Particulate matter monitoring network design web page

last updated 15 January 2001

This page describes my little niche in the study of air quality network design. I am focussed on particulate matter networks at the moment. I am attacking this research problem using primarily physical approaches, using my background in atmospheric physics. Most of this research has been done during the planning stage for the California Regional PM10/PM2.5 Air Quality Study (CRPAQS). A recent application of network design is being used to site a new PM10 monitor in New Mexico Environment Department's PM10 network. I hope to post some of the useful network design tools that I have developed in the coming months.

Why monitor for particulate matter or any pollutant? Go here for a primer on clean air standards by the U.S. EPA

What is particulate matter? See this Particulate Matter FAQ for some quick answers.

Click here to go to the U.S. EPA web site to get the final revisions to the ozone and PM_2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

Does your air exceed the national air quality standards? Go here to see the list of U.S. non-attainment areas

Links to many air quality sites

If you are interested in the latest in air quality research go to this page to find current research in air quality. This page has various links to reports, on-line data and technical findings related primarily to particulate matter.

Current activities relating to particulate matter network design are:

One of the goals of my research is to establish objective particulate matter network design principles and to apply them to a research level monitoring network in central California. This is accomplished by:

1. Defining and quantifying particle and atmospheric properties that affect their ambient mass loading and human exposure;

2. Identifying and comparing performance measures that quantify the information content of particle measurement networks for different monitoring purposes;

3. Articulating an objective procedure for designing and evaluating particulate monitoring networks for different levels of information availability; and

4. Applying these performance measures to data from existing networks and evaluating their utility.

5. Analysis of PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and other particulte matter measurements in central California

California Regional PM10/PM2.5 Air Quality Study (CRPAQS)

This link takes you to the Field program plan for the CRPAQS at Air Resources Board

The California Regional PM10/PM2.5 Air Quality Study (CRPAQS) intends to improve scientific understanding of excessive PM levels in central California. Specifically, this understanding is needed to determine where and when populations experience excessive exposures, as defined by NAAQS and state air quality standards, and how to cost-effectively reduce those exposures to acceptable levels. CRPAQS is an integrated effort that includes air quality and meteorological field measurements, emissions characterization, data analysis and air quality modeling. CRPAQS activities are complementary to long-term monitoring and research activities being conducted by the California Air Resources Board, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the SJVUAPCD, the BAAQMD, the GBAPCD, and other air quality districts in the region.

>Click here to view the air basins and elevations in the CRPAQS study region

The field planning document specifies measurements to be taken in central California between December 1999 and January 2001 to meet the objectives of the CRPAQS through data analysis and numerical simulations. It describes the study area, its emissions and meteorology, and hypotheses about the causes of high particle concentrations. It identifies measurement locations, observables, and monitoring methods. It specifies data management and reporting conventions and outlines the activities needed to ensure data quality.

The CRPAQS field study consists of a long-term campaign from 12/1/1999 through 1/31/2001, a winter intensive study within the period of 11/15/2000 through 1/31/2001, and a fall intensive study within the period of 9/1/2000 through 10/31/2000. Several experiments will be conducted during the summer period of 7/1/98 through 8/31/98. Details on these measurements are presented in Sections 4 through 7 of this plan.

Angiola site 100 meter tower

Angiola site sequential filter sampler

Angiola site aerosol inlets on roof of sampling trailer

Angiola site Radiance Research M903 nephelometer (with enclosure cover removed)

Angiola site NOAA ETL radar wind profiler equipment

Angiola site Doppler SODAR

Analysis to determine potential transport sites for annual field study in central California. The suggested sites are evaluated considering wind patterns from ARB, RAWS, CIMIS and NWS meteorological stations, historical air quality, land use land cover, terrain, elevation, exposure and accessibility.

1. Altamont Pass

2. Pacheco Pass

3. Northern Carrizo Plain

4. Southern Carrizo Plain

5. Walker Pass

6. Tehachapi Pass

7. Tejon Pass

8. Cajon Pass (summer transport)

Analysis of data from high temporal resolution or continuous particulate monitors. Questions to answer are: What meaningful information can be extracted from < 1-hr averaged measurements? How is information extracted from time series data? What do these measurements tell about the nearby sources and meteorology? What do these results imply for network design? What are the physical and technological limitations in short duration aerosol measurements using commercial instruments? Some of the cases and associated data considered are shown below.

₁₀

1. Plot showing magnitude of peaks

2. Plot showing detailed temporal variations

December 2, 1998 to February 17, 1999 5-minute average light scattering at five Sierra sites.

1. Map showing locations of the five sites

2. Temporal analysis of the mixed layer over the San Joaquin Valley and Sierra foothills

3. Spectral analysis (DFT, SSA, wavelet, correlation analysis)

June 1996 paved and unpaved road side dust study in the SJV.

1. Spectral analysis of 10 Hz sonic anemometer measurements

2. Side by side comparison of collocated nephelometers

3. Turbulent kinetic energy generation from vehicle wakes

Long term study of hourly PM10 TEOM, BAM and COH measurements in the San Joaquin Valley

1. Diurnal, weekly, monthly and seasonal patterns

Hourly PM measurements taken during IMS-95 Winter study in the SJV.

1. Bakersfield PM2.5 TEOM

2. Nephelometers for characterizing light scattering

3. Aethalometers for characterizing light absorption

Light scattering measurements at a residential area in Sparks, NV.

1. Collocated precision of two DUSTTRAK nephelometers

2. Comparison of filter and light scattering measurements

References

Researching theoretical and practical particulate matter network design strategies (Dec 18, 1997 presentation);

Environmental monitoring network references last updated on 30 January 2001;

Incorporating various environmental and air quality network data in a GIS and looking for sources of free GIS data on the internet; Visualization is currently being done with ARC/INFO and ArcView.

GIS bibliography last updated 12 March 2000

Geostatistics bibliography last updated on 15 March 2000

Go back to Dave's research page