Abstract:
The goal of the Supersite Transboundary Intensive Field Study (STIFS) was
the measurement of PM2.5 composition and related pollutants to improve
estimates of the local vs. long-range transport contribution to particles. The
regions of interest are from SW Ontario to SW Quebec, and the Saturna/Vancouver
area. This work was performed during the Summer-Winter-Summer of
... 2001-2002.
In addition to the long-range transport emphasis, the improved time resolution
in the datasets will provide more detail for a variety of purposes, especially
process studies and model development. STIFS particle-related measurements
included: daily ambient meteorological measurements; real-time single particle
size and chemistry; high time resolution OC, BC and particle nitrate; high time
resolution particle sulfate; size-distribution of organic and element carbon;
organic speciation; mass and water soluble organics and inorganics; particle
mass and trace metals; and particle mass and inorganic ions. A companion
document describing the project in greater detail and showing monitoring
locations accompanies the data set.
Data archived at this time are the mass and water soluble organics and
inorganics, speciated volatile organic carbon gas phase measurements, PM2.5 and
PM2.5-10 mass concentration, and elemental and organic carbon mass
concentrations.
It is known that U.S. sources contribute significantly to the regional particle
levels during certain time periods and likely have a significant impact on the
annual average. However, sources within Ontario, Quebec and B.C. also play a
role and better information on the relative importance of these sources vs.
U.S. sources is critical to policy development. Improved information on this
issue can be obtained through more detailed ambient measurements in urban and
rural areas and through the use of models. The study provided the measurements
needed to infer more about the sources of particles in areas impacted by
regional transport and to improve regional models (e.g., AURAMS and
Models-3/CMAQ) for future application.
More information can be found at http://www.narsto.org/ 
