The Southeastern Aerosol Research and Characterization Study: Part 1—Overview

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of a major, long-term program for tropospheric gas and aerosol research in the southeastern United States. Building on three existing ozone (O 3 )-focused research sites begun in mid-1992, the Southeastern Aerosol Research and Characterization Study (SEARCH) was initiated in mid-1998 as a 7-year observation and research program with a broader focus including aerosols and an expanded geographical coverage in the Southeast. The monitoring network comprises four urban-rural (or urban-suburban) site pairs at locations along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and inland, including two moderately sized and two major urban areas (Pensacola, FL; Gulfport, MS; Atlanta, GA; and Birmingham, AL). The sites are equipped with an extensive suite of instruments for measuring particulate matter (PM), gases relevant to secondary O 3 and the production of secondary aerosol particles, and surface meteorology. The measurements taken to date have added substantially to the knowledge about the temporal behavior and geographic variability of tropospheric aerosols in the Southeast. Details are presented in four papers to follow.

Epoxide as a precursor to secondary organic aerosol formation from isoprene photooxidation in the presence of nitrogen oxides

“…Archived ambient fine aerosol samples collected during the summer 2008 Mini-Intensive Gas and Aerosol Study (AMIGAS) in Atlanta, Georgia, at the Jefferson Street site were also analyzed. A detailed description of the sampling site and collocated measurements is provided elsewhere (45). Aerosol sample analysis is described in the SI Text.…”

Regional visibility statistics in the United States: Natural and transboundary pollution influences, and implications for the Regional Haze Rule

“…The model shows no skill in summer (R 2 ¼ 0:06) but concentrations are then very low. results with observations at three rural sites (Centreville, Alabama; Yorkville, Georgia, and Oak Grove, MS, USA) from the SouthEastern Aerosol Research and Characterization Study experiment (SEARCH) (Hansen et al, 2003). The simulated OC concentrations in summer at those three sites are 3.3, 2.0, and 2.4 mg m À3 , respectively, which are consistent with the observations of 3.0, 2.6, and 3.4 mg m À3 .…”

Source Apportionment of Daily Fine Particulate Matter at Jefferson Street, Atlanta, GA, during Summer and Winter

“…with the Thermo Anderson high volume sampler (Andersen Instruments, Inc.). Other data, including OC, elemental carbon (EC), Al, Si, sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium were obtained from PM 2.5 samples taken with the Particulate Composition Monitor (PCM) sampler (Atmospheric Research & Analysis, Inc.) as described by Hansen et al, 22 which was operated in parallel with the high-volume sampler.…”

“…This site is one of the urban sites in the Southeastern Aerosol Research and Characterization (SEARCH) air quality monitoring network. 22 Sampling of PM 2.5 was conducted daily during July 3 to August 4, 2001, and January 2-31, 2002, representing summertime and wintertime periods, respectively. July 2001 (or ESP01 intensive) and January 2002 (or ESP02 intensive) are two periods when EPA Supersites were conducting intensive measurements in the eastern United States.…”