1. Interpolations of Ambient Air Pollution Concentrations in Austin and Houston Heather Simon

2. Importance of Air Pollution Monitors Show compliance with EPA standards Alert communities if pollutant concentrations reach a level that poses an immediate risk Provide valuable data to scientists studying air pollution chemistry

3. TCEQ Monitoring System 212 monitors in Texas 63 monitors in Houston/Galveston region Measure meteorological conditions Wind speed Wind direction Solar flux Temperature Measure pollutant concentrations NOx ozone PM 2.5 CO SO 2

4. View of Monitoring Stations

5. Objectives 1.Map pollutant concentrations for a specific air pollution episode (June 2, 2005)  Show where pollution concentrations are good/moderate/dangerous  Compare Houston to Austin  Discuss sources of pollution 2.Interpolate pollution data to visualize concentrations in areas other than at monitoring locations 3.Determine where more monitors are most needed  Locations of highest uncertainty  Locations where high uncertainties overlap for multiple pollutants  Locations where air quality is bad

6. images of all the layers that were imported. Imported Data Layers

7. Pollution Data

8. Ozone Air Quality Index Air Quality Index Concentration (ppb) Recommendations Good0-80 Moderate81-120Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 121-160Active children and adults, and people with lung disease, such as asthma, should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. Unhealthy161-200Active children and adults, and people with lung disease, such as asthma, should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. Everyone else, especially children, should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. Very Unhealthy201-400Active children and adults, and people with lung disease, such as asthma, should avoid all outdoor exertion. Everyone else, especially children, should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. HazardousGreater than 400Everyone should avoid all physical activity outdoors.

9. Ozone Concentrations

10. Wind Data TCEQ emissions plume animation

11. Interpolations

12. Uncertainties

13. Masks for Low Pollutant Areas

14. Conclusions Ozone did reach levels of concern in Houston Mapping and interpolation allowed us to see a clear spatial trend in ozone concentrations Wind data showed that most ozone in Houston originated from the industrial areas, not the urban core Based on uncertainty in ozone interpolations, monitors should be placed to the north and southwest of the city Since ozone concentrations are low to the southwest, first priority should be put on the northern monitors Note of caution: conclusions drawn from a single day of data may not be universally applicable

15. Data Sources County, city, urban area, highway, and monitoring point layers were obtained from the Texas Natural Resource Information System. http://www.tnris.state.tx.us/DigitalData/data_cat.htm Pollutant concentrations and meteorological data were obtained from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/cgi- http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/cgi- bin/compliance/monops/daily_summary Air Trajectories were obtained from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. http://www.arl.noaa.gov/ready/open/hysplit4.html Air Quality Index information was obtained from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=static.publications

16. Acknowledgements Dr. Maidment GIS classmates