This display is linked to monitoring equipment at McFarland Hill air quality station and shows current visibility, ozone pollutant levels, and weather conditions at the Park. Air

pollutants limit views, impact other Park resources (streams, soils, and vegetation), and threaten human health.

The burning of fossil fuels by power generation, industrial processes, and motor vehicles are the primary sources of these pollutants.

Haze at the Park is primarily produced from tiny sulfate particles, limiting viewing distances while dulling colors and textures of scenic features. Carbon and nitrate particles are other air pollutants that add to the haze.

Humidity, air stagnation, rainfall, fog, fires, and wind-blown soil and dust are the other factors that affect visibility.

“Average” visibility:Visual Range < 45 miles

“Bad” visibility:Visual Range < 22 miles

“Good” visibility:Visual Range < 88 miles

Ozone pollution forms when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds react in sunlight and is highest during spring and summer. Fossil fuel-fired power plants, motor vehicles, and industry are the primary sources of these pollutants.

Park ozone levels periodically reach unhealthy levels for sensitive humans and Park vegetation. Six species of Park plants have shown visible leaf injury from ozone pollution. The dark stipple on this black cherry leaf was caused by ozone.

Ozone at ground-level is a gaseous pollutant threatening human health and Park vegetation. Unlike ozone in the stratosphere (6-28 miles above the Earth's surface), which protects life from the sun's harmful radiation, ground-level ozone is primarily human-caused.

Acadia National Park’s visibility camera is located at the McFarland Hill air quality

monitoring station. The view is across Frenchman Bay.

http://www.hazecam.net

The site is part of the CAMNET network, a web site providing live pictures and related air quality conditions from scenic urban and rural vistas across the Northeast.

- Free island-wide Shuttle Bus

- Operates June 23 through September 3

- Pick up at motels, inns, campgrounds with destinations in Acadia National Park and other island communities.

- Avoid traffic and congested parking lots

- Clean-burning propane powered buses reduce air pollution

- Wheelchair accessible and can accommodate bicycles

To help keep the air To help keep the air cleaner at Acadia ride cleaner at Acadia ride thethe Island ExplorerIsland Explorer::

- Keep car, boat and other engines tuned-up.

- Be sure your tires are properly inflated.

- Carpool, combine errands, use public transportation, bike, or walk whenever possible.

To help keep the air To help keep the air cleaner incleaner in your communityyour community::

- Conserve energy at home, at work, everywhere. In summer set air conditioners to 78 degrees

- Follow gasoline refueling instructions, being careful not to spill fuel and always tightening your gas cap securely.

This presentation was made possible by:

National Park Service Air Resources Division

Air Resource Specialists, Inc.

Acadia National Park staff