National Park Service Gaseous Pollutant Monitoring Program

The National Park Service established its Gaseous Pollutant Monitoring Program (GPMP) in 1988 to monitor criteria pollutants linked to effects on NPS resources. ARS has performed the operation and maintenance aspects of the NPS GPMP since 1988, and the data management aspects of the program since 1996. ARS works closely and cooperatively with the NPS Air Resources Division to develop and implement continued advancements that make the GPMP network a leader in national monitoring programs. These advancements have included creating the Information Management Center (IMC) at ARS to collect and validate data, developing DataView software to provide site operators with an easy, adaptable, electronic means of performing instrument checks, fabricating portable ozone monitoring systems (POMS), and enabling real-time data availability.

ARS works closely and cooperatively with the National Park Service Air Resources Division to develop and implement continued advancements that make the GPMP network a leader in national monitoring.

Currently, the GPMP operates approximately 50 monitoring sites in 40 units of the National Park System. Monitored parameters include ozone, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, meteorology, and Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNet) dry deposition filter pack sampling, and special monitoring systems, including portable ozone monitors, pollution alert systems, and enhanced high sensitivity monitoring systems.

ARS is responsible for site selection, installation, network operations, instrument calibration and maintenance, site operator support, calibration standards and certifications, quality assurance documentation, and all other aspects of monitoring network operations. ARS makes all validated GPMP data available to researchers and the public on a Web page linked to the NPS air quality site, EPA’s Air Quality System (AQS) and AIRNow.