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Aerometric Information Retrieval System
A National Air Data Branch Demonstration Project:
"The Use of Graphic Presentation Techniques to
Display Data from the AIRS Subsystems"
Prepared by tbe>
National Air Data Branch
Technical Support Division
OHfce ot Air Quality Planning ft Standards
October 1989
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AIRS Graphics
This booklet shows how graphics can be used to present AIRS' data simply, clearly and effectively.
Faced with the problem of interpreting numeric data, most of us would rather
look at a graph than read a list of numbers. We find it easier to spot a trend by
looking at the slope of a line than by comparing the magnitude of numbers in a
table. If geographic information is involved, the preference for a map over tabular
material is even stronger. Think about the last time you heard on the radio a
description of an area affected by a tornado watch: "...along a line extending
northeast from central Harnett County through the eastern half of..." Huh? Compare
that with the same information presented on the TV weather show. There's the
familiar state map, with the affected counties colored red and the words "tornado
watch until 8:00 pm" across the screen. In a few seconds you can see if your
county is threatened by the dangerous weather. Even if you don't hear what the
weather announcer is saying, the map gives you the essential information.
The same principle applies to the interpretation of air pollution data. In general,
it's easier to comprehend a "picture" of the data than a printed report of it. The
graphics examples on the following pages illustrate that point. The examples show
data extracted from AIRS using standard retrieval capabilities available now, or data
that will be available soon, when the AIRS Facilities Subsystem becomes operation-
al. However, you should not interpret the graphics as official statements of EPA
policy or findings. They are what they are: just examples of how AIRS data can be
presented, summarized, and clarified using graphics.
All of the graphics presented in this document have been
produced using source data from one of the AIRS Data Systems: Air Quality
Subsystem, Facility Subsystem, and the Compliance Data System.
'Tfte Aerometric Information Retrieval System is EPA's national computer database of air pollution data, administered
by the National Air Data Branch, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Durham, NC 27709. AIRS currently includes
ambient air quality data, and point source emissions and compliance data.
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Eight examples of graphic presentations of AIRS data and short
descriptions follow. These are examples of graphics which we believe would
be of use to a wide variety of environmental agencies.
*
Seven additional examples of somewhat more complex graphic
presentations-whose audience would be more limited-are included at the end
of the booklet.
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Example 2. Region 4 Ozone Non-Attainment Areas
and North Carolina Ozone Violation Days
These two maps present more detail than the previous example, and
they show how different but related types of data can be combined in one
graphic.
The upper map, ozone non-attainment areas in EPA Region 4, is a
more detailed view of the same information presented in the previous ex-
ample. It includes just the eight states in the region, and it shows county
boundaries within each state. The additional detail makes it possible to
discern that the counties where ozone is a problem are in or around metropo-
litan areas. In Florida, for example, the non-attainment counties are in the
vicinities of Jacksonville (north), Tampa-St. Petersburg (central), and Miami-Ft.
Lauderdale (south).
The lower map presents related, corroborating data for North Carolina,
one of the states in the upper regional map. It shows the number of days in
1988 that air monitoring sites in each county reported ozone concentrations
exceeding the NAAQS. Notice that the county with the most exceedance
days is the only one in the state designated a non-attainment area in the
upper map. Also notice that many counties reported no ozone data at all,
indicating that they have no ozone monitoring sites. Thus, the map tells us
the general locations of all the ozone monitors in the state as well as the
locations where high concentrations were recorded.
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I
Example 2
Ozone
Non- Attainment
Areas
In
EPA Region IV
Ozone Violation Days
North Carolina 1968
Number of Days Ozone Exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standard In Each County
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Example 8. Ozone Concentration Contours
This example was generated by a graphics program that "specializes"
in creating contour maps and three-dimensional representations of them.
The most common kind of contour map shows the contour of the land
surface - the elevation. In this example, the maximum ozone concentration
reported on a particular date in the northeastern part of the U.S. is presented
in the same way. The hills and valleys in the top graphic represent the highs
and lows of ozone concentration. The bottom graphic gives the geographic
context with state outlines, and shows the contour lines that correspond to
the hills and valleys.
The ozone contour in this example was derived from the maximum
concentration reported by each monitoring site in the map area. The surface
modeling program extrapolated from those points and computed the probable
ozone concentration at locations corresponding to each intersection in the
mesh in the top graphic. The results illustrate the dangers of extrapolating
too far away from the data points. The contours suggest that the concentra-
tion of ozone increases as one moves out into the Atlantic Ocean away from
the east coast. Atmospheric scientists probably would disagree with that
prediction.
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Ozone Maximum Concentration (ppb) — July 14, 1980
Example 8
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MORE examples of graphics prepared using source data from the AIRS Data
Bases.
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Example
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Fact Sheet
Software Used Output Device
Described Examples
SAS/GRAPH (IBM) Tektronix 4207/451OA/46930
SAS/GRAPH (IBM)
SAS/GRAPH (IBM)
SAS/GRAPH (IBM)
SAS/GRAPH (IBM)
ARC/INFO (VAX)
ARC/INFO (VAX)
Calcomp 5845
Tektronix 4207/451OA/4693D
Tektronix 4207/451OA/4693D
Tektronix 4207/451OA/4693D
Tektronix 4207/451OA/4693D
Tekironix 4207/451OA/4693D
Interactive Surface Modeling (VAX) Calcomp 5845
Additional Examples
SAS/GRAPH + Tell-a-Graf (IBM) Tektronix 4207/451OA/4693D
SAS/GRAPH (IBM) Tektronix 4207/451OA/4693D
SAS/GRAPH (IBM) Tektronix 4207/451OA/4693D
SAS/GRAPH (IBM) Tektronix 4207/451OA/4693D
SAS/GRAPH (IBM) Tektronix 4207/451OA/4693D
SAS/GRAPH (IBM) Tektronix 4207/451OA/4693D
Interactive Surface Modeling (VAX) Calcomp 5845
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The production of these graphics is an end product of a demonstration project
of the National Air Data Branch, Technical Support Division, Office of Air
Quality Planning and Standards at the U.S. EPA in Research Triangle Park,
North Carolina.
The purpose of this project is to develop graphics which will help AIRS data
users to be able to more easily understand complex databases and provide
these users with new analytical tools.
The next step in this project is to assess the user community's opinion of the
utility of AIRS graphics like the examples shown and to better understand
other graphics needs of the users.
If you would like more Information about the production of these
graphics or If you have suggestions, we'd be happy to hear from you.
Please feel free to call or write to us:
Thomas E. Link
Thomas E. Rosendahl
United States Environmental Protection Agency
National Air Data Branch (MD-14)
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
FTS 629-5456 or FTS 629-5404
(919) 541-5456 or (919) 541-5404
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