Below is a summary of the procedures used by NPS/CIRA to update and archive IMPROVE data.
Detailed information can be obtained by following the embedded links.
The IMPROVE Air Quality Group at Crocker Nuclear Laboratory, University of California, Davis submits
three months of validated IMPROVE particulate data to NPS/CIRA. The data validation and quality control
procedures used by the AQG are described in the
IMPROVE Particulate Monitoring Network SOPs and the Quality Assurance for the IMPROVE Network documents.
NPS/CIRA adds these data to the IMPROVE preliminary dataset. This dataset is available
from the VIEWS Query Wizard.
(NOTE: Select "IMPROVE Aerosol (Preliminary)" from the "Select Programs" tab.)
Starting in 2007, UC Davis also periodically submits partial data, such as carbon concentrations
without associated ion or elemental concentrations, which have not been fully quality-assured.
These partial data are placed in the preliminary dataset until complete and fully validated.
The data remain in the IMPROVE preliminary dataset for a review period of approximately 30 days. This
allows states, tribes, FLM’s and other interested organizations to review and comment
on the accuracy, credibility, and/or representativeness of the data. During
this period NPS/CIRA performs additional quality assurance procedures. (Document: NPS/CIRA's Additional QA/QC Procedures.)
Based upon the additional QA, UC Davis modifies the preliminary data and resubmits them to NPS/CIRA.
These data are then added to the production IMPROVE Aerosol Raw dataset. The goal is to move the reviewed
and updated data to the IMPROVE Raw dataset within 45 days of its posting to the IMPROVE Preliminary dataset.
These data are available from the VIEWS Query Wizard.
(NOTE: Select "IMPROVE Aerosol (Raw)" from the "Select Programs" tab.)
Any modifications to data currently in the IMPROVE Aerosol Raw dataset are
performed once a year (usually in January), and are noted on the Database Update Page.
Prior to this yearly update, existing data are archived and made available in an ASCII file from the IMPROVE Archived Data page.
Three months after December data are submitted to NPS/CIRA, the Regional Haze Rule metrics for all years
are recalculated and added to the IMPROVE RHR datasets (RHR1 and RHR2). Therefore, the IMPROVE RHR datasets
contain an additional year of data as well as any changes to previous data that were made during the
past year. The IMPROVE RHR datasets are not modified again until the following year. Note, the RHR data
in the baseline period 2000-2004 will not be modified. These data are available from the VIEWS Query Wizard.
(NOTE: Select "IMPROVE Aerosol (RHR1)" or "IMPROVE Aerosol (RHR2)" from the "Select Programs" tab.)
