PM2.5 Monitoring Site Help

Monitoring v4 Help

also see: About the Monitoring v4 Tool

(this page still under development)

Main Page | Specific Graphics | Data Report + CSV Export + AQI-Nowcast | Troubleshooting | Useful Tips & FAQs

Useful Tools


FAQs

Q: I just set up my smoke monitor, how long before I see it on the Monitoring Site map?

A: After verifying the monitor is transmitting successfully to AirSis/WRCC, you should expect to see the monitor show up on the Monitoring Site map within 3 hours.

Q: I see my monitor in AirSis/WRCC but not on the Monitoring Site, why?

A: 2 things to check: Time and the QC reports.

Time: Typically, monitors will appear within 3 hours, however, if it has been over 6 hours since your monitor successfully began transmitting on WRCC/AirSis and is not the Monitoring Site map, please post a message in Slack on the "monitoring-v4-site" channel and include the AirSis or WRCC link to the monitor in question. It's also possible the QC report is disregarding data if it's not within acceptable thresholds.

QC Reports: If the monitor is not operating correctly (parameters are not within specified thresholds), data will be dropped. If no data is within acceptable thresholds, you may not see the monitor on the map. Use the info on the Monitoring Site QC Reports page to run a QC report for a monitor that does not show up on the map. You can then verify if the monitor is operating within acceptable thresholds or dropping all data.

Q: I just moved my monitor, how long before the location is updated on the map?

A: When a monitor is moved, it is considered a "new" monitor deployment and you can expect to see the monitor in the new location within 3 hours of it successfully transmitting to AirSis/WRCC. Note that the "old" monitor will still appear until the data "ages out" in 10 days.

Q: How do I use the AQI-NowCast tool on the Monitoring site?

A: This reporting tool plots hourly NowCast as bars in AQI colors and overlays daily average pm2.5 as semi-transparent daily bars. The result is returned as an 8.5x11 PDF suitable for printing. After you have selected all your monitors from the map, simply click on the tool link located below the map (called "AQI-NowCast") and a new browser window will open with your graphical output. The default report displays the last 10 days. However, you can adjust the time, all the way up to 45 by finding the segment of the URL that says lookbackdays=10 and changing "10" to your desired number of days.

Q: Why are data chunks missing from my time series bar plot?

A: Check the QC report for the monitor and specifically check the graphic "QC Parameters and Thresholds" to verify the monitor is operating correctly. If any parameters are out of range, PM2.5 data might have been removed. You can check if data was removed by looking at the "Raw PM2.5 Data and QC Removal" graphic which indicates any removed data.

Q: Why is there no data on my bar plot and yet the QC report shows valid data?

A: Check monitor latency (drop-down menu on the map) and verify the last time data was received. OR Has the monitor been moved? Ensure you are not selecting the "old" monitor location.

Q: Why don't I see the QC Report option for some of the monitors I've selected in my monitor list?

A: QC Report is only available in temporary monitors

Q: Can I adjust the QC thresholds for my monitor?

A: No


GOES Tips

  • Quick way to determine GOES-15 satellite angle and location to optimize monitor location

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=goes-15

  • GOES transmission / relay issues:

Equatorial orbit, need view south to transmit

Far north positions (AK) can be problematic

Transmission lags can occur due to sequencing, limited bandwidth, and “collisions.”

GOES listens to everyone, but in specific turns. However, since many sites use a turn, every site will not be listened to on a given turn – your monitor may skip a turn.

If your monitor conflicts with another’s ID or is in a turn with a louder signal, it can get lost.

Questions

Air Resource Advisors should post questions / issues to the WFAQRP > #monitoring-v4-site channel.

External inquiries regarding the Monitoring Site may be directed to Dr. Sim Larkin, USFS-AirFire, larkin (at) fs.fed.us.