NARSTO Texas PM2.5 Study: 1997-1998 Air Quality Measurements

NARSTO_Texas_PM2.5_Sampling_and_Analysis_Study_1997-1998_ contains data from a one-year study sponsored by the City of Houston, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, and the Houston Regional Monitoring Network. Measurements were collected from March 11, 1997 to March 12, 1998 at 15 sites across Texas, focusing on 24-hour PM2.5 mass and chemical composition. The study aimed to establish background conditions and inform the U.S. EPA's revision of particulate matter air quality standards.

Use Cases

• Analyze PM2.5 mass concentration trends based on 24-hour measurements from 15 sites.
• Model chemical composition of particulate matter based on full chemical analysis of filter subsets.
• Evaluate data precision and accuracy based on various sampler configurations mentioned in the description.
• Establish regional background PM2.5 levels for Texas based on the study's stated objectives.

Strengths

• Data collected over a full year from March 1997 to March 1998.
• Measurements from 15 sites across Texas provide spatial coverage.
• Includes both mass measurements via gravimetry and full chemical analysis for a filter subset.

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 1997-1998; its relevance for current modeling may require verification.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

24-hour PM2.5 samples collected using DRI's MEDVOL particle samplers, with Teflon and quartz fiber filters analyzed for mass and chemistry.

Time Range

March 11, 1997 to March 12, 1998

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-12 23:58:04.302352; freshness should be verified.

Geography

15 sites throughout the state of Texas, USA, with focus on Houston.