EPA Tasmania

Smoke Complaint

Information Summary

Alberton 04 May 2017

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1 Introduction

This summary by the EPA Tasmania is a compilation of information relating to smoke com-plaints concerning an incident on the 04 May 2017 at Alberton, Tasmania.

This summary has been prepared by the EPA Tasmania Air Section to provide preliminaryinformation relating to a smoke event reported to the EPA. The summary is a collection ofinformation from a number of sources brought together into the one document.

Where appropriate, this summary will include air quality monitoring data from stations nearthe reported smoke event. It also provides an overview of recorded burns in the area. However,it should be noted that it may not include all burns, as not all burns are presently reported.

It is important to note that, in general, it is not the purpose of this initial summary tospecify the source of smoke from which a complaint has arisen, nor is it likely to determine ifan air quality standard has been exceeded. In many cases, a full technical analysis must beperformed to ascribe smoke to a specific source and to determine if an air quality standard islikely to have been exceeded. The level of detail required for a full technical analysis is beyondthe scope of this summary.

Officers of the EPA will review all the available data relating to this complaint and determinewhether a more detailed analysis is appropriate. In the event that a further report is compiled,it will be available from the EPA Tasmania website at http://epa.tas.gov.au/epa/air/

monitoring-air-pollution/real-time-air-quality-data-for-tasmania/blanket-reports,and the complainants will be notified.

This report has been completed as an initial first assessment of the event. It is possiblethat more detailed analysis may show the data are incomplete. Where a significant omission isidentified, this report may be revised.

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2 Complaint Details

An overview of the complaints received by EPA Tasmania regarding smoke in the North EastTasmania area on 04 May 2017 is provided in Table 1.

Table 1: Particulars of smoke event

Date Time Location Description

04 May 2017 18:30 Alberton Thick smoke on morning of the 5th.Smoke thick from the 4th.Smoke been around a few days.Caused respiratory issues.

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3 Satellite Imagery

A satellite image obtained from the MODIS Aqua satellite at 14:46 AEST on the 04 May 2017is shown in Figure 1. The locations of fires inferred from NASA analysis are indicated by redpolygons. However, not all fires will be detected by this method.

The satellite image collected on the 04 May 2017 shows several red polygons indicatingthe location of burns around Alberton. These polygons correspond to the location of severalplanned burns registered in the CSMS (Figures 4 and 6, Table 3). Smoke plumes from the firesare also visible in Figure 1.

Figure 1: A MODIS Aqua satellite image of Tasmania collected at 14:46 AEST on the 04 May2017. Arrows point at fires displayed as red polygons.

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4 Air Quality Data

4.1 BLANkET Data

Air quality data are collected by the EPA Tasmania from the BLANkET network of air mon-itoring stations. Details of the data collected at the Derby station during the interval 03 May2017 until 05 May 2017 are shown in Figure 2. Derby station was chosen as it is the closeststation to Alberton.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

00:00 03 May 2017

12:00 03 May 2017

00:00 04 May 2017

12:00 04 May 2017

00:00 05 May 2017

12:00 05 May 2017

00:00 06 May 2017

PM (ug m-3)

Derby

PM2.5 PM10

0

10

20

30

40

50

00:0003 May 2017

12:0003 May 2017

00:0004 May 2017

12:0004 May 2017

00:0005 May 2017

12:0005 May 2017

00:0006 May 2017

0C, km h-1, Azimuth0

Temperature Wind speed Wind azimuth/10

Figure 2: A plot of smoke concentrations (upper panel) and meteorological conditions (lowerpanel) measured by the BLANkET air monitoring station at Derby, during the interval 03 May2017 until 05 May 2017 . In the upper panel PM2.5 data are shown in red. PM10 are shown inblue.

The top panel of the plot shows the air quality data. PM2.5 concentrations are given inmicrograms per cubic metre (in short form this is written as µg/m3, or µg m−3 in scientificnotation). PM2.5 is a better indicator of smoke than is PM10. PM2.5 is shown as the red squaresymbols in the air quality plots. PM2.5 values below 5 µg m−3 signify very clear air.

The lower panel of the plot shows the meteorological data of external (air) temperature,relative humidity, wind speed and wind direction. Wind speed is given in kilometres per hour(km/h, or km h−1 in scientific notation). Wind direction is given in degrees. Zero degrees is anorth wind, 90 degrees is an east wind, 180 degrees is a south wind, and 270 degrees is a westwind. Wind direction is divided by 10 before being plotted, so a wind direction of 18 units onthe plot means 180 degrees, or a wind from the south.

Elevated levels of PM2.5 were recorded at the Derby monitoring station between the 3rd and5th of May (Figure 2). Levels of PM2.5 started to rise in the mid afternoon of the 3rd of May

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and remained elevated until the mid morning of the 4th of May (Figure 2). Levels of PM2.5

were also elevated overnight between the 4th and 5th of May (Figure 2). This is not a typicalpattern of PM2.5 variation at Derby. Shorter timescale episodic changes in PM2.5 overnightacross the time period in Figure 2 are most likely due to local woodheater smoke in proximityto the Derby monitoring station. Meteorological data collected at the Derby station indicatethat wind speeds were very low between the 3rd and 5th of May. Changes in wind speed anddirection have been found to occur in the late afternoon in the Derby valley on days with lowwind speed. This change can be seen in Figure 2 around late afternoon with spikes in PM2.5

occurring between 15:00 and 17:00.Plots of the data from the BLANkET stations in the North East Tasmania region are shown

in Figure 3. Elevated levels of PM2.5 were also captured at the Lilydale, Scottsdale and Fingalair monitoring stations (Figure 3) between the 3rd and 5th of May.

Please Note: The BLANkET data are indicative data, not reference data.For additional information regarding air quality data visit the EPA website at

http://epa.tas.gov.au/epa.

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Figure 3: A plot of smoke concentrations detected by the BLANkET air monitoring networkat stations located in the North East Tasmania region of Tasmania during the period 03 May2017 until 05 May 2017 .

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4.2 NEPM Air quality standards

Air monitoring results from the BLANkET Stations located in the North East Tasmania regionwere analysed to determine if any station recorded PM2.5 measurements above the Air NEPM24–hour (calendar day–averaged) advisory reporting standard value of 25 µg m−3.

The Derby station recorded zero days above the Air NEPM PM2.5 calendar–day advisoryreporting standard. However, the Scottsdale station recorded three days above the reportingstandard.

4.3 DHHS Air Quality Advisories

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) publishes air quality notificationswhen hour–averaged PM2.5 data received from the BLANkET air monitoring network are above25 µg m−3.

DHHS air quality advisories can be found at http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/peh/alerts/

air.DHHS notification levels were exceeded for a number of hours at the BLANkET stations

located in Derby, Scottsdale and Lilydale between the 3rd and 5th of May. The total numberof hours that smoke levels were above the health notification level at the BLANkET stations inthe North East Tasmania region is provided in Table 2.

Table 2: Total number of hours PM2.5 was above the DHHS notification level between the 3rdand 5th of May at the BLANkET Stations in the North East Tasmania region

BLANkET Station No of hours >25 µg m−3

Derby 12

Scottsdale 38

Lilydale 8

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5 Planned Burns

5.1 Tasmania Fire Service Registered/Permit Burns

Details of burns either registered with or conducted under a permit issued by the TasmaniaFire Service for days preceding and including the 4th of May in the NE of Tasmania are shownon the plot in Figure 4. Note that burns shown in this figure have not necessarily taken place.Around 610 ha of planned burns in the area surrounding Ringarooma between the 3rd and 4thof May (Figure 4) with a number of smaller, private burns in the area.

Figure 4: Map of planned burns recorded with the TFS up to and including 04 May 2017.

5.2 Forest Practices Authority – Co–ordinated Smoke Management SystemPlanned Burns

The Co-ordinated Smoke Management System (CSMS) is intended to coordinate planned burnsin order to minimise the risk of high concentrations of smoke within individual air sheds. Thelocation and names of the air sheds recognised by the CSMS is indicated in Figure 5.

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Figure 5: This map indicates the air sheds defined by the Co-ordinated Smoke ManagementSystem (CSMS).

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Burns recorded under the CSMS include those planned by Forestry Tasmania (FT), membersof the Forest Industries Association of Tasmania (FIAT) and the Parks and Wildlife Service(PWS). There were four burns recorded on the CSMS in the Diddleum air shed on the 3rd and4th of May (Table 3, Figure 6). For details on smoke management please visit the FPA websiteat:http://www.fpa.tas.gov.au/forest_practices_system/smoke_management

Alberton is located in the Diddleum airshed. Burns in Tasmania between the 3rd of Mayand the 4th of May are given in Table 3 and are displayed in Figures 4 and 6.

- 42. 5

- 42

- 41. 5

- 41

- 40. 5

- 40

146 146. 5 147 147. 5 148 148. 5 149

Lati

tude

Longitude

CSMS burns this season

Air station

Burns on selected dates

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DT

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827828

829831 832

833835

837838

839

840

841842843

844

845

851

Figure 6: Burns recorded in Co-ordinated Smoke Management System (CSMS) database forthe date and region of interest.

5.3 Parks and Wildlife Service Planned Burns

Information on burns undertaken by the Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) are recorded on thePWS website at http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=908. PWS burns conducted inautumn are also recorded on the CSMS of the FPA. There was one PWS burn in the area overthe dates of interest.

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Tab

le3:

CS

MS

bu

rns

onth

e3rd

an

d4th

ofM

ay,

inT

asm

ania

.F

WI

(Fu

elW

eigh

tIn

dex

)m

ult

ipli

edby

ten

give

sth

eap

pro

xim

ate

fuel

ton

nag

e

Bu

rnID

Dat

ean

dig

nit

ion

tim

eA

irsh

edL

atit

ud

eL

ongi

tud

eF

WI

un

its

Age

ncy

827

201

7-0

5-0

310

:00:0

0D

idd

leu

m-4

1.19

314

7.68

830

0P

FO

lsen

828

201

7-0

5-0

310

:00:0

0D

idd

leu

m-4

1.29

214

7.77

115

0P

FO

lsen

829

201

7-0

5-0

310

:00:0

0S

urr

eyH

ills

-41.

208

145.

950

300

PF

Ols

en83

1201

7-0

5-0

310

:00:0

0S

urr

eyH

ills

-41.

163

145.

543

350

For

ico

832

201

7-0

5-0

311

:20:0

0D

idd

leu

m-4

1.12

814

7.36

985

00F

oric

o83

3201

7-0

5-0

410

:30:0

0B

rush

yL

agoon

-41.

414

146.

466

1050

For

ico

834

201

7-0

5-0

422

:30:0

0S

ou

thA

rthu

r-4

0.89

614

4.84

513

75F

oric

o83

5201

7-0

5-0

416

:00:0

0S

urr

eyH

ills

-41.

423

145.

799

100

For

ico

837

201

7-0

5-0

410

:20:0

0D

idd

leu

m-4

1.27

314

7.33

213

20F

ores

try

Tas

man

ia-

Nor

ther

nar

ea83

8201

7-0

5-0

412

:45:0

0G

ou

lds

Cou

ntr

y-4

1.16

114

7.84

060

0F

ores

try

Tas

man

ia-

Nor

ther

nar

ea83

9201

7-0

5-0

410

:50:0

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ou

lds

Cou

ntr

y-4

1.51

314

8.03

115

0F

ores

try

Tas

man

ia-

Nor

ther

nar

ea84

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7-0

5-0

410

:05:0

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ills

-41.

022

145.

678

160

For

estr

yT

asm

ania

-N

orth

ern

area

841

201

7-0

5-0

415

:50:0

0B

rush

yL

agoon

-41.

317

146.

630

80F

ores

try

Tas

man

ia-

Nor

ther

nar

ea84

2201

7-0

5-0

416

:25:0

0B

rush

yL

agoon

-41.

312

146.

637

80F

ores

try

Tas

man

ia-

Nor

ther

nar

ea84

3201

7-0

5-0

413

:00:0

0B

rush

yL

agoon

-41.

299

146.

622

80F

ores

try

Tas

man

ia-

Nor

ther

nar

ea84

4201

7-0

5-0

411

:15:0

0D

idd

leu

m-4

1.48

214

7.17

610

GP

MP

/L84

5201

7-0

5-0

410

:00:0

0S

urr

eyH

ills

-41.

028

145.

656

300

PF

Ols

en85

1201

7-0

5-0

411

:00:0

0G

ou

lds

Cou

ntr

y-4

1.26

314

8.30

712

45P

arks

and

Wil

dli

feS

ervic

e-

Nor

ther

nR

egio

n

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6 Comments

A number of planned burns took place on the 3rd and 4th of May in the North East Tasmaniaarea. PM2.5 concentrations were elevated at the Derby, Lilydale and Scottsdale air monitoringstations between the 3rd and 5th of May. The air monitoring station at Scottsdale recordedthree days of day-averaged PM2.5 above 25 µg m−3. Satellite imagery identifies the location ofseveral fires inferred from NASA analysis. These locations correspond to the location of firesregistered in the CSMS. Wind speed was generally low over the three-day period. Changes inwind speed and direction occurred in the late afternoon at the Derby air monitoring station.The source of the smoke that gave rise to the complaint received by the EPA Tasmania on the5th of May 2017 is likely to have originated from one or several of the planned burns ignitedin the North East Tasmania area on the 3rd and 4th of May 2017. The CSMS burn number828 appears to be the burn closest to Alberton. A number of smaller, private burns were alsoregistered with the TFS. Smoke from a number of these fires may also have contributed to thegeneral smoke conditions. However, these private burns appeared to be small, mostly only afew cubic metres of fuel. Hence their overall contribution is also likely to be small.A more detailed analysis of this event may be undertaken in the future.

7 Further Information

For further Information please contact the following:

Air Monitoring Section134 Macquarie StreetGPO Box 1751Hobart TAS 7001Phone: (03) 6165 4599Fax: 03 6233 3800epaenquiries@environment.tas.gov.au

Report compiled: August 24, 2017

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