Ecosystem Sites, Gaseous Nitrogen and Sulphur Species, Oil Sands Region

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) began ambient air monitoring of several nitrogen and sulphur species southeast of the Athabasca oil sands region in February 2015. Continuous measurements of NO, NO2, NOy, NH3, and SO2 are currently being conducted at two sites in Saskatchewan. Measurements began at Pinehouse Lake, SK in February 2015 and at Flat Valley, SK in February 2016. Both sites are approximately 350 km southeast of the Athabasca oil sands region and are sited to study long range transport and deposition of pollutants.

In addition to these continuous nitrogen and sulphur measurements, the Canadian Air and Precipitation Monitoring Network (CAPMoN) measures ground-level ozone, ambient particles and gases, and precipitation chemistry at both sites. These supporting CAPMoN measurements will enable the assessment of overall dry and wet deposition of nitrogen and sulphur.

The measurement data indicate that concentrations of these nitrogen and sulphur species are comparable to those of other rural/remote locations across Canada. Concentrations of NO, NO2, NOy, and SO2 are occasionally impacted by air masses with slightly elevated pollutant levels. The reported NO2 or SO2 concentrations have not exceeded either the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) or Saskatchewan Ambient Air Quality Standards.

Data may be used together with modelled air mass back trajectories to estimate the relative contribution of emission sources to total deposition of nitrogen and sulphur at sensitive ecosystems downwind of the oil sands, assist in the development and evaluation of chemical transport models, and validate satellite observations of NO2, NH3 and SO2.