Advisory

Air Quality Planning Technical Analysis and Data

Overview

This page houses information related to the RAQC’s work around air quality data, modeling, and technical analysis to support air quality planning. Tracking and modeling ozone concentrations are essential to ensure that air quality planning decisions are backed by science and to estimate and monitor progress towards air quality goals.

Ozone Tracking: Monitoring Progress Towards Attaining Ozone Standards

The RAQC utilizes data from several ozone monitors around the Denver Metro/North Front Range region to track when and where ozone concentrations fall under or exceed air quality standards and goals. Ozone summary tables are updated weekly during Ozone season, which runs from approximately May to September. The most recent summary table can be found here. Historic summary tables are available here. While this information is intended for longer-term tracking and analysis relevant for State Implementation Plans for ozone and overarching air quality planning, the RAQC also provides daily ozone air quality alerts and advisories through its Simple Steps. Better Air. program.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Air Pollution Control Division (APCD) also provides air quality data and information to the public. These include Denver/Front Range air quality forecasts, a Colorado Smoke Blog, maps, daily ozone email alerts, and more.

A map showing the locations of air quality monitors in and near the Denver Metro/North Front Range. The maps shows 14 monitors across Weld, Larimer, Boulder, Denver, Jefferson, Adams, and Arapahoe Counties.

A map of the locations of air quality monitors in the RAQC region (Colorado’s Ozone Nonattainment area) that is violating ozone air quality standards. The monitoring sites are operated by Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Emissions Analyses and Ozone Modeling: Verifying that Future Emissions Will Fall Below Ozone Standards

To aid in evaluating the impact of emissions control strategies as well as developing Attainment Demonstrations as part of SIP requirements for U.S. EPA, the RAQC also engages in air pollution modeling efforts called photochemical modeling in collaboration with the APCD. The RAQC’s emissions and ozone air quality modeling efforts include reports and dashboards related to current and past SIP planning processes as well as information from its Attainment Planning forum meetings, which provide an opportunity for stakeholders and the public to engage.

This image shows a 3D model over an area of land and points out various emission sources that influence air quality at the land surface and in the atmosphere: the industrial sector and power generation, agriculture and biosphere, traffic, residential and commercial sector, and resource extraction.

An overview of the structure of and selected inputs to a photochemical air quality model required by EPA for attainment planning. It takes into account the 3D effects of emissions on air quality in a region. From AWMA Environmental Manager magazine, July 2012 issue: Douw Steyn, Peter Builtjes, Martin Schaap, Greg Yarwood.

RAQC-Led Air Quality Enterprise Projects

The Colorado Air Quality Enterprise Board selected the RAQC to receive funding for following projects, under the second round of funding of the AQE’s Ozone Related Research Request for Proposal:

Project Title: NOx and VOC Observations and Analysis in the Denver Metro/North Front Range Ozone Nonattainment Area to Support the State Implementation Plan (SIP)

Project Title: 2020-2024 Wildfire Ozone Impacts