Up
IMPROVE
QA/QC
Other Data

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Specialty Studies and Other Data Resources

This page provides access to aerosol and optical data and their metadata from Specialty Studies and other data networks.  See the Tools section for data processing tools and aggregation algorithm.

Specialty Studies

See the IMPROVE Special Studies section for a full description of the studies.

Coarse particle speciation at selected locations in the rural continental United States  - To more fully investigate the composition of coarse particles, a program of coarse particle sampling and speciation analysis at nine of the IMPROVE sites was initiated between 19 March 2003 and 23 December 2003, with each site operating for one year. Sites were selected to be representative of the continental United States and were operated according to IMPROVE protocol analytic procedures.  The following contains tables summarizing the coarse mass and coarse mass species concentrations by site as well as the fine mass and find mass species concentrations.  These tables are supplemental information for the publications: Malm, W.C., M.L. Pitchford, C. McDade, and L.L. Ashbaugh.   2006.  Coarse particle speciation at selected locations in the rural continental United States.  Atmospheric Environment, excepted for publication.

Big Bend Regional Aerosol and Visibility Observational Study (BRAVO) - The BRAVO study is designed to investigate the causes of haze at the Big Bend National Park.  The network operated from ?? to ?? collecting ?? hour samples of aerosol and optical properties at Big Bend.

Southeastern Aerosol and Visibility Study (SEAVS) - This study measured aerosols under humid Southeastern US conditions to determine the contribution of major aerosol constituents, including water, to the total particle mass and light extinction.  Field measurements included particle size, water and optics, aerosol composition, meteorology and human perception of scenes at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park over a 6 week period during the summer of 1995.

Measurement of Haze and Visual Effects (MOHAVE) - This network was established to help determine the contributions of the Mohave Power Plant and other sources to haze at Class I areas in the Southwestern US.  The MOHAVE network employed 43 IMPROVE type samplers in the Southwest collecting daily particulate samples over a 24 hour period.  The network collected data over a winter and summer period from 1/10/–2/15/92 and 7/11/–9/2/92 respectively. The particulate samples were analyzed for PM2.5 and its elemental constituents, organics, ions, light absorption and PM10.

The Pacific Northwest Regional Visibility Experiment Using Natural Tracers (PREVENT) - This network was established to study visibility causes and effects in Washington state, west of the Cascades.  The network consisted of 34 monitors located in Washington and Oregon.  Daily particulate samples were collected from 6/90–9/90 and analyzed for PM2.5 mass and its elemental constituents and light absorption.

The Winter Haze Intensive Tracer Experiment (WHITEX) - This study was established to study the visibility impacts of emissions from the Navajo Generating Station.  The database contains data from 13 locations which sampled from 1/1/87 – 2/18/87.  Samples were collected every 6, 12, and 24 hours depending on the site and sampler.  The particulate samples were analyzed for PM2.5 mass and its elemental constituents, organics, ions, and light absorption.

Other Data Networks

Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM)  - This aerosol monitoring network was an extension of the IMPROVE network supported by NESCAUM and the National Park Service.  The network consisted of 10 IMPROVE type samplers located in rural areas of the northeastern US, and collected three 24 hour samples per week.  The PM samples were analyzed for PM2.5 mass and its elemental constituents, organics, ions, and light absorption.

National Park Service's Stack Filter Unit Network (NPS-SFU) - This network was the predecessor to IMPROVE.  The network consisted of 80 monitoring sites which collected particulate samples in Class I areas throughout the United States.  The network operated from 7/79 to 11/93 with monitoring sites coming on and off line throughout this time period.  The network used two stage stacked filter samplers collecting fine (< 2.5 mm) and coarse (> 2.5 mm) particulate samples over a 72 hour sampling period from 7/79 -5/86 and 24 hour sampling period from 6/86 - 11/93.  The samples were analyzed for PM2.5 mass and its elemental constituents and light absorption and PM coarse mass and its elemental constituents.

Class I Area Web Cams - Links to the real-time internet cameras in the Class I Areas.  These Web Cams are useful for documenting the occurrence of haze episodes.