Such pollution has a critical impact on ecosystems, making plants and animals more susceptible to disease and invasive species. Air quality also impacts humans not only in health, but in their enjoyment of our natural world, and thus their desire to want to make a change.

Think of that one mountaintop vista that left you speechless because you could see for miles and miles on end. Then, think of that vista again with a dense layer of smog from wildfire or other air pollution sources – you wouldn’t want that special place to be in that condition year-round. This is part of what I have been learning about in my position as the air quality and climate change resource assistant for the Southwestern Regional Office. I have been going weekly to one of the forest service’s IMPROVE (Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments) sites located in the beautiful Gila National Forest to change air filters.

In response to the Clean Air Act, Congress established a goal to prevent future visibility impairment and resolve current impairment in over 150 protected wilderness and national park areas, known as Class I Areas. This program is part of a national visibility and fine particulate matter monitoring program that has over 160 sites, with one third being US Forest Service sites. Federal ruling states that these areas must be back to natural conditions by the year 2064.

The IMPROVE sites collect aerosol samples of pollutants such as nitrates and sulfates which is then analyzed to establish baseline visibility conditions and then track any changes over time. This data can also help guide us to nearby sources contributing to air pollution so suggestions and change can be made to reduce air pollution.

The IMPROVE site in the Gila Wilderness is named GICL1 and is located just behind the Gila Cliff Dwellings visitor center. This monitor has been here since 1994 and involves weekly filter changes. According to the data, the standard visual range for this location has improved and is improving faster than the rate required to meet the 2064 natural background conditions. In my weekly trips to GICL1, I have been able to enjoy the Gila Wilderness and get hands on experience in seeing where the data I will be working with is collected from.

Figure 1: Gila Wilderness, New Mexico Baseline vs. Background Visibility goals. Credit: USDA Forest Service - Jack Triepke

Agency: U.S Forest Service

Program: Resource Assistant Program (RAP)

Location: Southwestern Regional Office