The Spatial Distribution of Particulate Concentrations in the Denver Metropolitan Area

Abstract

Geographers can provide information that is important to the establishment and revision of air quality standards. A spatial approach to the description of air quality can pinpoint segments of the population that are disproportionately exposed to potential health hazards. Temporal trends in the spatial distribution of given levels of pollutant concentration may not be the same as those determined from one monitoring site or from station-averaged data. These points are demonstrated for the Total Suspended Particulate pollutant in the Denver metropolitan area for the years 1977 through 1981. The reported findings have major implications for the contentious processes of establishing and revising air quality standards.

Key Words:

• air quality
• total suspended particulates
• risk analysis
• Denver