Special Studies
In contrast to long-term routine monitoring that provides information on the conditions and trends of air pollutants, the ARD often initiates special studies to address specific questions about the sources of air pollutants in national parks and the ecological effects of those pollutants on natural resources, and to further develop and improve field and laboratory methodologies. Special studies are short-term and intensive by design and typically include various partners.
VOC Survey at Five National Parks
April – September, 2017. Carlsbad Caverns, Great Basin, Grand Canyon, and Joshua Tree, and Rocky Mountain National Parks.
The Front Range Air Pollution and Photochemistry Éxperiment (FRAPPÉ):
July-October 2014 (includes measurement periods surrounding the larger study), Rocky Mountain National Park and The Northern Front Range Metropolitan Area of Colorado
Bakken Air Quality Study (BAQS):
February 2013 – March 2014, Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Grand Teton Reactive Nitrogen Deposition Study (GrandTReNDS): May – September 2011, Grand Teton National Park
Rocky Mountain Atmospheric Nitrogen and Sulfur Study (ROMANS) I and II:
2006, 2009; Rocky Mountain National Park
Reductions in Haze Across the United States Since the Early 1990s Visualized Using WinHaze Simulated Photographs:
1990s – 2011, United States
Apportionment of Biomass Burning Contribution to Haze and PM2.5 :
2006-2008
IMPROVE Coarse Mass Speciation Study:
March 2003 – December 2003
Yosemite Aerosol Characterization Study:
July – September 2002, Yosemite National Park
Big Bend Regional Aerosol and Visibility Observational Study (BRAVO):
July – October 1999, Big Bend National Park
Southeastern Aerosol and Visibility Study (SEAVS):
July 1995 – August 1995, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Measurement of Haze and Visual Effects (MOHAVE):
1992
The Pacific Northwest Regional Visibility Experiment Using Natural Tracers (PREVENT):
Summer 1990
The Winter Haze Intensive Tracer Experiment (WHITEX):
January – February 1987, Grand Canyon National Park
The Mt. Zirkel Visibility Study (MZVS):
1993, Mt. Zirkel Wilderness Area
The Navajo Generating Station Visibility Study (NGS):
January – March 1990, Grand Canyon National Park