NPS data reveal that Big Bend air has sulfur concentrations that are approximately two times higher than other Class I areas in the western United States, three times higher than those in the Rocky Mountains, and five times higher than sites in Northern California and Oregon. Aerosol samplers inhale air for 24 hours twice a week. Filters are analyzed for substances such as sulfates, nitrates, organic carbon, and soil. Automated, permanently mounted cameras take photos of the same distant scene three times during the daylight, providing a daily account of visibility. Acid rain monitors are part of a nationwide system that monitors the acid content of precipitation.
Ozone monitors measure ozone in the atmosphere on a continuous basis.
Legislators and other folks should be just as concerned about visibility as they are with ozone. I'm convinced that efforts to address visibility in West Texas will ultimately benefit the entire state by improving air quality and health on a broad basis.