This post covers what to wear for a lunch talk presentation and why Fairbanks has a PM2.5 problem. When you have to give a lunch talk online read what to wear when live streaming.
- What to Wear for a Lunch Talk Presentation
- Fairbanks Has a History of Air Quality Problems
- The Lunch Talk Topic Was the Poor Air Quality in Fairbanks in Winter
- References
Updated: 1/28/2022
What to Wear for a Lunch Talk Presentation
The College Rotary Club invited me to be a public speaker for a presentation on my air quality research as a lunch talk.
The first photo shows the business casual style outfit I wore to give my presentation. In the room, it was quite warm so I took my Burberry blazer off, and gave the talk in the classic cashmere sweater with skirt and pearls outfit. On my way to the club’s meeting place, I wore a shearling coat (last photo) to dress weather-appropriate.
Fairbanks Has a History of Air Quality Problems
The air pollution problem is not new to Fairbanks. Since onset of the measurements in 1999, the PM2.5 concentrations frequently exceeded 35 microgram per meter cube. PM2.5 is particular matter of less than 2.5 micrometer in diameter. It is emitted from any combustion. In former times, Fairbanks high PM2.5 concentrations were not news worthy because the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) was 65 instead of 35 microgram per meter cube.
In earlier times, Fairbanks also had an air quality problem regarding carbon monoxide (CO). CO is emitted by cars. The tremendous technical improvement on the engines and mandatory emission tests solved this air quality problem over time.
The Lunch Talk Topic Was the Poor Air Quality in Fairbanks in Winter
So, curious what I presented? Probably you have heard in the national news that Fairbanks has an air quality problem because of its frequent inversions. I explained first that an inversion condition means that temperature increases with height. Note that this behavior is opposite to the usual decrease with height. Consequently, the inversion shuts the vertical mixing down because the warm air is above the cold air. Note that warm air normally rises due to its buoyancy. Under inversion conditions, all gases and particles emitted into the inversion layer remain there and accumulate over time.
I discussed the results from my model simulations. These simulations tested the potential changes in air quality due to a woodstove exchange program using EPA certified woodstoves, replacement of woodstove heating by natural gas, reduction of sulfur content in fuel, and combined reduction of sulfur content and replacement of woodstoves. None of the scenarios would have achieved compliance with the new NAAQS for the winter 2008/09.
Learn more about Fairbanks air quality.
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References
Mölders, N., 2013. Investigations on the Impact of Single Direct and Indirect, and Multiple Emission-Control Measures on Cold-Season Near-Surface PM2.5 Concentrations in Fairbanks, Alaska. Atmospheric Pollution Research, 4, 87-100. doi: 10.5094/APR.2013.009
Mölders, N., Fochesatto, G., Edwin, S., and Kramm, G., 2019. Geothermal, Oceanic, Wildfire, Meteorological and Anthropogenic Impacts on PM2.5 Concentrations in the Fairbanks Metropolitan Area. Open Journal of Air Pollution, 8, 19-68. doi: 10.4236/ojap.2019.82002.
National Research Council, 2002. The Ongoing Challenge of Managing Carbon Monoxide Pollution in Fairbanks, Alaska: Interim Report 2002. Washington DC, 154.
Ye, L., and Wang, Y., 2020. Long-Term Air Quality Study in Fairbanks, Alaska: Air Pollutant Temporal Variations, Correlations, and PM2.5 Source Apportionment. Atmosphere, 11, 1203. doi: 10.3390/atmos11111203
Photos: G. Kramm
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