Air Quality Monitoring Data
Fairbanks Particulate Matter 10 (PM10)
The NCore site is located in downtown Fairbanks. Monitoring for PM10 began on February 23, 2011. The charts below show historical data from this monitor. The Alaska Air Monitoring Plan contains more information about this monitor.
Note: The vertical axis of these charts extends to 250 µg/m3. The PM10 concentrations are made at standard conditions and are corrected for local temperature and pressure.
The following graphs show the 24-hour averaged PM10 concentrations measured at the Fairbanks NCore monitoring site from 2023 through 2011.
2020
2019
The PM10 24-hour concentrations were below the 24-hour NAAQS of 150 µg/m3 with the exception of two days in July. There were two Exceptional Events documented this year, which were due to wildfire and included in PM2.5 Exceptional Event Waiver Request.
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
The 2012 PM2.5 24-hour concentrations exceeded the 24-hour NAAQS (35 µg/m3) 10 times. Monitoring did not begin until March. The 98th percentile concentration was 158.4 µg/m3.
Glossary
- NAAQS
- National Ambient Air Quality Standard - A health-based air quality standard set by EPA based on a review of available scientific information. NAAQS exist for criteria pollutants including Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Ozone(O3), and Lead(Pb).
- EPA's NAAQS Webpage
- Concentration, µg/m3
- The amount of PM2.5 suspended in the air with units of micrograms(one-millionth of a gram) per cubic meter
- Exceedance
- A day when the 24-hour measured concentration of PM2.5 exceeds the NAAQS.
- 98th Percentile
- The daily value out of a year of PM2.5 monitoring data below which 98 percent of all daily values fall. 40 CFR 50 Appendix N - see section 4.5(a)
- 24-hour Design Value (DV)
- A three-year average of the 98th percentile value. An area is in violation of the NAAQS when the Design Values is greater than the 24-hour NAAQS for PM2.5, which is currently set at 35 µg/m340 CFR 50 Appendix N - see section 4.5(b)
- Clean Data Year
- A year when the 98th percentile value is less than the NAAQS.
- Exceptional Events
- Unusual or naturally occurring events that can affect air quality but are not reasonably controllable.
- EPA's Exceptional Events Webpage
- DEC's Exceptional Events Webpage
- Compliance with PM2.5 NAAQS
- 24-Hour: 98th percentile, averaged over 3 years, must be below the standardAnnual: Annual arithmetic mean, averaged over 3 years, must be below the standard. 40 CFR 50 Appendix N - see sections 4.1 and 4.2
| Standard | 1997 - 2006 | 2006 - 2012 | 2012 - 2024 | 2024 - current |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24-hour | 65 µg/m3 | 35 µg/m3 | 35 µg/m3 | 35 µg/m3 |
| Annual | 15 µg/m3 | 15 µg/m3 | 12 µg/m3 | 9 µg/m3 |