FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April
30, 2002
BRACE
Study Launched to Determine Influence of Air Pollution on
Water Quality in Tampa Bay
TAMPA – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection
(DEP) today announced that May 1 will begin a month-long
series of intensive studies to determine the level of
influence of nitrogen deposited into Tampa Bay from local and
regional sources of air pollutants on water quality. Bay
Region Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (BRACE) will be
conducted by a team of federal, state, local, university and
private scientists.
During BRACE, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Association (NOAA) will operate a twin engine
propeller-driven research aircraft over the Tampa Bay region
to collect air quality measurements as part of the BRACE
study. State-of-the-art scientific instruments aboard the
plane will measure the many atmospheric forms of nitrogen and
related pollutants that may potentially influence the water
quality of Tampa Bay.
"DEP’s Southwest District is pleased that Tampa Bay has been
chosen as the location for this air pollution research of
national significance," said Deborah Getzoff, Southwest
District Director. "The project is funded in part by a
settlement agreement the Department reached with TECO Energy
in 1999. This research is an important part of the work we
are doing in conjunction with the Tampa Bay Estuary Program
and local government programs to reduce nitrogen loading in
Tampa Bay."
The
aircraft will make approximately 20 flights over the Bay area
during May, which happens to be designated as "Clean Air
Month." Flights will span Hillsborough and Pinellas counties
and out over the Gulf. The Federal Aviation Administration
has approved NOAA to fly at altitudes as low as 500 feet
during this study. By making area citizens aware of these
long-planned atmospheric research flights, officials hope to
allay public concerns about low-flying aircraft.
The
study begins on May 1 and concludes on May 31 and features
ground-based measurements of air quality and weather
conditions at seven locations spanning 30 miles from the Gulf
coast to an elaborately instrumented "Super" site near Plant
City maintained by the Environmental Protection Commission of
Hillsborough County. It will employ advanced sampling and
measurement techniques developed by the DEP, NOAA and others
to identify the types and amounts of nitrogen compounds
present in the Florida skies that are deposited on land and
water.
Concentrations of nitrates and ammonia in Florida coastal
waters have been recognized by the state of Florida
and NOAA as a serious problem. The problem is most apparent
in Tampa Bay, where over-fertilization by nitrogen compounds
has led to declines in seagrasses in the Bay. Excessive
nitrogen in bays and estuaries stimulates algae growth that
clouds the water and deprives submerged seagrasses of light
which is needed for its health and growth. Sea grasses are
important components of the ecosystem, and form the base of
the food chain for aquatic life such as shrimp, crabs, fish,
manatee and other aquatic life.
In
addition to the various types of nitrogen compounds,
scientists will also measure other inorganic compounds such
as ozone, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, trace metals and
total particle loads to help determine their sources.
Long-term field measurement of important air quality will
continue for a full year after the May intensive study
period. Data analysis and modeling will take an additional
year.
Funding for the study is provided by the Florida Legislature
through DEP, funds derived from an agreement with Tampa
Electric Company, and NOAA.
In
addition to the principals, science collaborators for the
BRACE Program include the Pinellas County Air Quality
Division; USEPA Office of Research and Development;
University of South Florida College of Marine Sciences;
University of Miami; Texas Tech University; University of
Maryland; University of Michigan; Texas A&M University;
Atmospheric Research and Analysis, Inc.; ManTech
Environmental, Inc.; University Research Glassware, Inc.;
Argonne National Laboratory; and Rupprecht and Patashnik,
Inc.; NOAA’s Environmental Technology Laboratory (Boulder,
Colorado).
The
Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County
and the University of South Florida College of Public Health
are making their laboratories available for the study and
providing other valuable facilities, assistance and support.
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Press Office
2012 State of Florida