About the Air Quality Assessment Division (AQAD)
Who We Are
AQAD is one of the five Divisions within EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS). The Air Quality Assessment Division (AQAD) leads the design, development and use of state of the science tools used to analyze air emissions and monitor air quality nationwide. AQAD promotes multi-pollutant approaches to air quality management through comprehensive integrated evaluations of multiple sectors, spatial scales, pollutants, meteorology, climate, and the implications of interactions among them; and by advancing the state of the art in emissions, modeling, ambient and source measurements, and data analysis techniques. AQAD has five groups who work encompasses the emission inventory, policy, air quality assessments, criteria pollutants, and other air quality initiatives. Our staff are physical scientists, environmental protection specialists, scientists, and engineers who support EPA’s mission of protecting human health and the environment.
What We Do
AQAD is responsible for:
- National program oversight and execution to collect and assure the quality of ambient air monitoring data.
- Developing emissions estimates to produce the National Emissions Inventory and preparing those emissions for use in air quality modeling used in rule development and regulatory decisions.
- Providing statistical analysis of past and current air quality as well as publishing the annual, interactive National Air Quality Trends report.
- Conducting air quality modeling for current and projected future air quality levels.
- Developing methods for measuring source emissions.
The work in AQAD involves collaboration with other EPA offices, state, local, and Tribal air agencies, industry, and academia. AQAD provides the analytic foundation of OAQPS’ and other EPA Office’s regulatory programs. Our analytic work serves as the basis for communication of the state of the nation’s air to the public.
Select one of the groups below to learn more about their responsibilities:
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AQAD Groups
Emission Inventory and Analysis Group (EIAG)EIAG staff create and use emissions inventories, methods, and tools to support policy and regulatory decisions. EIAG leads and directs emissions inventory technical and policy issues including emissions modeling for characterizing national, regional, and local air quality. |
Air Quality Analysis Group (AQAG)AQAG staff assess ambient pollutant levels across the United States through comprehensive and novel analyses to support policy and regulatory decisions. AQAG produce data visualization tools to inform the public of the current status and trends of the nation’s air quality, inform the public of major rulemakings, and increase accessibility to air quality data. |
Air Quality Modeling Group (AQMG)AQMG manages all aspects of the atmospheric modeling used to develop policy and regulatory decisions in the Office of Air and Radiation (OAR). Our simulations describe the physical and chemical atmospheric processes of air pollutant formation and fate. These models allow simulations of potential policy options to estimate future impacts on air quality and public health. AQMG develops and maintains numerous meteorological and air quality models, like the American Meteorological Society/Environmental Protection Agency Regulatory Model (AERMOD) and the Community Multi-scale Air Quality (CMAQ) model as well as other mathematical simulation techniques used to assess source contributions and the environmental impacts of control strategies on national, region, and local air quality levels. |
Measurement Technology Group (MTG)MTG, also known as the Air Emissions Measurement Center, provides national leadership in furthering the science of characterizing and measuring air pollutant emissions. MTG works with research scientists and OAQPS experts developing national performance and emissions standards. MTG also works with regulators and the regulated community to provide technical expertise and guidance necessary to implement emissions testing methods and emissions monitoring methods for pollution control evaluations, compliance determinations, and performance testing. |
Ambient Air Monitoring Group (AAMG)AAMG provides national leadership in partnership with state, local, and Tribal air agencies in the planning and operation of the nation’s ambient air quality networks. AAMG develops regulations, methods, and guidance for measuring criteria pollutants, air toxics, pollutant precursors, and meteorology in ambient air. AAMG also manages national audit programs and develop quality assurance procedures for determining the quality of ambient air data. |