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3.0 AIR QUALITY ANALYSIS <br />3.1 Existing Ambient Air Quality <br />Primary pollutants are those emitted directly from a source and <br />include carbon monoxide (CO), nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide <br />(DTO and NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulates (TSP), and <br />various hydrocarbons (THC). Secondary pollutants are created <br />with the passage of time, in the air mass, and include ozone <br />(03), photochemical aerosols, peroxyacetylnitrate (PAN), and <br />nitrogen dioxide (NO2). <br />The area of potential environmental impact (APEI) is located <br />within the South Coast Air Basin [SCA.W. The air quality of the <br />basin is determined by the primary pollutant emissions added <br />daily, and by the primary and secondary pollutants already pres- <br />ent,in the air mass. oxidants (90% of which are ozone) represent <br />the major air quality problem basinwide. <br />Ambient air quality in the vicinity of the proposed project is a <br />function of the primary pollutants emitted locally and the exist- <br />ing regional ambient air quality. It is also determined by the <br />meteorological and topographic factors which influence the intru- <br />sion of pollutants into the area from sources outside the im- <br />mediate vicinity. <br />Climate and Meteorology <br />The study area has a mediterranean climate with warm summers, <br />maid winters and moderate rainfall. The land /sea breeze is the <br />primary factor affecting the region's mild climate. The daytime <br />winds are sea breezes predominantly from the west which flow at <br />relatively low velocities. <br />These sea breezes exhibit velocities below 15 mph approximately <br />95 percent of the time, and below 4 mph about half of the time, <br />with an average velocity of 5 to 7 mph. During the night, the <br />winds across the basin usually reverse direction. These land <br />breezes flow from the east at 1 to 2 miles per hour. <br />l <br />Average monthly temperatures recorded in the vicinity of the APEI <br />at the Santa Ana Fire station range from 57 degrees Fahrenheit in <br />January to 75.8 degrees Fahrenheit in July. Temperature extremes <br />range from a high of 101 degrees during August to a low of 36 <br />degrees in December. Precipitation averages about 12.49 inches <br />annually in the vicinity, with nearly 90 percent occurring be- <br />tween November and March. <br />1. Source: SCAQM D, "Air Quality Handbook ", December 1983. <br />Refer to page 1 of the Appendix for additional information <br />related to meteorological conditions affecting the disper- <br />sion and transport of air pollutants. <br />2. Source: NOAA, "Climatological Data Annual Summary ", 1985. <br />t 3 -1 <br />