Overview
Chiricahua NM is an air monitoring station in the CASTNET network, located in Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona. It provides long-term data on air quality and atmospheric deposition in a remote, high-elevation environment.
Chiricahua NM is an air monitoring station operated under the Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNET), situated in Chiricahua National Monument in Cochise County, Arizona. The station is part of a national network designed to assess the effectiveness of emission reduction programs by monitoring ambient air quality and atmospheric deposition in rural and remote areas. Its location in a protected natural area provides baseline data representative of regional background conditions. The station operates under the U.S. EPA's CASTNET program, which follows standardized protocols for measuring criteria pollutants, particulate matter, and wet and dry deposition. Monitoring includes parameters such as ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and meteorological variables. The reporting agency, Mactec, Inc, ensures data quality and continuity, with the most recent sample collected in December 2024. This station contributes to the broader Air Quality System (AQS) managed by the EPA. As a remote site in the southwestern United States, Chiricahua NM provides critical data on air quality in a region influenced by long-range transport of pollutants, wildfires, and dust. The station's long-term record supports research on climate change, ecosystem health, and visibility in national parks. Its data are used to evaluate compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and to inform policy decisions on air quality management.
Environmental context
Chiricahua NM is situated in a remote, high-desert ecosystem at the intersection of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts. The station's monitoring captures regional background air quality, including ozone levels influenced by urban and industrial emissions from distant sources. The site is representative of the southwestern U.S., where arid conditions and frequent wildfires contribute to particulate matter variability. CASTNET data from this station help assess the impact of air pollution on sensitive ecosystems, including visibility in nearby national parks and protected areas.
Frequently asked questions
Chiricahua NM is located in Chiricahua National Monument in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. It is a remote, high-elevation site representative of regional background air quality.
The station measures criteria pollutants such as ozone, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides, as well as particulate matter, wet and dry deposition, and meteorological parameters as part of the CASTNET network.
The station is operated under the U.S. EPA's Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNET), with reporting agency Mactec, Inc handling data collection and quality assurance.
CASTNET is a national network that monitors ambient air quality and atmospheric deposition in rural areas to assess the effectiveness of emission reduction programs under the Clean Air Act. Data support compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
As a remote site, Chiricahua NM provides baseline data on long-range pollutant transport, wildfire impacts, and ecosystem health. Its long-term record supports research on climate change and visibility in national parks, informing policy decisions.
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