The earth’s crust is a leaky geofluid system where surface trace gas emissions relate to open migration pathways and the presence of subsurface source(s). Seismic activity can open sealed migration pathways leading to trace gas emissions from the surface intersection of the active fault, which may not relate to observable surface fault rupture or offset. After the M7.1 Ridgecrest earthquake, we collected mobile surface trace gas and meteorology data with AMOG (AutoMObile trace Gas) Surveyor, a mobile atmospheric chemistry and meteorology lab, in the Death Valley Park and Searles Valley within 24 hours of the quake, the following week, and after several weeks with air samples also were collected for detailed later laboratory analysis. We found widespread highly elevated CO2 emissions along Panamint Valley including overall elevated SO2 and H2S with strong enhancements around Manly Pass, where aftershocks occurred at the northern edge of the Slate Range and along a trend parallel to Water Canyon. This is in contrast to AMOG data collected in Death and Panamint Valleys in 2014, where concentrations were typical of California desert levels–near ambient and uniform. Significant sulfur trace gas emissions were discovered escaping from the rim of Ubehebe Volcano, last active ~2500 B.P., 115-km north of the Slate Range. Faults appear to play an important role in these geogas emissions, activated by the major earthquake and aftershocks. Further investigations are planned to characterize the system’s return towards quiescence.

COVID-19’s impact on society and our daily habits has been unprecedented. With a decrease in vehicular traffic and industrial production, a decrease in local emissions was expected to occur. In order to capture any trends in ambient trace gas concentrations, approximately one thousand whole air samples were collected in intervals across the United States from April to July 2020 as part of the NASA Student Airborne Research Program (SARP). These samples were then analyzed by the UCI Rowland-Blake Lab using multi-column gas chromatography for over one hundred unique trace gases, including methane, non-methane hydrocarbons, and halocarbons, as 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 in most states while samples collected later in the spring and early summer reflect the easing of these measures and initial state reopenings. Overall trends in emissions over time in select metropolitan areas will be discussed and compared to trends observed across the entire United States.

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.