To obtain timely data for the purpose of air quality assessment, air quality trend
reporting, air quality index reporting and to meet the requirements for inclusion of the
data in provincial and national air quality databases, a continuous method of analyzing
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) concentrations in ambient air is used. This method is capable of
measurement updates at a rate of once every five minutes or faster. Readings from
instruments of this method enables the calculation of hourly averaged concentrations of
SO2. Commercially available SO2 analyzers are used in the method.
This method is applicable to the measurement of SO2 concentrations in ambient air in
the range of 1.0 parts per billion (ppb) to 1.0 parts per million (ppm).
This method adheres to the requirements of the current Air Monitoring Directive (AMD)
1989 by Alberta Environment. In some cases the limits and specifications exceed the
requirements of the current AMD. It should be considered that the current and any
future amendments or drafts of the AMD will be used as the benchmark for requirements
and criteria for ambient air monitoring practices conducted in the Province of Alberta.
Information used to write this procedure was also taken from sources identified in the
reference section.
