Air Monitoring Stations are scientific equipment housed in a controlled environment at a fixed location that draws air through a manifold where it is continuously analyzed for a number of compounds.

Compounds analyzed at some or all of the air monitoring stations in Wood Buffalo: O2, NO, NO2, NOx, SO2, H2S, TRS, THC PM 2.5, NH3, CO Wind Speed and Direction, Exterior Temperature.

The data are sent directly, in real time, to our website (click the menu Data -> Stations Map & Current Data) and to the Clean Air Strategic Alliance Data Warehouse where they are stored. Data is used by Alberta Environment to determine the Air Quality Index. For more information, visit http://environment.gov.ab.ca.

The WBEA currently operates 14 Ambient Air Monitoring Stations within the region.

Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives

Alberta's Ambient Air Quality Objectives define the desired environmental quality that will protect public health and ecosystems.

An alarm system on the WBEA network provides immediate notification, to the contractor operating our network, when readings greater than those stipulated in the Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives occur at any of our thirteen air monitoring stations. After the data is confirmed, the contractor contacts both Alberta Environment and industry operators. Once industry is informed of an exceedance, they conduct an internal investigation to identify any possible sources. If a source is identified, steps are taken to reduce emissions. A report on the incident is submitted to Alberta Environment within 7 days and discussions with regional stakeholders occur at quarterly WBEA meetings.

View the Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/air/index.html