This air monitoring station is located near the Toolik Field Station in the foothills of the Brooks Range on Alaska's North Slope. The monitoring station collects air quality data in accordance with the network protocols and standards from the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) and the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP). The monitoring station is funded, operated and maintained based on a collaborative relationship with BLM, NPS, and University of Alaska Fairbanks. The IMPROVE and NADP networks provide supplies, lab analysis, data validation, and report data publicly on their websites. As part of the collaborative air monitoring station, UAF Toolik Field Station is funding and managing the station operation and maintenance, data collection, and analysis in support of National Trends Network (NTN) and the Mecury Trends Network (MDN).
The IMPROVE station measures visibility and aerosol conditions associated with Air Quality Related Values (AQRV). More specifically, it measures particle pollution (PM2.5) mass concentration and speciation, roughly 40 elements, sulfate, nitrate and elemental and organic carbon. 24 hour samples are collected every 3 days and analyzed in a laboratory. These compounds make up most of the PM2.5 and can help determine the sources of PM2.5.
The NADP AMoN network measures air concentration of ammonia gas using passive monitors. AMoN reports atmospheric ammonia concentrations to determine ammonia dry deposition. The data can be used to validate atmospheric models and to assess changes in atmospheric chemistry. Ammonia data amongst others are used in far-field air modeling analyses in Alaska to estimate the chemical formation of particulate based nitric and sulfuric acid in the atmosphere. These values feed into the calculation of Air Quality Related Values (AQRV). Additionally, the State of Alaska has established an Alaska Ambient Air Quality Standard (AAAQS) for ammonia.
The NTN provides a long-term record of the acids, nutrients, and base cations in precipitation. This long-term program is to look at precipitation chemistry through wet deposition, i.e. rain water collection and laboratory analysis. Measurements are year round for one week long sampling periods at sites in non-urban areas. The focus is on pH (acidity), conductance, sulfates, nitrates, chlorides and ammonia (NH4+).
The MDN provides data on the geographic distributions and trends of mercury in precipitation. This long-term program is to look at precipitation chemistry through wet deposition, i.e. rain water collection and laboratory analysis. Measurements are year round for one week long sampling periods at sites in non-urban areas. The focus is on elemental mercury and methyl-mercury.
