In this Section:

	Background
	Project Overview
	Research Methods
	Status of Project
	References
	Related Links
	Contacts

Research and Products:
Air Quality

Status of Project

Researchers have identified meteorological variables exerting the strongest influence on ozone and particulate matter (PM) air quality in the Southwest’s cities. The effects of these variables have been removed from the air quality time series, and the underlying, emissions-related trends have been examined. Several meetings with stakeholders have been organized, including a forum to present and discuss the results of this study (list of meetings). In addition, the results of this research have been accepted for publication (Wise and Comrie 2005a; Wise and Comrie 2005b).

Figure 5. Models of meteorologically adjusted long-term ozone trends at ten stations. [more details]

The study found that the following variables exert the most influence on ozone:

• Albuquerque: temperature, mixing height, solar radiation
• El Paso: temperature, mixing height
• Las Vegas: mixing height, temperature
• Phoenix: temperature, mixing height
• Tucson: mixing height, solar radiation, temperature

The study found that the following variables exert the most influence on PM:

• Albuquerque: relative humidity, mixing height, wind speed
• El Paso: relative humidity, wind speed
• Las Vegas: relative humidity, temperature
• Phoenix: relative humidity, wind speed
• Tucson: relative humidity, mixing height

Figure 6. Models of meteorologically adjusted long-term particulate matter (PM) trends at ten stations. [more details]