Forensic Agricultural Meteorology

There is no commodity more critical to the human race than food production.  The U.S. agricultural output produces excellent food.  While organic produce is increasing, the ability to feed the U.S. population and export to the world depends on the prudent use of pesticides that increase food production yields and quality.  Prudent use requires sound and effective environmental management of the risks associated with the use of pesticides.  

Forensic agricultural meteorology applies meteorology to the fumigation and food production process.

Exposures can be related to applying pesticides and subsequent drift via direct contact with the food purchased.  This blog focuses on forensic agricultural meteorology and airborne exposures, which can be to applicators, farm workers, and the general public as bystanders.

 When there are conflicting views on the adequacy of environmental management, particularly the air quality component, litigation becomes the manner of resolution.  The question addressed in this blog is:  what are the limitations of standard air quality modeling methods when applied to agricultural meteorology?

Forensic agricultural meteorology, specifically evaluating air exposures to pesticides, involves two key factors.  The first is emission rates to the atmosphere as a function of time.  The second is atmospheric dispersion and transport.   

Emission rates are typically determined based on field study research.  These studies involve air quality, and wind speed and direction monitoring systems are used with air quality models.  This involves figuring out emission rates of active ingredients (and inert constituents if needed) as a function of time.