The NIST-NOAA-Industry Workshop on Atmospheric Measures and Standards was held in Gaithersburg, Maryland on September 6-7, 2001 and was sponsored by the NIST Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory and the NOAA Office of Weather and Air Quality Research. These agencies, both within the U.S. Department of Commerce, have non-regulatory roles to provide fundamental technical measurements, standards, and air quality monitoring in support of the U.S. economy. Services include the provision of definitive measurement traceability mechanisms (standard reference materials, standard reference data, calibrations), air quality measurements, monitoring networks, and atmospheric models and forecasts. NIST and NOAA services are integral to the sound science needed by the Nation to effectively engage atmospheric issues.

The atmosphere, and the measurement issues associated with the atmosphere, have changed since fundamental measurement needs were last identified decades ago. The chemical composition of the atmosphere - locally and globally - has been altered by new and increasing numbers of emission sources, new fuel formulations, and the compliance to regulations. Another change has been the advent of environmental stewardship - U.S. industry is calling for metrics of environmental performance in order to stimulate innovative solutions to environmental challenges. Additionally, emerging international issues regarding the atmosphere (global climate change, emissions trading, etc) will certainly affect global American industries. This clearly called for an assessment of the fundamental metrology and air quality monitoring needed by U.S. industry and the Nation.

The basis for effective decisions is in the accuracy and uncertainty of measurements -- the first link in the long chain of environmental action. This involves identifying and quantifying a pollutant, and measuring its physical and chemical properties in the environment. The next step, based on measurement of the exposure-effect-risk relationship, allows society to determine the need to reduce the substance or risk in question. Finally, measurements are needed to monitor compliance and the effectiveness of pollution control requirements. The naïve faith in unqualified numbers has led decision-makers in industry and government to promote practices, policies and regulations whose justification was later seriously questioned, or whose implementation was eventually frustrated. The current Administration has voiced the need for effective policies of sound scientific basis that take advantage of the power of markets, so that taxpayers get the maximum environmental benefit from each environmental dollar.

The goal of the workshop was to identify those current and future atmospheric issues most relevant to the U.S. economy and U.S. industry, and to identify the technical specifications of needed fundamental measurements, standards, and air quality programs that would enable the private and public sectors to effectively engage these issues. While many conferences and workshops have been convened in recent years on atmospheric topics, few had focused on fundamental needs, and none had provided a near-exclusive forum for the private sector to articulate their perspectives and needs. Over fifty technical specialists attended the one-and-a-half day workshop. The acting Director of NIST and the acting Administrator of NOAA delivered keynote remarks, followed by presentations from representatives of U.S. industry. After these, NIST and NOAA spokespersons presented reviews of relevant research within the U.S. Department of Commerce. Facilitated open discussion followed to pursue and explore topics such as: ·

• Weather and air quality monitoring, modeling, and forecasting
• Measurements and speciation of airborne particulates
• Measurements involving photochemical oxidants · Measurements and speciation of airborne toxics
• Measurements involving acid deposition
• Evaluated data for assessing atmospheric fates and lifetimes of chemical species
• Industrial response to climate change
• Industrial response to stratospheric ozone depletion
• Apportionment and uncertainties in emissions and inventory models
• Measurements involving long-range transport of chemical and biological species
• Linking industrial environmental performance metrics with tangible technical measurements

Discussion points were captured by the facilitators. Two breakout sessions were then identified, focused on topics of primary interest to the industrial participants: 1) Measurements, Monitoring, and Standards for Particulate Matter and Aerosols, and 2) Measurements, Monitoring, and Standards for Gas Phase Emissions. The workshop ended with a session where all the participants had the opportunity to review the results of the individual breakout sessions. The raw data, findings, and recommendations of the report were handled and drafted by the facilitation team, using several feedback cycles where the participants could review, modify, and approve the results. The final report, with all participants sharing ownership, is presented here.