Hourly dust measurements on the high plains of the Llano Estacado
Description
Hourly values of ambient dust concentration (TSP) were measured on the roof of the USDA-ARS Plant Stress and Water Conservation (PSWC) Laboratory located at 3810 4th Street in Lubbock, Texas (33.593508 -101.897688). Measurements were obtained continuously from 1 January 2003 to 8 June 2008, a period of more than five years and four months. The sampling system consisted of a model 1400a TEOM (tapered element oscillating microbalance) manufactured by Rupprecht & Patashnick. No cyclone pre-separators or impactors were installed in the sampler inlet so that the system measured total suspended particulates (TSP). The system was mounted on a raised platform such that the sampling inlet was 2.2 m above the flat roof of the building and 7.0 m above the surrounding ground level. Dust is primarily generated in the highly erodible cropland outside of the city limits of Lubbock and transported across the city by winds blowing from various directions. A portion of this dust is blown across the PSWC Lab where ambient dust concentration was measured and recorded. An attempt was made to obtain a continuous record, however, mechanical failures led to occasional gaps in the data record. All TSP concentrations are reported in units of micrograms of dust per cubic meter of air.