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Recently, the University of Missouri (UM) moved its SuomiNet station from the roof of a building near downtown Columbia, Missouri, USA, to the University's rural South Farm. Comparisons of Columbia Regional Airport (KCOU) data and SuomiNet data are presented both prior to and after the latter's relocation. Analysis reveals an elevation of mean temperature by ∼1.5• C at the downtown location, but no difference between the more rural station and KCOU. These results show that the influence of the Columbia heat island does not extend to 7 km from the city center and that the present SuomiNet location is now more representative.

In collaboration with the Jefferson County Department of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the University of Alabama in Huntsville developed a novel sensor for detecting very low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This sensor uses a commercial Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, a commercial long-path IR gas cell, a commercial acoustic Stirling cyrocooler, and a custom cryogen-free cryotrap to improve sensitivity in an autonomous system with on-board quality control and quality assurance. Laboratory and initial field results show this methodology is sensitive to and well-suited for a wide variety of VOC atmospheric research and monitoring applications, including EPA National Air Toxics Trends Stations and the National Core monitoring network.