Date of Award

Spring 6-14-2026

Document Type

Thesis (Undergraduate)

Department

Earth Sciences

First Advisor

Erich Osterberg

Second Advisor

Jonathan Chipman

Abstract

Wildland-urban-interface (WUI) fires in the US are increasing in frequency and intensity with disproportionately large impacts on air quality and human health. In January 2025, the Palisades and Eaton wildfires swept across the Los Angeles Basin, burning residential areas and destroying vegetation. Despite their significance, WUI fires remain understudied compared to wildland fires, especially in regard to emissions composition. Here, I utilize a combination of field samples, modeling, and remotely-sensed datasets to survey the emissions profiles and variations during the 2025 Palisades and Eaton wildfires. I find that 75.1% of Los Angeles County was exposed to surface PM2.5 rated ‘unhealthy’ or worse according to EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), with areas downwind of the Eaton fire experiencing the most chronic exposure. Aerosol optical depth increased by a factor of 31 during the first 48 hours of burning, while airborne lead concentrations peaked at more than three times its NAAQS — a signature of urban structures burning alongside vegetation. These findings suggest that WUI gas and aerosol emissions reflect changes in fire behavior and may pose substantial health risks. This study has important implications for wildfire air quality monitoring and highlights the need for further research on WUI fire emissions.

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