IMPROVE Standard Operating Protocols 

The IMPROVE network follows strict protocols that have been peer reviewed.  In depth documentation of these protocols are provided in the Following SOPs.  See the Overview section of this website for a summary of the IMPROVE network and operating protocols. 

Particulate Monitoring Network - The University of California, Davis is responsible for the installation and operation of the IMPROVE samplers.  In addition UC Davis analyzes the Teflon filters from module A for fine mass and its elemental constituents.  The PM10 mass is also obtained from the Teflon filter in module D.  The following SOP's describe the site selection, installation and operating procedures of the IMPROVE samplers.  The analysis of the filters for mass and elemental composition and QA/QC procedures are also described.

Carbon Analysis  - The Desert Research Institute analyses the quartz filters from module C of the IMPROVE sampler for organic and elemental carbon using the DRI thermal/optical reflectance carbon analyzer.  The following operating protocols provide the basic understand of the principle of the carbon analysis and carbon analyzer and detailed descriptions of the procedures for conducting the carbon analysis.

Ion Chromatography Analysis - The Research Triangle Institute analyzes the nylon filters from module B of the IMPROVE sampler for ions using ion chromatography (IC).  The following SOP describes the procedures for analyzing the filters and QA/QC analyses conducted on the data.