Transcript Introduction to the PM Data Analysis Workbook

AIRNow: U.S. EPA’s Real-time
and
Forecast Air Quality Program
Real Time Air Pollution Data
Exchange and Forecast Workshop
Copenhagen, Denmark
April 7-8, 2005
Richard A. “Chet” Wayland
Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Outline
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What is AIRNow?
Collection of Data and Forecasts
Control / Management of Data
Communication of Data
Benefits/Results/Lessons learned
What is AIRNow?
– Centralized national air quality network
• Started in 1998
• AIRNow provides a common framework for acquiring and
distributing air quality information (data, forecasts, health
effects, news and educational information)
– Diverse stakeholder community
• Federal, State, provincial, Tribal and local air agencies
• Scientific and health research organizations
• Media and public outreach groups
How AIRNow Works
Hourly AIRNow Data Flow
Media
115+ State and
Local
Air Agencies
Data
Management
Center
30 minutes
Decision
Makers
and
Public
Internet
1 hour
Air
quality notification:
Forecasts(1
(3ofof4)
4)
Collection
of DataData
andand
Forecasts
• 115+ agencies submit…
Collection of Data and Forecasts(2 of 4)
…data from 1500+ monitors and forecasts
from 300+ cities
Ozone & PM monitors
Forecast Cities
Collection of Data and Forecasts(3 of 4)
• Data submitted through Internet File
Transfer Protocol (FTP)
• Forecast submittal system
– Web-based
• Multiple pollutants
• Multiple days
• Manual and automated
Control / Management of Data
• Automated quality control system
– Checks: Maximum, Minimum, Constant, Buddy, and Rate of
Change
– Customizable by pollutant, site, hour
– Manual override by staff
Control / Management of Data
Supporting Web sites and
purposes
– AIRNow status
• Announcements and data
delivery status
– AIRNow Notifier
• Air quality related stories and
events
• Centralized contact
information database
– AIRNow-Tech
• Data queries, site information,
and resources
Communication of Data
• Standardized output: Air Quality Index (AQI)
– An index for reporting air quality
– Uniform throughout the United States
– Color has been the “key”
Raw data
1-hr ozone
concentration
of 102 ppb
Standardization
8-hr ozone
concentration
estimate of 87 ppb
Health effects
Active children and adults,
and people with respiratory
disease, such as asthma,
should limit prolonged
outdoor exertion.
Communication – Products (2 of 4)
• Animation and peak maps
Communication – Products (3 of 4)
• Current hour maps
Ozone Contour Map
PM2.5 Point Map
Communication – Products (4 of 4)
• Specialized maps
Observed Peak AQI Map
Weekend National Air Quality Outlook Map
Air Quality Forecast Map
Benefits/Results
• Improves data quality
• Encourages monitor deployment
• Increases awareness and understanding of air
pollution
• Improves public health protection
• Strengthens the partnership among different
organizations (for example, Scientists, Researchers
and Communicators)
• Promotes advances in air quality science and data
analyses
Lessons Learned
• Everyone is nervous about real-time data
• Agency firewalls can be problematic for real-time data
delivery
• Automation is essential
• Feedback loop with data providers is critical
• Air Quality forecasting is relatively new and much
support is needed for operational forecasting
• Forecasts need to be from an authoritative agency
• Communication to the media and public needs to be
simple, easy to understand, and consistent
• Partnerships are key!
AIRNow website:
www.airnow.gov
for more information:
[email protected]