2008 Alaska Park Science Symposium
October 14, 2008
Arctic Air Quality Monitoring: A New Long-term Monitoring Station in Bettles, Alaska
Andrea Blakesley1, Jim Lawler2
1Denali National Park and Preserve, PO Box 9, Denali Park, AK, 99755, USA, Phone 907-683-9545, andrea_blakesley@nps.gov
2Arctic Inventory and Monitoring Network, National Park Service, 4175 Geist Road, Fairbanks, AK, 99709-3420, USA, Phone 455-0624
In July 2008, the National Park Service installed its farthest north air quality monitoring station in Bettles, Alaska, adjacent to Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. The station measures several aspects of air quality, one of the Arctic Inventory and Monitoring Network vital signs. Sampling is conducted in collaboration with several nationwide air quality monitoring networks, and is coordinated through the NPS Air Resources Division. Weekly precipitation samples are collected and analyzed for mercury, pH, conductivity, sulfates and nitrates. 24-hour aerosol samples are collected once every three days and analyzed for airborne contaminants that reduce visibility. Alaska national parks share a vulnerability to international transport of atmospheric contaminants, though currently these are found in very low concentrations. The new arctic air quality monitoring station will help park managers assess this threat to arctic ecosystems over time, as a growing human population struggles to control global emissions.
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