Overview
UL Bend is an air monitoring station in Fergus County, Montana, operated by the National Park Service as part of the IMPROVE network. It provides data on visibility and particulate matter in a remote rural setting.
UL Bend is an air monitoring station located in Fergus County, Montana, within the United States. It is part of the IMPROVE (Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments) network, which focuses on assessing visibility and air quality in protected areas. The station is operated by the National Park Service and serves a remote rural location, contributing to long-term atmospheric monitoring. The station operates under the regulatory framework of the US EPA Air Quality System (AQS), which sets standards for criteria pollutants. As an IMPROVE site, it specializes in measuring fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and its chemical speciation, as well as light extinction for visibility assessment. The network uses standardized sampling protocols and instruments to ensure data comparability across sites. Environmental monitoring at UL Bend supports the understanding of regional haze and air quality trends in the Northern Great Plains. Data from this station helps inform policies on visibility protection and public health. Its remote location provides a baseline for background air quality, free from major urban or industrial influences.
Environmental context
The UL Bend station is situated in a sparsely populated area of Montana, characterized by grasslands and agricultural land. The IMPROVE network's focus on visibility and particulate matter is particularly relevant here, as the region experiences occasional wildfire smoke and dust events. Monitoring at this site helps track long-range transport of pollutants and assess compliance with regional haze regulations under the Clean Air Act.
Frequently asked questions
UL Bend is located in Fergus County, Montana, United States, in a remote rural area near the UL Bend National Wildlife Refuge.
As part of the IMPROVE network, UL Bend measures fine particulate matter (PM2.5), its chemical components, and visibility-related parameters such as light extinction.
The station is operated by the National Park Service under the IMPROVE program, which is a collaborative effort among federal and state agencies.
The station operates under the US EPA Air Quality System (AQS) and complies with the Clean Air Act's regional haze rules, which aim to improve visibility in protected areas.
Remote monitoring provides baseline data on background air quality, helps track long-range pollutant transport, and supports assessments of regional haze and climate impacts.
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