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AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO AIR QUALITY USING IN SITU, SATELLITE, AND MODELED DATA - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE OF EARTH OBSERVATIONS SYSTEM (EOS)
Citation:
Szykman, J., D M. Holland, A B. Gilliland, T. Watkins, F. Dimmick, D. H. Boothe, D. Neil, AND A. Chu. AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO AIR QUALITY USING IN SITU, SATELLITE, AND MODELED DATA - FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE OF EARTH OBSERVATIONS SYSTEM (EOS). Presented at EPA Science Forum 2004, Washington, DC, June 1-3, 2004.
Impact/Purpose:
Our main objective is to assess the exposure of selected ecosystems to specific atmospheric stressors. More precisely, we will analyze and interpret environmental quality (primarily atmospheric) data to document observable changes in environmental stressors that may be associated with legislatively-mandated emissions reductions.
Description:
EPA through statutory mandates has monitored air, water, land and human health for the past several decades. The design of the ambient air monitoring networks, for the most part, has been loosely tied single-pollutant networks focused on large urban areas. These networks supply the basic data and information, allows for the development of regulations based on science, and for assesses results of activities to improve the environment and people's health. While results to date are compelling, the spatial distribution of the networks limit our ability to characterize ambient air quality beyond the urban area, and identify issues such as increases in ambient background concentrations, exposures beyond the urban corridors, and intercontential transport of air pollutants.
Working with our federal partners at CDC, NOM, and NASA, along with state agencies, such as NYDEC, EPA is leading the way in research and develop to integrate in-situ, satellite, and air quality model data sets to help characterize air quality beyond the urban corridor for public health uses. Using in-situ measurements of PM2.5, aerosol optical depth data from the NASA MODIS sensors, and air quality modeled predictions from the Community Multi-scale Air Quality (CMAQ) model, used by NOM/NWS for air quality forecast, EPA is developing the science to integrated the data from these different temporal and spatial scales and provide meaningful data for use in air quality assessments and the CDC's Environmental Public Health Tracking Network (EPHTN).