Decreasing Vanadium Footprint of Bunker Fuel Emissions

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Atmospheric Chemistry
• Air Quality Monitoring

Background:

• The Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) network monitors atmospheric particulate matter composition across the U.S.
• Vanadium (V) and Nickel (Ni) in particulate matter are key indicators of heavy fuel oil combustion, primarily from marine vessels.
• North American regulations implemented since 2010, with a major update in 2015, targeted reductions in fuel oil sulfur content.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of new marine vessel fuel regulations on atmospheric concentrations of vanadium and nickel.
• To analyze trends in V and Ni concentrations measured by the IMPROVE network, especially near major ports.
• To assess the effectiveness of sulfur reduction policies on related heavy fuel oil combustion tracers.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of atmospheric particulate matter chemical composition data from the IMPROVE network.
• Comparison of V and Ni concentrations before and after the 2015 marine fuel regulations.
• Spatial analysis of V and Ni trends, focusing on sites near major U.S. ports.

Main Results:

• A notable decrease in network-wide vanadium and nickel concentrations was observed in 2015 compared to previous years.
• Significant reductions in V and Ni were recorded at IMPROVE sites near major ports, such as Seattle and New Orleans.
• Coastal V and Ni concentrations approached levels previously only seen far inland, indicating widespread impact.

Conclusions:

• The 2015 North American marine fuel regulations effectively reduced atmospheric vanadium and nickel pollution.
• These regulations demonstrate a successful strategy for mitigating air quality impacts from marine shipping.
• Reduced V and Ni levels suggest a significant decrease in heavy fuel oil consumption by marine vessels in regulated areas.