Wyoming Visibility Monitoring Network
The success of the Green River Basin Visibility Study (GRBVS)
and interest in visibility issues in other areas of the state
prompted
the Air Quality Division (AQD) to establish a Wyoming Visibility
Monitoring Network. The network was established to more fully
understand
regional haze visibility impairment and identify the potential
for corrective actions. Of particular concern is the perception
that
air pollutant emission from point and mobile sources may significantly
and adversely impact Class I areas within the State of Wyoming
and
other neighboring states.
Green River
Basin Visibility Study
The Green River Basin Visibility
Study (GRBVS) is a significant and important monitoring effort
which took place in the Green River
Basin of southwest Wyoming to characterize visibility in the
area and to determine concentrations of pollutants that cause visibility
impairment. The GRBVS completed over four years of IMPROVE protocol
visibility monitoring (August 1996 – September 2000) that
was cooperatively funded by industry, State and Federal agencies,
and an environmental organization. The GRBVS monitoring system
was
comprised of three automatic cameras, a nephelometer, transmissometer,
and aerosol monitor. The cameras were placed at a base site,
Central Blue Rim and American Mountain.
In February of 1998, gaseous monitoring
equipment was installed
at the GRBVS base monitoring site to monitor for oxides of nitrogen
(NOx, NO, NO2)
and ozone. The gaseous monitoring equipment was installed to
verify ambient air quality concentrations with respect
to the Ambient Air Quality Standards and was funded solely by
the Air Quality Division. Gaseous
monitoring continued through December 2001. Click
here to see the Green River Basin image gallery.
Green River Basin
Northeast Wyoming
Visibility Study
The success of the Green River Basin Visibility Study
(GRBVS) and interest in visibility issues in other areas of the
state prompted the Air Quality Division (AQD) to establish a Wyoming
Visibility Monitoring Network. The network was established to more
fully understand regional haze visibility impairment and identify
the potential for corrective actions. Within the network, the AQD
has created an air quality study similar in structure to the GRBVS;
the Northeast Wyoming Visibility Study (NWVS) is being conducted
at two locations in the northeast portion of the state for a period
from two to five years.
Two of the monitoring sites selected for NWVS are
located near the Cloud Peak
Wilderness Area and in the Thunder
Basin National Grasslands. The studies use similar monitoring
and analysis techniques used in the GRBVS to evaluate aerosol, optical,
scene, meteorological, and gaseous data. The monitoring station
near Cloud Peak became operational in February 2001 and the Thunder
Basin monitoring station became operational in May 2001.
Cloud Peak Wilderness Area
Thuunder Basin Monitoring Site
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