IMPROVE Publications

Since 1988 when AQRC installed the first IMPROVE aerosol samplers in the field, the IMPROVE network has yielded many millions of measurement values. A large community of researchers and analysts use these data to address a wide range of scientific and regulatory issues. Papers and publications stemming from this trove of data are listed below.

ATR-FTIR characterization of organic functional groups and inorganic ions in ambient aerosols at a rural site

Coury, C. and A. M. Dillner (2009), ATR-FTIR characterization of organic functional groups and inorganic ions in ambient aerosols at a rural site, Atmos. Environ., 43, 940-948.

Back-trajectory-based source apportionment of airborne sulfur and nitrogen concentrations at Rocky Mountain National Park

Gebhart, K. A., B. A. Schichtel, W. C. Malm, M. G. Barna, M. A. Rodriguez, and J. L. Collett (2011), Back-trajectory-based source apportionment of airborne sulfur and nitrogen concentrations at Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA, Atmos. Environ., 45, 621-633.

Characterization of ambient fine particles in the northwestern area and Anchorage

Kim, E. and P. K. Hopke (2008), Characterization of ambient fine particles in the northwestern area and Anchorage, Alaska, J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc., 58, 1328-1340.

Chemical markers for sea salt in IMPROVE aerosol data

White, W. H. (2008), Chemical markers for sea salt in IMPROVE aerosol data, Atmos. Environ., 42, 261-274.

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Chemical mass balance source apportionment for combined PM2.5 measurements from U.S. non-urban and urban long-term networks

Chen, L.-W. A., J. G. Watson, J. C. Chow, D. W. DuBois, and L. Herschberger (2010), Chemical mass balance source apportionment for combined PM2.5 measurements from U.S. non-urban and urban long-term networks, Atmos. Environ., 44, 4908-4918.

Comparison of GOES and MODIS Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) to Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) AOD and IMPROVE PM2.5 mass at Bondville, Illinois

Green, M. C., S. Kondragunta, P. Ciren, and C. Y. Xu (2009), Comparison of GOES and MODIS Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) to Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) AOD and IMPROVE PM2.5 mass at Bondville, Illinois, J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc., 59, 1082-1091.

Decreases in elemental carbon and fine particle mass in the United States

Murphy, D. M., J. C. Chow, E. M. Leibensperger, W. C. Malm, M. L. Pitchford, B. A. Schichtel, J. G. Watson, and W. H. White (2011), Decreases in elemental carbon and fine particle mass in the United States, Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., 11, 2057-2076.

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Determination of Organic Mass and Organic Mass to Organic Carbon Ratios by Infrared Spectroscopy with Application to Selected Sites in the IMPROVE Network

Ruthenburg, T.C., Perlin, P. C., Liu, V., , McDade, C. E., Dillner, A. M., Determination of Organic Mass and Organic Mass to Organic Carbon Ratios by Infrared Spectroscopy with Application to Selected Sites in the IMPROVE Network. Atmospheric Environment, 86, 47-57, 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2013.12.034, 2014.

Determining contributions of biomass burning and other sources to fine particle contemporary carbon in the western United States

Holden, A. S., Sullivan, A. P., Munchak, L. A., Kreidenweis, S. M., Schichtel, B. A., Malm, W. C., and Collett, Jr. J. L. (2011) Determining contributions of biomass burning and other sources to fine particle contemporary carbon in the western United States. Atmos. Environ., 45, 1986-1993.

Determining the spatial and seasonal variability in OM/OC ratios across the US using multiple regression

Simon, H., P. V. Bhave, J. L. Swall, N. H. Frank, and W. C. Malm (2011), Determining the spatial and seasonal variability in OM/OC ratios across the US using multiple regression, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 2933-2949.