Continuous Ambient Monitoring Stations (CAMS)
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What Is a CAMS?
- CAMS stands for “Continuous Ambient Monitoring
Station.”
- The TCEQ operates continous ambient monitoring sites that
measure both air and water parameters.
- The air monitoring sites are in various urban areas, and
the water monitoring sites are in various river basins,
around the state.
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established the
following guidelines for the placement of ambient air monitoring
stations in urban areas:
- A minimum of two ozone monitors are required in urban areas
with a population of at least 200,000.
- A minimum of two carbon monoxide monitors are required in urban
areas with a population of at least 500,000.
- A minimum of two nitrogen dioxide monitors are required in
urban areas with a population of at least 1,000,000.
What Do Air CAMS Do?
- An air CAMS is a small building or shelter that houses
instruments that measure the amount of pollutants in the
atmosphere.
- A small pump draws in outside air, which is then distributed to
the instruments housed in the shelter.
- Different instruments measure different pollutants.
- The TCEQ operates instruments that measure the following air
pollutants:
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List of Air CAMS
What Do Water CAMS Do?
- A water CAMS is a small building or shelter that houses
instruments that measure water quality.
- An instrument is placed in the water that directly monitors the
water, or draws water to an analyzer that analyzes various
constituents.
- TCEQ operates instruments that generally measure:
Others may measure:
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List of Water CAMS
Meteorological Measurements
- Most of the CAMS operated by TCEQ for air, and some for water,
also contain instruments that measure local meteorological
conditions. These conditions, especially winds and temperature, can
greatly affect the amount of pollutants in an area.
- Local meteorological conditions that may be measured include:
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