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Syria in Madison County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
 

Getting to know the air you breathe!

Shenandoah National Park

 
 
Getting to know the air you breathe! Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 12, 2016
1. Getting to know the air you breathe! Marker
Inscription.
Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better. It’s Not.

- The Lorax, Dr. Seuss

Every living thing is affected by what’s in the air. To protect and improve air quality, it’s vital to know what’s in the air, how it got there, and how it affects plants, animals, and humans.

The Big Meadows air quality monitoring station does exactly that. This equipment collects data on weather, visibility, ozone levels, and pollutants in the air. Scientists across the nation use the data to advise protection agencies and lawmakers about regulations that will help reduce pollution and protect the air we breathe.

This monitoring station has been providing data for over 30 years, giving scientists some of the most valuable information available about trends in air quality over time. The data shows that when strong regulations are in place, the quality of the air improves.

Cleaner air means cleaner water, healthier lives for plants, animals, and humans, and more beautiful views from the peaks and overlooks of Shenandoah. Learn more about air quality monitoring and what you can do at Bryd Visitor Center, or visit our website: www.nps.gov.shen.

Funded in part by the Shenandoah National Park Trust.

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views from Shenandoah’s overlooks and mountaintops draw visitors from around the world. Protecting the views is part of the responsibility of being a national park. Scientists estimate that without pollution you could see 115 miles. But these days, increased haze limits your views to just 23 miles on average. Clear days are a rare treat, with moderate days being the norm. A string of hot, humid days can produce visibility that obscures even the closest ridge.

Among national parks, Shenandoah experiences some of the highest ground-level ozone. One of the first signs of damage appears as brown spots on milkweed leaves.

Acid rain pollutes our streams and endangers fragile aquatic life. What appear to be clear mountain streams can be lethal to the acid-sensitive fish that live there.

Each piece of equipment collects information that helps scientists understand and fight for what’s needed to preserve Shenandoah’s vital resources. You can help!
 
Erected by National Park Service.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Science & Medicine.
 
Location. 38° 31.392′ N, 78° 26.073′ W. Marker is in Syria, Virginia, in Madison County. Marker can be reached from Story of the Forrest Trail, on the right when traveling east. Marker
Getting to know the air you breathe! Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 12, 2016
2. Getting to know the air you breathe! Marker
The air quality monitoring station can be seen beyond the marker.
is located on the “Story of the Forrest Trail” in the Big Meadows area of Shenandoah National Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Syria VA 22743, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Dark Hollow (approx. 0.3 miles away); National Park Service CCC Camps (approx. 0.3 miles away); Skyline Drive Historic District (approx. 0.4 miles away); Iron Mike (approx. 0.4 miles away); Civilian Conservation Corps (approx. 0.6 miles away); Big Meadows Lodge (approx. 0.6 miles away); Mountain Contrast (approx. 0.7 miles away); Guarding the Past (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Syria.
 
More about this marker. Various photographs of Shenandoah National Park and the monitoring station appear on the right side of the marker.
 
Marker on the Trail image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 12, 2016
3. Marker on the Trail
Air Quality Monitoring Station at Big Meadows image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 12, 2016
4. Air Quality Monitoring Station at Big Meadows
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on July 27, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 27, 2016, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 277 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 27, 2016, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.

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Mar. 29, 2024