NASA Student Airborne Research Program (SARP) Whole Air Sampling across
the United States during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Abstract
The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique opportunity to sample
atmospheric gases during a period of very low industrial/human activity.
Over 1000 Whole Air Samples were collected in over 30 cities and towns
across the United States from April through July 2020 as part of the
NASA Student Airborne Research Program (SARP). Sample locations
leveraged the geographic distribution across the United States of the
undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and NASA personnel
associated with the internship program (44 people total). Each person
collected approximately 24 air samples in their city/town with the goal
of characterizing local emissions with time during the pandemic. Samples
were collected in 2-Liter stainless steel evacuated canisters at
approximately 2 meters above ground level. The canisters were shipped to
the Rowland/Blake Laboratory at the University of California Irvine and
analyzed for methane, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, non-methane
hydrocarbons, and halocarbons using the gas chromatographic system
described in Colman et al. (2001) and Barletta et al. (2002). Initial
samples collected in April coincided with the peak of
stay-at-home/social distancing orders across most of the United States
while samples collected later in the spring and early summer reflect the
easing of these measures in most locations. Overall trends in emissions
with time across the United States during the pandemic (in several large
metro areas as well as rural locations) will be discussed.