly back trajectories originating at 500 meters above ground level at APP were analyzed over a 96-hour timespan and categorized into four aerosol loading classifications based on the aerosol light scattering coefficient at 550 nm measured at APP. All air parcel trajectories originating in eastern Canada were associated with the high and very high aerosol load classifications. Statistical analysis shows that wildfire-sourced parcels exhibit elevated temperatures and variability in solar flux. The findings establish a link between Canadian wildfire activity and increased aerosol loading in Boone, NC, emphasizing the relationships between source region, transport dynamics, and atmospheric conditions. These results provide a framework for further exploration of aerosol source regions and their broader environmental impacts.