| The Air Quality Learning and Demonstration
Center, located in the northwestern section of the Arboretum,
held its grand opening on September 12, 2003. The major objective
of the center is to offer educational programs and public outreach
about air pollution's effects on plants of the farm, garden, forest,
and field in Pennsylvania.
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The teaching pavilion is
equipped with audio-visual and Internet capabilities so
that classes can be held on site. Shown above are Biology
110S students touring the center as it neared completion.
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Visitors may conduct a self-guided tour by reading display panels
about air pollution formation and transportation, and by viewing
research gardens and plant exhibits that demonstrate the effect
of ozone on sensitive plant species.
To visit the Web site recently launched by the center's staff,
go to
http://www.aireffects.psu.edu/learning/index.htm.
The site includes Web cameras that provide "real-time"
views of Mount Nittany (as seen from the center), and of plants
in the center's filtered and open-top chamber exhibits.
To see the most current and archived meteorlogical data, and
to graph trends based on that data, visit the following site:
http://www.aireffects.psu.edu/envidasweb/company.asp.
For the most up-to-date information about the center, or to schedule
tours for small groups, please contact:
| Dr. Dennis Decoteau
Professor of Horticulture
College of Agricultural Sciences
The Pennsylvania State University
Room 102 Tyson Building
University Park, PA 16802
Office: (814) 865-5587
drd10@psu.edu
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How is the data being used?
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Source: Howard Nuernberger
Dr. John Skelly speaks to guests about the effects of
ozone on various plants in Pennsylvania at the Arboretum's open house in
May 2001.
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According to Dr. John Skelly, a professor in the Department
of Plant Pathology, air quality monitoring stations like the one
in the Arboretum provide information that is essential to understanding
how air pollutants affect human health, agricultural crops, forest
trees, natural plant communities, and material goods. This information
is shared with the general public, and county, state, and federal
agencies, and it is used in developing "National Ambient Air Quality
Standards." Based on these standards, appropriate federal agencies
and Congress take action to promote safe practices in industry
and community planning.
From its location on the hillside above Big Hollow, the present air quality
monitoring station obtains reliable readings of air pollutants trapped within the mountain and valley
terrain. (See small white building to right of center in background of photo.)
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Penn State's Department of Plant Pathology and support personnel
from the Penn State Institutes of the Environment maintain six of
these sites throughout central Pennsylvania with cooperative funding
from the Bureau of Air Quality within the Pennsylvania Department
of Environmental Protection. The site within the Arboretum is appropriate
for this research because Centre County and the State College/University
Park area are downwind of several major regional sources of pollution,
and the immediate area is also a source of multiple air pollutants:
The meteorology of the area is characterized by several stagnant air masses per year that
are under the influence of regional scale high-pressure systems. During the spring to fall seasons,
frequent thermal inversions occur within the mountain and valley terrain, trapping air pollutants for
extended periods of time. The resulting air quality of the area is characterized by a summer oxidant
season that often extends from mid-April through late October.
In addition, an associated haze commonly develops from the long-range transport of aerosols
and, in winter, from emissions of local wood-burning fireplaces. These local pollutants combine
with atmospheric contaminants and deposits from source regions as far away as western Pennsylvania
and the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys.
Center Complements Current Monitoring Site
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Source: Howard Nuernberger
Visitors to an open house
in May 2001 leave the monitoring station after viewing the
instruments used to measure air quality.
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"The Air Quality Learning and Demonstration Center will focus attention
on the quality of our air as one of the most important resources
we have in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania….This project
(and developing facility) will combine the expertise which exists
in several University programs into a center where students (of
all ages) and teachers (grade-school through University level)
will gain an understanding of the many important aspects of air
quality."
— John M. Skelly, Professor
Department of Plant Pathology
Realizing the importance of educating the public about air quality
issues, Dr. Skelly procured funding to expand the mission of the
monitoring site so that it could become a comprehensive and interactive
center. Sponsors include The Bureau of Air Quality, Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg; Allegheny
Energy Supply of Monroeville, Pennsylvania, Reliant Energy, Inc.
of Johnstown, Pennsylvania; The International Society of Arboriculture;
Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences; and The Environmental
Resources Research Institute. Additional sponsors will always
be welcome.
Support personnel include Mr. David Paar, MS candidate, Agricultural
Extension Education; Mr. Jon Ferdinand, research assistant (air
quality monitoring); Mr. James Savage, research assistant (bioindicator
gardens), Environmental Resources Research Institute; and Mr.
Richard Stevenson (meteorological station) senior research assistant,
Department of Plant Pathology.
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Source: K. K. Reeder
Students listen as Dr. Skelly
fields questions from their classmates. At the rear of the
pavilion is the pull-down screen available for PowerPoint
presentations. |
Several methods are being used at the learning and demonstration
center to convey vital information about the sources and effects
of air pollutants:
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Meteorological equipment is being used for both monitoring
and demonstrating the presence of pollutants;
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Cultivated gardens of numerous native plant and forest tree
species known to be sensitive to various air pollutants (bioindicators)
show visitors the effects of air pollutants such as tropospheric
ozone on numerous plant species;
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Various research techniques are being used in open-top chambers
in which ozone levels are lower than in ambient air in order
to demonstrate the effects of pollutants on foliar symptom
expression, seasonal growth, and premature leaf senescence;
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The facility includes a teaching pavilion where the most
recent findings of Penn State's programs in air quality research
will be made available; and the newest pollution abatement
technologies and strategies being developed by industries
and government agencies will be displayed; and
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Interactive seminars and demonstrations are encouraged.
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