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The Southeastern Aerosol Research and Characterization Study: part 1--Overview
D Alan Hansen1, Eric S Edgerton, Benjamin E Hartsell
1Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, California, USA.
Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995)
|January 1, 2004
Summary
The Southeastern Aerosol Research and Characterization Study (SEARCH) investigated tropospheric gas and aerosol research in the Southeast. This long-term program enhanced understanding of aerosol behavior and geographic variability.
Area of Science:
- Atmospheric Science
- Environmental Science
- Chemistry
Background:
- Existing ozone (O3) research sites established in 1992.
- Initiation of the Southeastern Aerosol Research and Characterization Study (SEARCH) in 1998.
- Expanded geographical coverage and focus on aerosols in the Southeast.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a major, long-term program for tropospheric gas and aerosol research.
- To broaden the research focus beyond ozone to include aerosols.
- To expand geographical coverage across the Southeastern United States.
Main Methods:
- Established a monitoring network of four urban-rural site pairs.
- Equipped sites with instruments for measuring particulate matter (PM) and relevant gases.
- Collected data on surface meteorology.
Main Results:
- Substantially increased knowledge of tropospheric aerosol temporal behavior.
- Provided insights into the geographic variability of aerosols in the Southeast.
- Collected extensive data on PM, gases, and meteorology.
Conclusions:
- The SEARCH program significantly advanced understanding of atmospheric processes in the Southeast.
- The study established a robust dataset for future research on air quality.
- Findings highlight the importance of long-term monitoring for aerosol research.