Great Salt Lake Summer Ozone Study (draft for grad news)

Clean air is important to our respiratory health. Unfortunately, some areas in Utah often observe unhealthy levels of ozone pollution. While ozone occurs naturally in the upper atmosphere and absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation, smog-forming ozone created near the surface by other pollutants in the presence of sunlight poses a danger to human’s respiratory health.

This summer a team of atmospheric science students and professors at the University of Utah, Weber State, and Utah State worked together with Utah’s Division of Air Quality to understand how the Great Salt Lake influences ozone concentrations in Northern Utah. The purpose of the Great Salt Lake Summer Ozone Study is to better understand the generation and transport of ozone pollution in northern Utah, particularly areas around the Great Salt Lake.

To accomplish this, graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Utah participated in three intensive observation periods in which ozone levels and weather conditions were measured around the lake. Ozone monitors are installed on a UTA TRAX train, the KSL helicopter, and over twenty-five stationary sites which collected ozone and weather information all summer. Other mobile observations were made from trucks and the University’s “Nerdmobile” while driving routes around the Great Salt Lake. Preliminary analysis of the data collected has already shown interesting trends in ozone concentration around the lake. With this many observations researchers can understand how ozone concentrations change over a day and where the highest levels of ozone occur. This new knowledge will be used to improve air quality forecasts.

More information about the Great Salt Lake Summer Ozone Study can be found on the project’s website at http://meso2.chpc.utah.edu/gslso3s/. Current air quality forecasts issued by the Division of Air Quality can be found at http://air.utah.gov/forecast.php.

Good air quality next few days

Several moist weather disturbances passing through Utah this week will stir the air up enough to keep our ozone pollution at healthy levels this week in most areas. Look at the most current air quality forecasts here: http://air.utah.gov/forecast.php?id=slc

This morning has been rainy with tropical moisture coming up from the south west as remnants of a hurricane move into the states. The HRRR model suggests these widespread showers pass the Wasatch Range by the afternoon. The wet ground will keep our temperatures cooler than usual today with the cloud cover and as more afternoon heating goes to the latent heating by evaporating water rather than heating the air. Below shows the modeled radar reflectivity for 2:00 PM today.

Good Morning!

Summary of June Ozone in Northern Utah

As part of the Great Salt Lake Summer Ozone Study, we have put together a summary of June Ozone statistics. This bar chart shows the number of stations that observed an 8-hour average over 75 ppb (in blue) and 65 ppb (in orange). The current EPA attainment standard is 75 ppb, but is expected to be lowered. 

 June ozone was highest during the hot weeks when a persistent ridge was camped out over Utah, giving us mostly clear skies and hotter than normal June summer days. Ozone pollution tended to clear out after rain events. As you can see, there several periods when ozone pollution was over the EPA's health standard. When the health standard is lowered, more days will be classified as unhealthy air. This will be a challenge for Utah and many places in the United States dealing with high ozone as they come up with strategies to improve air quality.

Citizen Science: Volunteer your time to help with Hurricane Research!

Interested in weather and like looking at satellite images?? Or maybe you just like hurricanes. With a little time, you can provide some valuable information to hurricane researchers. Satellites circle the earth several times a day and constantly collect data. Since this is too much data for any group of scientists to look at they need your help! It's really easy to get started, and you don't need to be a weather expert to start helping with this hurricane research. Go to  http://www.cyclonecenter.org/ to get started. Simply answer a few questions about images of hurricanes like, "how is this hurricane shaped" and "which hurricane looks stronger?"