Grantee Research Project Results
2003 Progress Report: Boise Valley Inversion and Air Pollution Study
EPA Grant Number: R829425Title: Boise Valley Inversion and Air Pollution Study
Investigators: Dawson, Paul
Institution: Boise State University
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: May 27, 2002 through May 26, 2005
Project Period Covered by this Report: May 27, 2002 through May 26, 2003
Project Amount: $256,266
RFA: EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) (2001) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: EPSCoR (The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research)
Objective:
The objectives of this research project are to: (1) monitor, model, and analyze winter inversion events in the Treasure Valley, including the meteorology and the three-dimensional airflow; and (2) collect, measure, and analyze meteorological and particulate concentration data over space and time. The Boise Valley (Treasure Valley), which has been experiencing a high rate of growth in the last decade, is particularly susceptible to prolonged winter valley inversion events. Atmospheric inversions often trap polluted air in the Treasure Valley and make it unhealthy to breathe. The focus of this research project is to accurately simulate the three-dimensional windfields. The windfields are necessary to develop accurate airshed modeling, a key component to airshed management and one of the highest air quality priorities in the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. For additional information on this research project, see the progress reports for R829425E01 and R829425E02.
Progress Summary:
Modeling
During Year 2 of the project, activity focused on detailed meteorological modeling of the multiday inversion periods. The Mesoscale Model 5 and its successor, the Weather Research and Forecast Model, have been implemented on Boise State University’s new Beowulf 128-node computer cluster. Simulations are continuing. The modeling results are being compared with the observations, and sensitivity studies will be conducted to help evaluate the significance of various meteorological parameters. A long-term goal of the modeling effort is to simulate the meteorology and air quality of the winter inversions in real time and to display the simulations on the project’s Web site.
Monitoring
Geographic information system (GIS) analysis within the Treasure Valley consisted of temperature and relative humidity contour plots every 2 hours during the inversion events. Three multiday inversion episodes were analyzed during Year 1 of the project, and one episode was analyzed during Year 2 of the project. Wind vectors at various Treasure Valley locations were included on the humidity contour maps. The evolution and diurnal patterns of temperature and humidity and associated fog patterns have been analyzed. These analyses will be very useful in evaluating the accuracy of the numerical simulations.
Future Activities:
Measurements
We will continue to collect meteorological and air quality data and monitor the multiday winter inversions of 2004-2005. Now that the GIS software has been developed and the modeling codes have been implemented, our objective is to monitor and simulate the inversions as they develop. We will use a sodar system to study the near-surface winds in the Treasure Valley. We also plan to correlate the Air Quality Index values with meteorological parameters and with the inversion heights and intensities.
This research project is expected to complement and support an air quality maintenance plan for particulate matter in the Treasure Valley. This research project will provide a better understanding of the meteorology of winter valley inversion meteorology and will develop a local technology that can be used at other times and at other locations. This research project also will provide educational incentives for valley residents about hazards, sources, and solutions of air pollution problems.
Supplemental Keywords:
mountain valley inversions, cool air pools, mesoscale modeling, particulate matter monitoring, air quality episodes, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, winter inversion events, Treasure Valley, Idaho, ID, atmospheric inversions, monitor, model, meteorology, three-dimensional airflow, windfields, inversion periods, air pollution, meteorological parameters,, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, particulate matter, Ecology, Air Quality, Atmospheric Sciences, Environmental Monitoring, aerosol formation, airborne particulate matter, atmospheric particles, atmospheric inversion, atmospheric aerosol particles, air quality models, meteorologyProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.