Most national park units in the American Southwest are designated Class II air quality areas under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977. Nine parks (four in the Southern Colorado Plateau Network, three in the Chihuahuan Desert Network, and two in the Sonoran Desert Network) are designated Class I airsheds, requiring the most stringent air quality protection within and around their boundaries. Under the Clean Air Act, park managers have a responsibility to protect air quality and related values from the adverse effects of air pollution. Although most park units are some distance from cities and pollution sources, many experience occasional poor air quality from pollutants such as ozone, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds. These air pollutants may adversely affect air quality and natural resources, including vegetation, wildlife, soils, water quality, and visibility. Air quality monitoring takes place in some American Southwest parks, but only nearby others.
Showing results 1-3 of 3
- Locations: Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, Big Bend National Park, Capulin Volcano National Monument, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Fort Larned National Historic Site, more »
Both the Clean Air Act and the National Park Service Organic Act protect air resources in national parks. Park resources affected by air quality include scenery and vistas, vegetation, water, and wildlife. Over the past three decades, the National Park Service has developed several internal and cooperative programs for monitoring various measures of air quality.
- White Sands National Park
White Sands as a Dust Emission Hotspot
- Locations: White Sands National Park
The Chihuahuan Desert is one of the most intense source areas of dust storms in the Western Hemisphere; and because white gypsum dust is often visible on weather satellite images on dry, windy days, the White Sands are one of the most notable sources of dust in the Chihuahuan Desert.
- Locations: Amistad National Recreation Area, Big Bend National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Chamizal National Memorial, Fort Davis National Historic Site, more »
Three park units in the Chihuahuan Desert Network, Big Bend National Park (NP), Carlsbad Caverns NP, and Guadalupe Mountains NP are designated as Class I air quality areas under the Clean Air Act. Class I areas receive the highest protection under the act, and degradation of air quality must be minimal. Air quality concerns include atmospheric deposition effects and visibility impairment from fine particle haze.
Last updated: November 4, 2016