NARSTO EPA_SS_HOUSTON TEXAQS2000: Particulate Matter FTIR Composition

August and September 2000 data on particulate matter composition from the Texas Air Quality Study 2000. The dataset contains absolute absorbance areas for organonitrates, sulfate, aliphatic carbon, and carbonyl compounds, collected at three Houston PM Supersite locations. It was produced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and NASA as part of the NARSTO partnership to support air pollution research and policy.

Use Cases

• Source apportionment modeling based on chemical composition data for organonitrates, sulfate, aliphatic carbon, and carbonyls.
• Evaluating new methods for characterizing fine particulate matter as mentioned in the Supersite program goals.
• Supporting exposure and health effects studies with physical and chemical characterization data.
• Analyzing regional air pollution patterns in Southeastern Texas during a specific intensive study period.

Strengths

• Data collected during a focused, intensive study period (Texas Air Quality Study 2000).
• Chemical characterization includes multiple compound classes: organonitrates, sulfate, aliphatic carbon, and carbonyls.
• Samples were collected at three distinct monitoring locations (LaPorte, HRM3, Aldine) within the Houston area.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is from a specific two-month period in 2000, which may limit generalizability.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NARSTO partnership.

Collection Method

Particulate matter collected using a Herring Low Pressure Impactor (LPI) and analyzed via FTIR spectroscopy.

Time Range

August and September 2000.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-12 23:58:39.344369; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Houston, Texas, USA (specifically LaPorte, HRM3, and Aldine monitoring sites).