Air Quality Monitoring Data
North Pole Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5)
The North Pole Hurst Road (formerly named Fire Station #3) monitor was originally a special purpose monitor (SPM) set up in 2012 to monitor wintertime PM2.5 levels in North Pole from October through March. In 2015, the monitor was reclassified as a state and local air monitoring station (SLAMS) and will operate year round. More information can be found in the Air Monitoring Network Plan. EPA used data from this monitor to determine the design value for the whole Nonattainment Area.
Note: The vertical axis of these charts extends to 200 µg/m3. The PM2.5 concentrations represent the concentration at local conditions and have not been corrected for local temperature and pressure.
The following graphs show the 24-hour averaged PM2.5 concentrations measured at the North Pole Hurst Road (Fire Station #3) monitor from 2023 through 2012.
2020
In 2020 the PM2.5 concentrations exceeded the 24-hour NAAQS (35 µg/m3) 27 times. Of those exceedances, zero are categorized as Exceptional Events. The 98th percentile concentration was 71.4 µg/m3.
2019
In 2019 the PM2.5 concentrations exceeded the 24-hour NAAQS (35 µg/m3) 25 times. Of those exceedances, five are categorized as Exceptional Events. The 98th percentile concentration was 65.0 µg/m3.
2018
In 2019 the PM2.5 concentrations exceeded the 24-hour NAAQS (35 µg/m3) 38 times. There were six Exceptional Events documented this year. The 98th percentile concentration was 52.8 µg/m3.
2017
In 2017 the PM2.5 concentrations exceeded the 24-hour NAAQS (35 µg/m3) 18 times. There were six Exceptional Events documented this year. The 98th percentile concentration was 75.5 µg/m3.
2016
In 2016 the PM2.5 concentrations exceeded the 24-hour NAAQS (35 µg/m3) 13 times. There were no Exceptional Events documented this year. The 98th percentile concentration was 66.8 µg/m3.
2015
*2015 is the first year that the monitor was operated year-round, previously the site was operated only during the winter.
In 2015 the PM2.5 concentrations exceeded the 24-hour NAAQS (35 µg/m3) 18 times. The exceedances measured in June and July were caused by wildfire smoke and are going to be submitted as an “Exceptional Event” to EPA. They will most likely not be used to calculate NAAQS compliance. The 98th percentile concentration was 111.6 µg/m3.
2014
*The site was considered a seasonal site prior to 2015 and only operated during the winter.
In 2014 the PM2.5 concentrations exceeded the 24-hour NAAQS (35 µg/m3) 22 times. The 98th percentile concentration was 138.3 µg/m3.
2013
*The site was considered a seasonal site prior to 2015 and only operated during the winter.
The 2013 PM2.5 concentrations exceeded the 24-hour NAAQS (35 µg/m3) 11 times. The 98th percentile concentration was 121.6 µg/m3.
2012
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 |