An Expanding Network
Growing Our Monitoring Capacity
To ensure, that more communities across the region have access to reliable air quality information, PRAMP’s monitoring network has since grown from the first three monitoring stations in Three Creeks and Reno. Airshed boundaries have twice expanded and now include Peace River, Grimshaw, Fairview, Manning, Red Earth Creek, MD of Fairview, MD of Peace, Northern Sunrise County and parts of the County of Northern Lights and the MD of Smoky River.
Refer to the Air Monitoring Network Map for location details.
Monitoring Methods
Continuous Monitoring
There are five stations in the PRAMP monitoring area: Reno-B station, 986-C station, 842-B station, PRC station, and our AQHI station in Peace River. Continuous monitoring equipment provides nearly instantaneous measurements of ambient concentrations of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ozone (O3), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and total reduced sulphur (TRS). All monitoring stations are also equipped with meteorological equipment to assess the impact of local conditions on ambient air. Averages are calculated over one-minute and one-hour intervals to determine maximum and minimum atmospheric concentrations.
Passive Monitoring
PRAMP’s Passive Monitoring Network provides monthly average concentrations of Sulphur Dioxide and Hydrogen Sulphide. Passive monitors are currently distributed in a small network around the Peace River Complex. Passive monitors rely on gas diffusion through a barrier and onto a collection medium. Since these samplers have no moving parts or power requirements, they are well suited for sampling in remote environments. Data is commonly used for long-term trend analysis and for comparing pollutants with other regional networks.
Microsensor Monitoring
PurpleAir sensors are used to supplement real-time air quality for smaller communities, or within urban areas at the neighbourhood level. PRAMP is currently using PurpleAir microsensors to measure fine particulate matter in communities across the PRAMP region. The sensors provide local information about particulate matter, an element that can be prevalent during wildfire smoke events.
Canister Sample-Based Monitoring
The volatile organic compound (VOC) canister sampling program captures a one-hour air sample whenever the continuously measured non-methane hydrocarbons concentration reaches a specified trigger point, currently set at 0.3 parts per million. The trigger point is based on real-time monitoring data averaged over a five-minute period. Canister sampling systems are installed at Stations Reno-B, 986-C, and 842-B. After collections, all canister samples are sent to a laboratory for analysis, which tests for over 130 VOC compounds and total reduced sulphur compounds.