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Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments

Data Advisories

This is an IMPROVE data user community supported page meant to document interesting findings from the IMPROVE database including data anomalies, potential problems, and new uses for the IMPROVE data.  These advisories are not meant to be comprehensive or complete.  In addition, unless explicitly stated the data advisories are not necessarily endorsed by the IMPROVE steering committee, National Park Service, CIRA or others.

Universal calibration constants for flow rate calculation Submitted by: C. Wallis On: 09/2019 Doc #: da0044
Sites: All, following installation of Version 4 controllers Time Period: 2018-present Module/Species: All
Change in analytical protocol for XRF analysis Submitted by: K. Trzepla On: 06/2019 Doc #: da0043
Sites: All Time Period: 10/2018-present Module/Species: A/All elements
Method change for calibrating flow rate transfer standards Submitted by: C. Wallis On: 05/2019 Doc #: da0042
Sites: All Time Period: 1/2015-present Module/Species: All
Changes to HIPS System Submitted by: K.Trzepla & J. Giacomo On: 04/2019 Doc #: da0041
Sites: All Time Period: 1/2017-present Module/Species: A/Fabs
Updated data for Carbon Submitted by: B Schichtel On: 04/2019 Doc #: da0040
Sites: All Time Period: 1/2016-2/2017 Module/Species: C/ EC, OC, TC, Carbon fractions
Correction of chloride concentrations for filter blank levels Submitted by: X. Zhang On: 3/2019 Doc #: da0039
Sites: All Time Period: 2007-2011 Module/Species: B/ Cl-
Calibration bias in reported vanadium concentrations Submitted by: K. Trzepla On: 02/2018 Doc #: da0038
Sites: All Time Period: 1/2011-10/2017 Module/Species: A/ V
Over-reporting of sodium in salt-rich samples Submitted by: W.H. White On: 06/2017 Doc #: da0037
Sites: All Time Period: Before 1/1/2011 Module/Species: A/ Na
Negative chloride concentrations at salt-poor sites Submitted by: W.H. White On: 03/2017 Doc #: da0036
Sites: All Time Period: 2000-2003 Module/Species: B/ Cl -
Increased variation of humidity in the weighing laboratory Submitted by: W.H. White On: 09/2016 Doc #: da0035
Sites: All Time Period: 2011 and later Module/Species: A/ MF D/ MT
Bias between masked and unmasked light absorption measurements Submitted by: W.H. White On: 10/2015 Doc #: da0034
Sites: All Time Period: Before 2008 Module/Species: A/ Fabs
Changed reporting of light absorption Submitted by: W.H. White On: 09/2015 Doc #: da0033
Sites: All Time Period: All sample years Module/Species: A/ Fabs
Change to artifact correction method for OC carbon fractions Submitted by: A. M. Dillner On: 09/2015 Doc #: da0032
Sites: All Time Period: 1/1/2005 - current Module/Species: C/OC
Changes in redelivery of 1/2005 through 5/2014 data Submitted by: Xiaoya Cheng On: 09/2015 Doc #: da0031
Sites: All Time Period: 1/1/2005 - 5/31/2014 Module/Species: All
Temporary contamination of Columbia River A-module samples Submitted by: W. H. White et al., On: 06/2014 Doc #: da0030
Sites: CORI Time Period: 11/5/2011 - 7/14/2012 Module/Species: A/ Zn, MF
Contamination associated with new sampler shed Submitted by: W. H. White et al., On: 06/2014 Doc #: da0029
Sites: NOAB Time Period: 1/1/2008 - 8/16/2012 Module/Species: A/ Cr, Ni
Bias between masked and unmasked light absorption measurements Submitted by: W. H. White On: 03/2010 Doc #: da0028
Sites: All Time Period: Before 2008 Module/Species: A/ fabs
Suspect light-absorption data from three months in 2000 Submitted by: W. H. White On: 03/2010 Doc #: da0027
Sites: All Time Period: 9/1/2000 - 11/30/2000 Module/Species: A/ fabs
Marginal detection of heavy elements by PIXE analysis Submitted by: W. H. White On: 03/2010 Doc #: da0026
Sites: All Time Period: Before 6/1/1992 Module/Species: A/ Pb, Sr, Se, Rb
Arcane flagging of early hydrogen and fine mass data Submitted by: W. H. White On: 03/2010 Doc #: da0025
Sites: All Time Period: 9/1/1990 – 2/26/1992 Module/Species: A/ MF, H
Under-correction of chloride concentrations for filter blank levels - historical Advisory:  Applies to downloads before 11/23/2009 Submitted by: W. H. White On: 08/2009 Doc #: da0024
Sites: All Time Period: 2005 - 2008 Module/Species: B/ Cl
Inconstant bias in XRF sulfur - Advisory Update to da0012 Submitted by: W. H. White On: 05/2009 Doc #: da0023
Sites: All Time Period: All Module/Species: A/ S
Data losses during episodes of heavy smoke Submitted by: W. H. White On: 01/2009 Doc #: da0022
Sites: All Time Period: All Module/Species: A/ MF, elements, fabs
Mis-reporting of light-absorption on masked filters - Historical Advisory: Applies to downloads before 4/17/2009 Submitted by: W. H. White On: 09/2008
Modified on: 04/2009		 Doc #: da0021
Sites: BRID1, DENA1, HALE1, HANC1, HAVO1, MEVE1, MORA1, NOAB1, NOCA1, OLYM1, PETE1, SIME1, SNPA1, TRCR1, TUXE1, VIIS1, WEMI1, WHIT1, WHPA1, WHPE1, WHRI1, ZICA1 Time Period: 2005 – 2006 Module/Species: A/ fabs
Invalid data for collocated (POC = 2) samples - Historical Advisory: Applies to downloads before 4/17/2009 Submitted by: W. H. White

On: 09/2008

Modified on: 04/2009

 Doc #: da0020
Sites: MEVE1, OLYM1, PMRF1, SAFO1, SAMA1, TRCR1 Time Period: January – July, 2005 Module/Species: A/ H, Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe
Bias between masked and unmasked elemental measurements Submitted by: W. H. White On: 07/2008 Doc #: da0019
Sites: Entire network Time Period: evident since 2002 Module/Species: A/ S
Positive interference in PIXE titanium determinations Submitted by: W. H. White On: 03/2008 Doc #: da0018
Sites: Entire network Time Period: Before 12/1/2001 Module/Species: A/ Ti
Changes in sodium data quality Submitted by: W. H. White On: 11/2007 Doc #: da0017
Sites: Entire network Time Period: 12/1/2001 – Present Module/Species: A/ Na
Shift in EC/OC split with 1 January 2005 TOR hardware upgrade Submitted by: W. H. White On: 10/2007 Doc #: da0016
Sites: Entire network Time Period: 1/1/2005 – Present Module/Species: C/ EC, OC; OC1, OC2, OC3, OC4, OP, EC1, EC2, EC3
Change in definition of flowrate native flags Submitted by: C. McDade On: 9/2007 Doc #: da0015
Sites: Entire network Time Period: 1/1/2005 – Present Module/Species: A, B, C/ All species
Shifts in Mo-anode XRF element calibration factors Submitted by: R. Flocchini On: 9/2007 Doc #: da0014
Sites: Entire network Time Period: 9/2005 Module/Species: A/ Ni, As, Se, Br, Rb, Pb
Introduction of a second copper-anode XRF system Submitted by: W. H. White On: 2/2007 Doc #: da0013
Sites: Entire network Time Period: 2005 – Present Module/Species: A/ Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe
Varying bias of XRF sulfur relative to IC sulfate Submitted by: W. H. White On: 1/2007 Doc #: da0012
Sites: Entire network Time Period: 2003 – 2004; maybe to earlier years Module/Species: A/ S
S interference in XRF determination of Si Submitted by: W. H. White On: 12/2006 Doc #: da0011
Sites: Entire network Time Period: 2001 - Present Module/Species: A/ S,Si
Elemental concentrations of Al above the MDL can go undetected Submitted by: W. H. White On: 11/2006 Doc #: da0010
Sites: Entire network Time Period: entire record Module/Species: A/ Al
Changed reporting of XRF sulfur Submitted by: W. H. White On: 10/2006 Doc #: da0009
Sites: Entire network Time Period: 1/1/05 - Module/Species: A/ S
B-module data from Virgin Islands Submitted by: W. H. White On: 9/2006 Doc #: da0008
Sites: VIIS Time Period: 6/2001 - 5/2003 Module/Species: B/ CHL, NO3, SO4
1-in-6-day Cu contamination from foreign samplers - Updated Advisory Submitted by: W. H. White On: 9/2006
Modified on: 05/2009		 Doc #: da0007
Sites: ATLA, BADL, BRMA, PMRF, ROMA, others Time Period: 2002 - Module/Species: A/ Cu
High concentrations attributable to documented wildfire Submitted by: W. H. White On: 9/2006 Doc #: da0006
Sites: PORE Time Period: 10/12/04 Module/Species: A/ K;
C/ OC EC
Sporadic contamination by Zn - Updated Advisory Submitted by: W.  H. White On: 9/2006
Modified on: 05/2009		 Doc #: da0005
Sites: Entire network Time Period: 2004 known to be affected; earlier years may have been affected Module/Species: A/ Zn
Significant Number of Under Reported Sulfate Ion Concentrations Prior to 3/15/1989 Submitted by:
B.A. Schichtel		 On: 9/2006 Doc #: da0004
Sites: Sites in the Eastern United States Time Period:  1992-1994 Module/Species: B/ SO4
Significant Loss of Ion Concentrations in 1998 Due to Clogging of Module B Nylon Filters Submitted by:
B.A. Schichtel		 On: 9/2006 Doc #: da0003
Sites: Entire network Time Period: 6/1996 Module/Species: B/ all
Diminished wintertime nitrate concentrations in late 1990s Submitted by:
C. McDade		 On: 3/2007 Doc #: da0002
Sites: Entire network Time Period: 1998 Module/Species:|
B/ SO4
Underestimation of Sulfur Concentrations During High Loadings and Humidity Conditions in the Eastern US Submitted by:
B.A. Schichtel		 On: 11/2003 Doc #: da0001
Sites: Entire network Time Period:
 1988 - 3/15/1989		 Module/Species: A/ S

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