CCM Question 3and Answer

Geoff RoestMO 590/790

QuestionThe president of a running club located in Sacramento, California is trying to find a new running route in the city of Sacramento. Due to the work schedules of the members of the club, the president of the club is planning on having group runs in the late afternoon and evening. However, the club is concerned about the effects of air pollution, particularly ozone, on their lungs. The club president has read recent scientific articles, which claim that prolonged exposure to ozone concentrations above the state standard for 1-hr ozone concentrations (90 ppb) can have serious negative effects on a person’s health, especially if that person is exercising. She has hired a consulting meteorologist to find a new location for her club’s runs. The club members would like to meet within Sacramento County to run. The club president would like to know which part of Sacramento County has the fewest federal 1-hr ozone standard violations.

She is also planning a marathon for the club and needs to know what time of year she should schedule the race. She wants the run to be during a mild part of the year. Her ideal daily average temperature range is 60 to 65 deg. F. She would like to know which months of the year have average daily temperatures within this range. The run will be in downtown Sacramento.

Question Where in Sacramento has fewest 1-hr

ozone concentration violations?• Data available from SMAQMD (Sacramento

Metropolitan Air Quality Management District) website

Which months have average temperatures between 60 and 65 deg. F?• Sacramento climatology from NOAA

Ozone Data From SMAQMD: Number of state 1-hr ozone

violations per station per year, Sacramento County.

Ozone Data

Ozone Data Western Sacramento County has fewest

violations• Sacramento – T Street, Sacramento – Airport

Road Eastern Sacramento County has more

• Folsom, Sloughhouse, Sacramento – Del Paso Manor

Runs should take place in western Sacramento County where 1-hr ozone concentration violations are less frequent

Check sparetheair.com

Sacramento Climatology Marathon: monthly mean 60 – 65

deg. F Climatology for Sacramento Airport

from 1981 to 2010, temperatures in deg. F

Monthly mean temperature between 60 – 65 deg. F:• October• Late April/early May