Model for Prediction Across Scales

This is a new way of thinking about weather modeling: Model for Prediction Across Scales. I'm pretty fascinated with how well this modeling method will work. The most interesting thing here is the change in grid convention. Notice the hexagonal shapes in the grid over the earth. The grid resolution is course for most of the globe, but is much higher over the United States. I'm currently playing with WRF models, but this model looks like something I'd like to look into. http://mpas-dev.github.io/

Patricia

Patricia, a category 5 hurricane, is about to make landfall in Mexico. The National Hurricane Center says this is the strongest hurricane in the eastern north Pacific ever. Intense rain, floods, and winds at 200 mph will cause catastrophic damage.

Updated Wasatch Front Aerial Imagery (June 2015)

Click here for imagery of Utah at high resolution. Portions of the state where updated this year including the Wasatch Front.

https://discover.agrc.utah.gov/login/path/viva-shave-antenna-slow/tiles/utah/preview

Flying home with hopefully without delays

Flying home this evening, hopefully without delays. Here's the HRRR simulated radar for the time we'll be in the air...

Update: Getting a little closer to our flight... In the short term, it doesn't look like any thunderstorms will affect our flight. We have been delayed. Must for some other reasons.

In the mean time, I'm announcing my Simple Weather maps. It uses recent weather observations collected by MesoWest and plots the temperatures on a map. When you load the webpage you it will locate where you are at and show you a map of current temperatures. You can also move the map around and click a new area to populate the map with more weather stations. Check it out here: http://home.chpc.utah.edu/~u0553130/Brian_Blaylock/map.html

Flight to Denver

I'm on my way to Boulder Colorado for a workshop and conference for the SONGNEX campaign. I'm going to give a presentation on weather conditions in the Uintah Basin during their study period.

Our flight was delayed because our plane coming from Las Vegas was help up by the thunderstorms. It should be here soon to take us to Denver. Looks like we'll fly around some thunderstorms in the Colorado.

The storms seemed to miss us on our drive to Boulder. The Front Range welcomed us with this pretty sunset...

In the News: Ozone researchers stretch summer funding for Salt Lake study

Here is a newspaper article by Leia Larsen about our summer ozone study: click here

Raw CWOP Data

Just saving this for later...

the Raw CWOP data for my weather station is located here...

http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/raw.cgi?call=ew2355

Perfect Fall Weekend

Get ready for a perfect fall weekend! No rain. Few clouds. High temperatures near 80.

EPA Reduces Ozone Standard to Improve Health

Press Release from the Environmental Protection Agencty (EPA) regarding the change in the ozone standard...

EPA Strengthens Ozone Standards to Protect Public Health/Science-based standards to reduce sick days, asthma attacks, emergency room visits, greatly outweigh costs

Release Date: 10/1/2015
Contact Information: Enesta Jones, Jones.enesta@epa.gov,, 202-564-7873, 202-564-4355; En español: Lina Younes, younes.lina@epa.gov, 202-564-9924, 202-564-4355

WASHINGTON – Based on extensive scientific evidence on effects that ground-level ozone pollution, or smog, has on public health and welfare, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has strengthened the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone to 70 parts per billion (ppb) from 75 ppb to protect public health. The updated standards will reduce Americans’ exposure to ozone, improving public health protection, particularly for at risk groups including children, older adults, and people of all ages who have lung diseases such as asthma. Ground-level ozone forms when nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react in the air. 

“Put simply – ozone pollution means it hurts to breathe for those most vulnerable: our kids, our elderly and those suffering from heart and lung ailments,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “Our job is to set science-backed standards that protect the health of the American people. Today’s action is one of the most important measures we can take for improving public health, reducing the costs of illness and protecting our children’s health.”

EPA examined nearly 2,300 studies in this review of the ozone standards including more than 1,000 new studies published since the last review of the standards in 2008. Scientific evidence shows that ozone can cause a number of harmful effects on the respiratory system, including difficulty breathing and inflammation of the airways. The revised standards will significantly improve public health protection, resulting in fewer premature deaths, and thousands fewer missed school and work days and asthma attacks. For people with lung diseases like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or the 23 million Americans and 6 million children living with asthma, these effects can aggravate their diseases, leading to increased medication use, emergency room visits and hospital admissions. Evidence also indicates that long-term exposure to ozone is likely to be one of many causes of asthma development. And studies show that ozone exposure is likely to cause premature death. The public health benefits of the updated standards, estimated at $2.9 to $5.9 billion annually in 2025, outweigh the estimated annual costs of $1.4 billion.

Local communities, states, and the federal government have made substantial progress in reducing ground-level ozone. Nationally, from 1980 to 2014, average ozone levels have fallen 33 percent, while the economy has continued to grow. And by 2025, EPA projects that existing rules and programs will bring the vast majority of the remaining counties into compliance. Advances in pollution control technology for vehicles and industry along with other emission reduction standards, including “Tier 3” clean vehicle and fuels standards, the Clean Power Plan and the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, will significantly cut smog-forming emissions, helping states meet today’s updated ozone standards.

To ensure that people are alerted when ozone reaches unhealthy levels, EPA is extending the ozone monitoring season for 32 states and the District of Columbia. This is particularly important for at-risk groups, including children and people with asthma because it will provide information so families can take steps to protect their health on smoggy days.

EPA also is strengthening the “secondary ozone standard” to 70 ppb, which will improve protection for trees, plants and ecosystems. New studies since the last review of the standards add to evidence showing that repeated exposure to ozone reduces growth and has other harmful effects on plants and trees. These types of effects have the potential to harm ecosystems and the benefits they provide.

The Clean Air Act provides states with time to meet the standards. Depending on the severity of their ozone problem, areas would have until between 2020 and 2037 to meet the standards.

The Clean Air Act requires EPA to review the ozone standards every five years to determine whether they should be revised in light of the latest science. Today’s action comes after a thorough review and public comment process. The agency received more than 430,000 written comments on the proposed standards and held three public hearings.

Announcement: Seminar Talk October 7, 2015 @ 3:15 PM

Thunder and morning clouds

Last night was the first time in a long time when lightning woke me up in the middle of the night. Around 4:30 AM my dark bedroom flashed with light, followed by a loud crack from outside. I ran upstairs to watch the storm pass. It rained for about 30 minuets.

Radar image at 4:45 AM local time

Rain accumulation at my station in Spanish Fork. Rain started around 4:40 and ended around 5:00 Am

The storm has since moved north. My sister and mom shared this picture with me of the clouds in the morning looking west.