I, like many, suffer from asthma. I would like to find a thematic map
(based on colors, e.g., the worse the air quality the darker the
color) of USA on air quality. The bar for my expectations of what is
(or at least should be) available was set by www.creativemethods.com.
Here (http://www.creativemethods.com/airquality/maps/united_states.htm)
they
have a map but unfortunately it is old (at least five years) and
further, it seems as if this may or may not be based on good science.
No sample was provided including its methodology, figures, sources,
etc. I would love to get something from like a NOAA (National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration) or American Lung Association, etc,
that is well respected and therefor possibly more trustworthy.
However, though, something with information like the
creativemethods.com map,if recent, is what I am looking for. It is
CRITIAL that more than one factor (such
as CO2, or sulfur, or particulate material) is included. It is CRITIAL that a
congolmeration of factors are considered to create the multi-colored
thematic map of which I am looking for which add up to an
understanding
of the all around health (from a respiratory point of view) living in
a certain area would provide.
The american lung association
(http://lungaction.org/reports/stateoftheair2004.html) produces
reports of air quality but this is not what I want becuase it is not
in graphical (thematic map) form. |
Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
28 Jan 2005 13:06 PST
Have a look at this link:
http://view.samurajdata.se/psview.php?id=5bc149e5&page=1&size=full&ori=1
Is this the sort of map you had in mind....?
pafalafa-ga
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Clarification of Question by
tomparis2003-ga
on
02 Feb 2005 06:45 PST
You know, this map is not clear on what it is displaying and it looks
like about half of it contains no data. at
http://www.creativemethods.com/airquality/ambient/index.htm
there is at least a description of what is being judged and how and
the 'thematic map' is complete. Coloring is used not just for 'bad
air days' again no explanation of what this entails but simultaneously
for population (in the millions) making it at best unclear as to the
colors meaning. This looks like an uncompleted term paper.
It has several essentials, 1) colorized thematic map based on 2) air
quality and graphically displayed 3)county-by-county
but lacks at least an equal number of essentials, 1) respected source
2) data used (what are the factors considered in overall quality? and
3) completeness.
Please continue looking.
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Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
02 Feb 2005 07:03 PST
The map I linked to comes directly from the US Environmental
Protection Agency's Air Quality System database. You can see it in
its original page at:
http://www.epa.gov/cgi-bin/broker?_service=agweb&_program=airsg.webprogs.msummary.scl&_debug=2&geotype=us&geocode=USA&geoname=United+States&mpol=aqi_days&myear=2004&exc=&mapsize=zsc&reqtype=viewmap#disclaimer
The color coding represents the severity of the AQI -- the Air Quality
Index -- which combines data from a number of individual pollutants
such as sulfur dioxide, ozone, particulates, etc. and arrives at an
overall index of pollution.
There are various links on the page with the map that offer a greater
level of detail on how the numbers are compiled.
As for the missing counties...you're absolutely right! EPA readily
acknowledges that only "1053 of 3221 Counties have data".
Still, I believe this is the best, most up-to-date, and most
comprehensive information available.
What do you think?
paf
|
Clarification of Question by
tomparis2003-ga
on
04 Feb 2005 09:05 PST
I appreciate what you found, but it is not what I was looking for.
The fact that what I am looking for (a complete map) my not exist is
certainly possible. But I would either feel comfortable increasing my
list price (say doubling) or giving you a third of the list price,
e.g. Honestly, without a recent complete map I still am left in a
quandry.
Possibly the fact that what you have narrowed in on my be too specific
and an air quality that reports by the month, bi-yearly, yearly
(2004), would actually give me (and you) what I (and you) are looking
for. If I said yes, and took what you have found I would not only be
settling for less than requested, I would not have a complete view and
therefor about 1/3 of the us would not be accessible to me.
What do you think?
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Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
04 Feb 2005 09:18 PST
Tom,
I'd love to be able to find the map you're looking for, but I'm not sure it exists!
Another possibility is this one:
http://www.epa.gov/cgi-bin/broker?_service=agweb&_program=airsg.webprogs.emisdist.scl&_debug=2&geotype=us&geocode=USA&geoname=United+States&empol=TOTEMIS&emyear=1999&emtype=&emtier=&emval=a&mapsize=zsc&reqtype=viewmap
with much more complete coverage across the US. However, the data is
from 1999, so doesn't quite meet your "recent" criteria. Still, the
overall distribution of good vs bad counties probably hasn't changed
all that much...southern California will always be southern
California!
Have a look, and let me know if you see a way to move forward on this.
All the best,
paf
|
Clarification of Question by
tomparis2003-ga
on
04 Feb 2005 11:45 PST
What I am looking for may not exist, but it seems likely that it
would. Emission amounts is not the same as airquality. E.g., a large
county that emits 100 tons may still be better than a small county
that emits 1 ton depending on the size, how the wind blows, where it
blows from, etc. In short emissions does not really tell me anything
about the air quality, just that they (the county) makes a certain
amount of pollution.
And ya, you are right, 1999 is too old, 1 to 2 years is my limit.
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Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
04 Feb 2005 11:53 PST
Best of luck with this one. Perhaps another researcher will come
across something that I've missed thus far.
paf
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