Acadia Sunset Photo Courtesy of HAZECAM Network

Maine’s 2012 Ozone, PM2.5 and PM10

Martha WebsterSenior Meteorologist

Maine DEP-BAQ17 State House Station

Augusta, ME 04333-0017

Tel: 207-287-8093E-mail: martha.e.webster@maine.gov

Map for Forecast Website showing continuous monitors for Ozone and Particle Pollution along with the forecast regions

Ozone

• 8 hr. average set at 75 ppb (0.075ppm)• Maine has been monitoring attainment for the

current Ozone NAAQS for the last three design value periods.

• EPA currently in 5 year review period for ozone. Most likely to propose in 2014.

Ozone NAAQS

Forecasting Issues• Spring ozone continues to be difficult to

pin down. For sites away from the coast these are usually the highest values of the year.

• Summer ozone is a little easier to predict because regional events are usually the driving factor so we can see it building and heading our way.

COLOR AQI

CODE RANGE Health implications

GOOD GREEN0 - 59

0 - 50No health impacts are expected when air quality is in this range.

MODERATE YELLOW60 - 75

51 - 100

Sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS ORANGE

76 - 95

101 - 150

Active children and adults, and people with respiratory or heart disease, including asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

UNHEALTHY RED

96 - 115

151 - 200

Active children and adults, and people with respiratory or heart disease, including asthma, should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion, everyone else, especially children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

Very Unhealthy Purple

116 and above

201>

Active children and adults, and people with respiratory or heart disease, including asthma, should avoid all outdoor exertion, everyone else, especially children, should limit outdoor exertion.

DESCRIPTOR8-Hour Ave.

Concentration (ppb)

Spring Mtn Top

PM2.5

• Primary 24 hr. average set at 35 µg/m3

• Primary annual average was recently promulgated at 12 µg/m3

• Maine’s 24 hr. DV has always been below the current NAAQS

• Maine’s Annual DV has not exceeded 12 since 2003 – 2005 period.

PM2.5 NAAQS

Insert Design value chart

New Annual PM2.5 NAAQS

Forecasting Issues

• Continue to work to correctly forecast winter particle pollution: it seems that each winter is different than the one before.

• This winter it has been complicated by the new, lower Good/Moderate AQI breakpoint as well as the staggered switch to BAMS monitors.

• Summer is dominated by regional events.

COLOR AQI PM2.5

CODE RANGE24-Hour Ave.

(µg/m³) Health implications

GOOD GREEN 0 - 50 0 - 12.0No health impacts are expected when air quality is in this range.

MODERATE YELLOW 51 - 100 12.1 - 35.4Sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.

UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS

ORANGE 101 - 150 35.5 - 55.4

People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should limit prolonged exertion.

UNHEALTHY RED 151 - 200 55.5 - 150.4

People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should avoid prolonged exertion; everyone else should limit prolonged exertion.

Very Unhealthy Purple 201-300 150.5 - 250.4

People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should avoid any outdoor activity; everyone else should avoid prolonged exertion.

DESCRIPTOR

Spring Summer AutumnWinter

Winter = Dec - March

Year-round Valley

PM10

Cont PM10