Monitoring

 

Continuous Air Quality Monitoring

Dripping SpringsFayetteLake GeorgetownMurchisonSan Marcos

Continuous air pollution monitoring provides data on pollution concentrations and meteorological conditions over a long period of time at a stationary monitoring location. These monitors can be used to determine compliance with air quality standards, to validate air pollution modeling, to track air quality trends over time, or to measure the impact of the emissions of a particular source or area on ambient air quality. Air monitoring data can also be used to warn areas if pollution reaches unhealthy levels and can be used in epidemiological studies to measure the health impacts of air pollution.

CAPCOG operates six continuous air quality monitors during ozone season (April 1st to October 31st, each year).  The objective of operating these monitors is to collect data on the following:

  • Ground-level ozone concentrations (ppb)
  • Ozone precursor concentrations - Nitrogen Oxides (NOX)
  • Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
  • Meteorological data:  wind direction, wind speed, and ambient temperature

The data obtained from the CAPCOG monitors compliment existing Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) monitoring data for the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area. The TCEQ operates two regulatory ozone monitors (Murchison and Audubon) that are used to determine compliance with the ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The TCEQ also operates one monitoring station (Zavala Elementary) that measures fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations and another (Webberville Road) that measures air toxics, PM2.5, and coarse particulates (PM10). The National Weather Service also operates several stations that only measure meteorological conditions.

You can retrieve data from the ozone monitors, including daily eight-hour ozone averages, design values, and more from TCEQ's ozone monitoring page.

Map of Austin-Round Rock MSA Ozone Monitors in 2011

AQ Monitoring Map 

Detailed Monitoring Site Information

TCEQ Regulatory Ozone Monitors:

CAPCOG Monitors:

Other TCEQ Air Quality Monitors:

National Weather Service Meteorological Monitors:

Air Quality Monitoring Reports

CAPCOG's air quality contractor prepares annual reports on CAPCOG's monitoring network. Links to these reports can be found below.

Monitoring Network Improvements

In 2010, CAPCOG contracted with the University of Texas at Austin to perform an evaluation of the area's monitoring network. UT recommended the following:

  1. The Audubon, Murchison, McKinney Roughs and Lake Georgetown monitoring sites should remain at their current locations.
  2. The monitoring site in Dripping Springs should be moved to a location approximately 10 miles to the east-northeast of its current location.
  3. The monitoring site in Round Rock should be moved to a location near the intersection of US 290 and SH 130.
  4. The monitoring site in San Marcos should be moved to a location in the vicinity of the boundary between Travis and Caldwell counties.
  5. The nitrogen oxides (NOx) monitor currently located at Dripping Springs should be moved to the Murchison monitoring site.

map of monitoring station evaluation recommendations

Based on a discussion of these recommendations with UT, TCEQ, and CAPCOG's air quality contractor, CAPCOG decided to make the following changes in the monitoring network for 2011:

  1. Move the Round Rock ozone monitor and meteorological tower to Hutto
  2. Move the SO2 and NOX monitor from Lake Georgetown to Hutto
  3. Purchase a new ozone analyzer and automated calibration equipment for the Hutto site
  4. Move the SO2 monitor from the Fayette site to the McKinney Roughs site and decommission the NOX monitor at Fayette

CAPCOG will continue to investigate other opportunities for improving the region's monitoring network.

 

Mobile and Aircraft-Based Monitoring Projects

In addition to operation of stationary air quality monitors, CAPCOG has undertaken several projects to conduct mobile air quality monitoring. Mobile air quality monitoring provides useful information on pollution concentrations in umonitored areas, the impact of a specific source or area on downwind air quality, air pollution at varying altitudes, and on the ability of the existing stationary monitoring network to adequately achieve its objectives.

In 2011, CAPCOG plans to conduct five days of mobile monitoring in the region. A report on the findings should be available by the fall.

In 2006 and 2007, CAPCOG contracted with the Baylor Institute for Air Science to conduct airborne sampling in Central Texas. This project provided valuable data showing the impact of ozone transport on Central Texas and on the extent of ozone plume from the Austin urban area.

 

Houston Plume

Alcoa Plume

 

Air Toxics Monitoring Projects

In 2005, CAPCOG participated in EPA's Urban Air Toxics Monitoring Program to measure the level of air toxics in the area. The project involved measuring pollution levels at five locations:

  • Murchison Middle School
  • J.J. Pickle Research Center
  • Webberville Road
  • Travis High School
  • Round Rock

You can read URS's report on the results of the Austin area's monitoring here, and view the presentation here. A follow-up study on Acrolein measurements can be found here.

CAMS 171 - Webberville Road, a TCEQ-operated stationary monitor, provides year-round sampling of toxic air pollution.