Overview
St. Marks Wildlife Refuge Air Monitoring Station in Saint Marks, Florida, is an operational NCORE site reporting to FDEP. It provides continuous ambient air quality data for the region.
St. Marks Wildlife Refuge Air Monitoring Station is located in Saint Marks, Wakulla County, Florida, United States. It is part of the NCORE (National Core) monitoring network, which focuses on multi-pollutant monitoring to support health and environmental research. The station is operated under the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Ambient Monitoring Section and remains operational as of mid-2025. The station operates within the US EPA Air Quality System (AQS) framework, which sets standards for criteria pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides. As an NCORE site, it likely measures a comprehensive suite of pollutants including speciation and meteorological parameters, providing high-quality data for regulatory compliance and scientific studies. The network emphasizes representativeness and continuity in monitoring. Located in a wildlife refuge, the station contributes to understanding background air quality in a coastal, ecologically sensitive area. Its data supports regional air quality management and helps assess the impact of nearby urban and industrial sources. The station's long-term operation ensures valuable trend analysis for environmental protection.
Environmental context
The station is situated within the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, a coastal wetland ecosystem along the Florida Panhandle. This setting provides a baseline for monitoring air quality in a relatively pristine environment, away from major urban emissions. The NCORE network's focus on multi-pollutant monitoring, including ozone and fine particles, is critical for assessing impacts on vegetation and wildlife. Data from this site helps distinguish between natural and anthropogenic influences on air quality in the region.
Frequently asked questions
The station is located at County Road 59 in Saint Marks, Wakulla County, Florida, United States, within the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.
It is part of the NCORE (National Core) monitoring network, which is a multi-pollutant monitoring program under the US EPA.
The station is operated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Ambient Monitoring Section.
NCORE stations typically measure criteria pollutants (ozone, PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide) along with speciation and meteorological parameters to support health and climate research.
The US EPA's Air Quality System (AQS) sets standards for monitoring methods, siting, and data reporting. Stations like this one must follow federal reference methods and quality assurance procedures to ensure data accuracy and representativeness.
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