Overview
McClure Pass is an air monitoring station in Gunnison County, Colorado, operated by the US Forest Service. It provides ambient air quality data as part of the US EPA Air Quality System network.
McClure Pass is an air monitoring station located in Gunnison County, Colorado, United States. Operated by the US Forest Service, it is part of the national ambient air quality monitoring network. The station contributes to the US EPA Air Quality System (AQS), which collects and manages air quality data across the country. The station operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Air Act and EPA ambient air quality standards. As a remote mountain site, it likely monitors criteria pollutants and meteorological parameters to assess background air quality and regional transport. The US Forest Service manages several monitoring stations in national forests to track air quality impacts on ecosystems. McClure Pass provides valuable data for understanding air quality in the Rocky Mountain region. Its location at a high-elevation pass helps characterize long-range pollutant transport and visibility impairment. The station supports research on ozone, particulate matter, and deposition in sensitive alpine environments.
Environmental context
McClure Pass is situated in a remote, high-elevation area of the Colorado Rockies, where air quality is influenced by regional pollution transport from urban areas and industrial sources. The station's data helps assess background ozone levels, visibility, and atmospheric deposition in sensitive ecosystems. Monitoring at such sites is critical for understanding the impacts of air pollution on forest health and water quality in mountainous regions.
Frequently asked questions
McClure Pass is located in Gunnison County, Colorado, United States, at coordinates 39.090000 N, -107.234000 W. It is situated at a high-elevation mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains.
The McClure Pass air monitoring station is operated by the US Forest Service, which manages air quality monitoring in national forests to assess impacts on ecosystems and visibility.
As part of the US EPA Air Quality System, the station likely monitors criteria pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), and meteorological parameters. Specific parameters measured may include nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide.
Air monitoring in the United States is governed by the Clean Air Act and implemented by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Air Quality System (AQS). Stations must follow EPA monitoring methods and quality assurance procedures to ensure data accuracy.
Remote monitoring stations like McClure Pass provide baseline data on background air quality, helping to distinguish local pollution from regional transport. This information is crucial for understanding visibility impairment, ecosystem impacts, and the effectiveness of air quality regulations.
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