Results of PM{sub 10} and TSP monitoring at McMurdo Station, Antarctica

• Main Author: Lugar, R. M.
• Other Authors: National Science Foundation (U.S.)
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Idaho National Engineering Laboratory 1993
• Subjects: Particulates; Air Quality; Total Suspended Particulates; Chemicals Monitoring And Transport; Air Pollution 540120; Antarctica; 54 Environmental Sciences; Air Pollution Monitoring; Austral; McMurdo Station; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.2172/10192138; https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1394738/

This report presents the results of ambient air monitoring of particulate matter performed during the 1992-1993 austral summer in the vicinity of McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Thirty three 24-hour samples were collected from three locations for determination of the concentration of particulate matter less that 10 micrometers (PM{sub 10}), and seven samples collected for determination of total suspended particulate matter (TSP) concentration. Critical flow high volume air samplers with a sample flow rate of approximately 1.1 m{sup 3}/min. were used to collect the particulate matter on quartz fiber filters for subsequent gravimetric analysis. Sampling site selection, sampling procedures, and quality assurance procedures used were consistent with US Environmental Protection Agency guidance for local ambient air quality networks. Mean austral summer PM{sub 10} levels in the McMurdo locale were 3 {mu}g/m{sup 3} at the predominantly upwind location, 9 {mu}g/m{sup 3} at a location approximately 500 meters downwind of the station, and 16 {mu}g/m{sup 3} at a {open_quotes}downtown{close_quotes} location. All PM{sub 10} results were below the US National Ambient Air Quality Standard. TSP results at all locations were greater than PM{sub 10} concentrations; ranging from 8 {mu}g/m{sup 3} at the upwind location to a maximum measurement of 276 {mu}g/m{sup 3} at the {open_quotes}downtown{close_quotes} location. The initial baseline effort demonstrated that site selection and sampling equipment performance were satisfactory, and provided useful data for assessing the impact of McMurdo operations on the local ambient air quality.