BACS

The objective of the BioAerosols and Convective Storms (BACS) is to quantitatively study the fluxes, concentrations, and identities of bioaerosols, specifically targeting intact pollen, sub-pollen particles, fungal spores, and bacteria during convective storm updrafts, storm-generated cold pools, and quiescent conditions. Two field campaigns are planned, with flux tower measurements at National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) sites, ground lab instrumentation, and drone-based sampling. Measurements will include fluorescent and total particle distributions, fluxes, particle characterization, chemical analysis, and DNA sequencing, among others. Numerical modeling will make use of the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS). Projected outcomes from the research are: 1) a comprehensive data set of aerosol data, including size distribution, flux, and CCN/INP data for both total aerosol and bioaerosol subcategories for identified species, 2) determination of the vertical distribution of bacteria, fungi (spores and mycelia), and pollen in the atmosphere under varying meteorological conditions, and 3) development and implementation of a surface bioaerosol lofting parameterization in a widely-used open-source research model, development of a bioaerosol INP parameterization that can be readily implemented into wide range of numerical models, and an assessment of feedbacks between bioaerosols and storms and their implications for climate feedbacks.

Project instrumentation was located within the USDA Central Plains Experimental Range (CPER) at two sites, the Semi-Arid Grasslands Research Center (40.809471973184515, -104.77782291728766) and the NSF Ecological Observing Network (NEON) flux tower located within the CPER site (40.81552806969642, -104.74563935527753).

The BACS field project consisted of two field deployments, one May 23 through June 17, 2021 and the second May 22 through June 23, 2022.  Some datasets may include data before and after these dates. 

Collaborators and Partners
USDA Agricultural Research Services (ARS)

National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON)

NSF Biology Integration Institute Regional OneHealth Aerobiome Discovery Network (BROADN) at CSU