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Air Quality Resources
Catalog
This page provides fully
described links to air quality data resources available over the World
Wide Web. These resources include measured and modeled and satellite
imagery relevant to VIEWS visibility goals. |
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Measured Air Quality Data Resources
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Aerometric Information Retrieval System (from AIRData)
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Organization:
Environmental
Protection Agency's Office of Air and Radiation
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Metadata:
GCMD |
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Description:
AIRS was
established in 1987 and is the national repository for information about
airborne pollution in the United States. AIRS includes data for
the NAAQS pollutants which include lead (Pb), carbon monoxide (CO),
sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone, reactive volatile
organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter (TSP, PM10 and PM2.5).
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Time Period:
11/11/1955-13/12/1988 |
Frequency: Varies |
Duration: Varies |
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Place: North America >
United States |
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Method: field measurement |
Stratum: Boundary Layer |
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Parameter:
atmosphere>aerosols>aerosol>particulate matter;
atmosphere>air quality>carbon monoxide; atmosphere>air quality>emission;
atmosphere>air quality>lead; atmosphere>air quality>nitrogen oxides;
atmosphere>air quality>particulates>PM10; atmosphere>air
quality>particulates>PM2.5; atmosphere>air quality>tropospheric ozone;
atmosphere>air quality>volatile organic compounds |
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Causality: air quality >
concentrations; emissions>anthropogenic |
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Availability: Online |
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The Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual
Environments (IMPROVE) |
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Organization:
The Interagency
Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments |
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Metadata:
GCMD |
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Description:
The Interagency Monitoring
of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) consists of air quality data
from Class I areas that include national parks and wilderness areas
where visibility is deemed an important attribute. This monitoring
program is an interagency effort with the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (USEPA) and the U.S. Department of the Interior (USDOI),
including the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and
the Bureau of Land Management. The National Park Service (NPS)
provides monitoring and maintains the database to determine spatial and
temporal trends in visibility in the NPS parks and and wilderness areas
and determine causes for visibility degradation. The IMPROVE
fine particle network collects PM2.5 and PM10 samples over a twenty four
hour period every Monday and Friday using IMPROVE samplers. The
network consists of over 110 monitoring sites, located in Class I
("Clean Air") areas, and has been in operation since 3/88. The PM
samples are analyzed for PM2.5 mass and its elemental constituents,
organics, ions, light absorption and PM10 mass. The data set
contains the concentrations, minimum detection limit, error, and data
quality flags. |
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Time Period: 6/1/1988 -
Present; |
Frequency: 1 in 3 Days; |
Duration: 24 hour |
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Place: North America >
United States>Class I |
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Method: field measurement |
Stratum: Boundary Layer |
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Parameter:
atmosphere>aerosols>particulate matter;
atmosphere > aerosols > aerosol particle properties; earth
science>atmosphere>air quality>visibility |
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Causality:
air quality > concentrations; air quality > visibility > extinction |
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Availability:
online |
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National Park Service’s Stack Filter Units (NPS-SFU)
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Organization:
National Park Service Air
Resources Division - Cooperative Institute for Research in the
Atmosphere |
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Metadata:
CEIS |
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Description:
The
network consisted of 80 monitoring sites which collected particulate
samples in rural regions 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.
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. The data set contains the concentrations, minimum
detection limit, error, and data quality flag.
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Time Period: 7/1979
- 11/1993 |
Frequency:
Twice a week
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Duration:
72 hour |
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Place: North America >
United States>Class I;
North America > United States>Class 2
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Method:
Field measurement
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Stratum: Boundary Layer |
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Parameter:
Atmosphere>aerosols>particulate matter; atmosphere > aerosols > aerosol
particle properties; earth science>atmosphere>air quality>visibility
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Causality:
Air quality >
concentrations; Air quality > visibility > extinction
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Availability:
online
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National Park Service Gaseous Pollutant Monitoring
Network |
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Organization: The
National Park Service Air Resources Division
(NPS-ARD) |
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Metadata: CEIS
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Description: A monitoring network to measure air
quality and surface meteorology at National Parks. The database is
used to establish existing or baseline concentrations in National Park
Service (NPS) units; assess trends in air quality in NPS units; judge
compliance with national air quality standards; assist in the
development and revision of national and regional air pollution control
policies for rural areas; provide data for atmospheric model development
and evaluation; and correlate effects of existing air quality on park
resources. Variables measured include ozone, sulfur dioxide, and
meteorological parameters including wind speed, wind direction,
temperature, dew point, solar radiation, and precipitation.
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| Time
Period: 1985-present |
Frequency: Hourly |
Duration: Hour |
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Place: North America > United States>Class I
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| Method: Field
measurement |
Stratum: Boundary Layer
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Parameter: ATMOSPHERE
> Air Quality > Tropospheric Ozone ; ATMOSPHERE > Air
Quality > Sulfur Oxides; ATMOSPHERE > Precipitation; ATMOSPHERE >
Atmospheric Temperature > Air Temperature; ATMOSPHERE >
Atmospheric Water Vapor > Dew Point; ATMOSPHERE >
Atmospheric Winds > Surface Winds; ATMOSPHERE >
Radiation Budget > Solar Radiation
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Causality: air quality > concentrations
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Availability: online and via email
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North American Integrated PM2.5 Data Set
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Organization: Center for
Air Pollution Impact and Trend Analysis (CAPITA)
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Metadata: Database
description |
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Description:
A long term North American
fine particle mass (<2.5 micrometers) data set created by integrating
data from 16 historical and active fine particle monitoring networks.
The data set contains data from ~500 urban and rural monitoring sites in
the US and Canada from 1979 through February 1997. This data set was
created to support spatial and temporal PM fine trend analysis, as well
as the investigation of the causal factors for the fine particle air
quality. Except for unit changes, the fine mass concentrations have not
been altered from that received from the data suppliers
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| Time
Period:11/83 - 12/97 |
Frequency: Varies |
Duration: 24 hour |
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Place: North America > United States>Class I; North
America > United States>Urban; North America > United States>rural
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| Method: Field
measurement |
Stratum: Boundary Layer
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Parameter: atmosphere>aerosols>particulate
matter |
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Causality: air quality > concentrations; air quality >
visibility > extinction |
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Availability: online
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North American Integrated PM2.5 Speciated Data Set
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Organization: Center for
Air Pollution Impact and Trend Analysis (CAPITA)
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Metadata: Database
description |
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Description: A long term North American fine
particle (<2.5 micrometers) data set containing mass, elemental
composition, ions and organics. There are 577 urban and rural monitoring
sites in the US (520 sites) and Canada (57 sites) from 1979 through
February 1997. The data set was created by integrating data from 14
historical and active fine particle monitoring networks. Except for unit
changes, the fine mass concentrations have not been altered from that
received from the data suppliers. This data set was created to support
spatial and temporal PM fine trend analysis, as well as the
investigation of the causal factors for the fine particle air quality.
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| Time
Period: 1979-02/1997 |
Frequency: Varies |
Duration: 24 hour |
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Place: North America > United States>Class I; North
America > United States>Urban; North America > United States>rural
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| Method: Field
measurement |
Stratum: |
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Parameter:
atmosphere>aerosols>particulate matter; atmosphere > aerosols > aerosol
particle properties |
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Causality: air quality > concentrations; air quality >
visibility > extinction |
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Availability: online
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Clean Air Status and
Trends Network (CASTNET) |
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Organization: EPA-CASTNET
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Metadata:
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Description: The Clean Air Status and Trends
Network (CASTNET) provides atmospheric data on acid rain, tropospheric
(ground-level) ozone and other forms of atmospheric pollution. Used in
conjunction with other national monitoring networks, CASTNET is used to
determine the effectiveness of national emission control programs.
CASTNET has been operating since 1987 and is considered the nation's
primary source for estimates of dry acidic deposition and rural ozone
levels. Cooperatively funded and operated with the National Park
Service, the network is comprised of over 70 sites across the eastern
and western United States. |
| Time
Period: 1987 - present |
Frequency: hourly; weekly
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Duration: hourly; weekly
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Place: North America > United States; North America >
United States>rural |
| Method: Field
measurement |
Stratum: Surface layer
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Parameter: atmosphere>aerosols>particulate
matter; atmosphere > aerosols > aerosol particle properties; atmosphere
> Air Quality > Tropospheric Ozone ; atmosphere >
Atmospheric Temperature > Air Temperature; atmosphere >
Atmospheric Water Vapor > Dew Point; atmosphere >
Atmospheric Winds > Surface Winds; atmosphere >
Radiation Budget > Solar Radiation
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Causality: Ambient Pollutant Levels > Concentrations
; Ambient Pollutant Levels > Deposition; air quality > visibility >
extinction |
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Availability: online
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National
Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) |
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Organization:
National Atmospheric
Deposition Program/National Trends Network (NADP/NTN)
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Metadata: GCMD
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Description: NADP/NTN is a
200 station,
rural, wet-only deposition monitoring network throughout the United
States. NADP was established in 1978, with 22 stations, to provide a
focal point for the development of research to address the problem of
acidic chemical deposition. Each station collects cumulative weekly
samples of precipitation. The samples are sent to the Central
Analytical Laboratory where it is analyzed for hydrogen (acidity as pH),
sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, potassium,
sodium, orthophosphate and specific conductance. The network is a
cooperative effort between many
different groups,
including the State Agricultural Experiment Stations, U.S. Geological
Survey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and numerous other governmental
and private entities. |
| Time
Period: 1978 - present |
Frequency: Weekly |
Duration: weekly |
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Place: North America > United States
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| Method: Field
measurement |
Stratum: Surface layer
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Parameter:
atmosphere
> Precipitation > Acid Rain;
atmosphere
> Precipitation > Precipitation Amount;
atmosphere
> atmospheric chemistry > trace Elements;
Atmosphere > Aerosols > Particulate Matter
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Causality: Ambient Pollutant Levels > Deposition
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Availability: online
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The California Air Resource Board (CARB) |
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Organization: CARB
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Metadata:
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Description: The CARB database contains air quality
(criteria pollutants, particulate concentrations, and toxics),
meteorological and emission data. The database contains data from
1980 - present. These data are freely available online as well as
on CD ROMs Most of these data are also submitted to EPA's AIRS
database. |
| Time
Period: 1980 - Present |
Frequency: Hourly, 1 in 6 days
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Duration: hourly; 24 hours
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Place: North America > United States > California
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| Method: Field
Measurements |
Stratum: Mixing Layer
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Parameter: atmosphere>aerosols>aerosol>particulate
matter; atmosphere>air quality>carbon monoxide; atmosphere>air
quality>emission; atmosphere>air quality>lead; atmosphere>air
quality>nitrogen oxides; atmosphere>air quality>particulates>PM10;
atmosphere>air quality>particulates>PM2.5; atmosphere>air
quality>tropospheric ozone; atmosphere>air quality>volatile organic
compounds |
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Causality: air quality > concentrations;
emissions>anthropogenic |
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Availability: online and CD ROM
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AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET)
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Organization:
NASA/GSFC
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Metadata:
GCMD |
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Description:
The AERONET program is an
inclusive federation of ground-based remote sensing aerosol networks
established by AERONET and PHOTON and greatly expanded by
AEROCAN and other agency, institute and university partners. The
goal is to assess aerosol optical properties and validate satellite
retrievals of aerosol optical properties. The network imposes
standardization of instruments, calibration, and processing. Data from
this collaboration provides globally distributed observations of
spectral aerosol optical depths, inversion products, and precipitable
water in geographically diverse aerosol regimes. Three levels of data
are available from this website: Level 1.0 (unscreened), Level 1.5
(cloud-screened), and Level 2.0 (Cloud-screened and quality-assured).
Descriptions may be found of program objectives, affiliations, the
instrumentation, operational issues, data products, data-base browser
"demonstrate", research activities, links to similar data sets, NASA EOS
links and personnel involved in AERONET. |
| Time
Period: 1/5/93 - present |
Frequency:
daily |
Duration: |
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Place:
North America > United
States; Global |
| Method:
field measure |
Stratum: |
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Parameter:
atmosphere>aerosols>aerosol extinction; atmosphere>aerosols>aerosol
particle properties; atmosphere>atmospheric water vapor>precipitable
water. |
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Causality: |
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Availability: Online |
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UVB_Radiation Monitoring Program |
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Organization:
UVB/CSU
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Metadata: GCMD
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Description:
The USDA UV-B Radiation Monitoring Program provides information on the
geographical distribution and temporal trends of UV-B (ultraviolet -B)
radiation in the United States. The network consists of about 30
monitoring sites throughout the US and southern Canada located in
primarily rural agricultural regions and began operating in 1992.
Multifilter Rotating Shadowband Radiometers are used
to measure total horizontal solar irradiance measurements at 13 wave
lengths, 305.5, 311.4, 317.6, 325.4, 332.4, 368, 415, 500, 610, 665, 862
and 940 nm. A UVB-1 Pyranometer measures global irradiance in the
UVB spectral range of 280-330 nm.
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Time Period: 1/1/92-present
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Frequency: 20 seconds
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Duration: 3 minute average
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Place: North
America > United States |
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Method: field measurements
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Stratum: Surface
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Parameter: atmosphere>radiation
budget>solar irradiance; atmosphere>radiation budget>solar radiation;
atmosphere>radiation budget>ultraviolet radiation>UV-B; atmosphere >
Atmospheric Temperature > Air Temperature; Atmosphere > Atmospheric
Water Vapor > Humidity |
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Causality:
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Availability:
Online |
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Modeled Air Quality Data Resources
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International Datasets for
Atmospheric Modeling |
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Organization: Environment
Institute, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
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Metadata:
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Description: The development and application of
numerical models for the description of atmospheric circulation,
atmospheric dispersion and chemistry for research or regulatory
purposes, is becoming increasingly important and widespread. Between the
model development and the model application, an important phase exists
which consists in the validation of the model results against
experimental evidence. In the last few decades the collection of
experimental data that can be instrumental for numerical model
validation has also increased. Many datasets are presently available
through WWW. This international site facilitates access to such valuable
information. The available sites can be consulted in alphabetic order or
found by a search through keywords. If you wish to include a web
location or contact point use the option "Suggest new dataset".
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| Time
Period: varies
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Frequency: varies
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Duration: varies
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Place: global
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| Method:
field measurement, models
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Stratum:
surface and
upper air |
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Parameter:
varied
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Causality: air quality > concentrations;
emissions>anthropogenic |
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Availability:
catalog of
online data sets |
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Satellite Air Quality Data Resources
Links to satellite imagery capable of visualizing smoke, dust and haze over
North America.
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Total Ozone
Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) - TOMS Aerosol Index |
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Organization: NASA -
TOMS Home Page |
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Metadata: GCMD1,
GCMD2 |
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Description: The Earth Probe-Total Ozone Mapping
Spectrometer (EP-TOMS) spacecraft was launched on July 2, 1996 from a
Pegasus rocket. The launch of EP-TOMS continues the global measurements
of ozone that began with the TOMS instrument on Nimbus-7 and Meteor-3
(1978-1994). The EP-TOMS data consists of ozone data in Dobson Units,
reflectivity, erythermal ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and aerosol index.
EP-TOMS data is available from:
http://toms.gsfc.nasa.gov/eptoms/ep.html and consists of north pole,
south pole, and daily global 3-map composites as well as ASCII data.
EP-TOMS ozone data is obtained 3 or 4 times per day and is processed to
ASCII data (in Dobson units). Nimbus-7, Meteor-3, and ADEOS TOMS data
are also available from:
http://toms.gsfc.nasa.gov/ |
| Time
Period: 1996-present |
Frequency: 1 Day |
Duration: |
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Place: North America > United States; Global
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| Method: :
Field Measurement > Satellite
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Stratum: Troposphere
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Parameter:
ATMOSPHERE > Aerosols > Aerosol Backscatter ; ATMOSPHERE >
Aerosols > Particulate Matter; ATMOSPHERE > atmospheric chemistry >
ozone |
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Causality: air quality > concentrations; Emissions
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Availability: online
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Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS)
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Organization: NASA
Goddard Space Flight Center - SeaWiFs Home page
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Metadata: GCMD2
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Description: SeaWiFS consists of an
optical scanner and an electronics module to measure backscattered Earth
radiance from orbit in eight spectral bands, 6 visible and 2 near
infrared bands. The
instruments covers most of the globe sampling once a day approximately
noon local time. True color
images of the globe can be produced from these data. These images are useful for visualizing smoke, dust and haze as
well as detecting sources of fire and dust.
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| Time
Period: 1997-present |
Frequency: 1 Day |
Duration: |
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Place: North America > United States; Global
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| Method:
Field Measurement > Satellite
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Stratum: Troposphere
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Parameter: ATMOSPHERE
> Aerosols > Aerosol Backscatter ; ATMOSPHERE > Aerosols >
Particulate Matter |
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Causality: air quality > concentrations; Emissions
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Availability: online
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