Author(s)

N. Kadikis

Abstract

Atmospheric air is one of the most important environmental factors influencing humans, vegetation and historical monuments. In particular the problems of air quality (AQ) are emerging in big cities and industrial zones. A proper AQ information system is the basic prerequisite for the formulation of environmental policy as well as for the management of AQ. Monitoring plays the key role in providing data on AQ. Following the classical notions of a systemic approach, we can imagine the monitoring as a system surrounded by external environment–elements, which directly or indirectly affect functions of the system in question. The main external factors, which influence the organisation of the monitoring system, are represented by relevant legislation together with respective standards for AQ and actual AQ status. In its turn, environmental monitoring as a system consists of a number of linked structural and functional elements—what will be the tactic of observations—with or without an early warning function, as surveillance (basic or synoptic) or special (operational or investigative) monitoring, site selection (where?), parameters to be observed (what?), time interval to be covered (when?), observation or measurement methods (how?), by whom it will be done (who?), data handling patterns, quality assurance/quality control performance, etc. This paper aims at the development of a logical concept on AQ monitoring facilitating its sound management. The research is based on a case study on a Latvian AQ monitoring system. Keywords: systemic approach, monitoring system, monitoring tactic, air quality monitoring, air quality management, Latvia.

Keywords

systemic approach, monitoring system, monitoring tactic, air quality monitoring, air quality management, Latvia.