Texas Rural Air Monitoring Sites

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Texas Rural Air Monitoring Sites

• Sonia Uribe
• November 16, 2004

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Outline

• What is ozone?
• Why wind is important?
• Objective
• Database Incorporation
• Maps
• Input Datasets
• Time Series
• Animated Maps
• What is next?

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What is Ozone ?

• Ozone is the main component of smog. It is
  formed through chemical reactions between natural
  and man-made emissions of volatile organic
  compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides in the
  presence of sunlight.
• Ozone levels are considered "unhealthful" and
  exceed the National Ambient Air Quality Standard
  when the levels exceed 125 parts per billion
  (ppb) 1-hour standard or 85 ppb 8-hour standard.

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Why wind is important?

• High ozone levels can be present when
  temperatures are high, sunshine is strong, and
  winds are weak
• To reduce air pollution it is important to
  understand how it travels throughout the region
• Ozone pollution is mainly a daytime concern
  during summer since warm temperatures play a role
  in its formation

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Objective

• To reduce air pollution it is important to
  understand how it travels throughout the region.
• Air Quality Field Study (TexAQS II)
• is a research initiative to better understand
  the causes of air pollution in Texas. The
  objectives are to establish sites and collect
  approx. 18 months of data.

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Database Incorporation

• ESRI Data Maps CD
• United States Map
• Counties, cities, and roads
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
• http//www.tceq.state.tx.us/index.html

Dallas
Austin
Houston
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Maps Generation
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Time Series Transfer to Arc Hydro Format
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Animated Maps
January, 2000
Ozone Levels 8 hrs Average
Wind Speed 1 hr Average
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August, 2000
Ozone Levels 8 hrs Average
Wind Speed 1 hr Average
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Conclusions

• It has been confirmed that high ozone levels are
  exacerbated when winds intensities are weak and
  under high temperature conditions
• A GIS-based tool might help develop a forecasting
  system for ozone levels based on surrogate
  parameters
• The GIS-based component will greatly enhance the
  2005 TxAQS study

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What is Next?

• Interpolate data to generate surfaces of
  surrogate parameters
• Find relationships between temperature, wind and
  ozone levels
• Support Monitoring Network Optimization

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Indoor questions also taken !