ASU VTMX FIELD EXPERIMENT IN UTAH

VTMX (Vertical Transport and MiXing) is a program of the Dept of Energy's Environmental Meteorology Program (EMP). It is aimed to investigate vertical transport and mixing in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). Research attention is focused on stably stratified conditions, weak or intermittent turbulence, and morning/evening transitions. VTMX is centered primarily around urban basins or valleys and will investigate phenomena such as formation and evolution of inversions and motion of pollutants around layers trapped in valleys. The first field campaign for VTMX is centered on the Salt Lake Valley over the month of October, 2000.

VTMX HOME

The overall research program is expected to contribute significantly to the knowledge of complex-terrain flow processes and will lead to better prediction and management tools for urban air quality. More details about the VTMX experimental plan can be found at the VTMX home site: http://www.pnl.gov/VTMX/ExPlan.html

ASU is one of several groups participating in this campaign. (click to get location of the VTMX groups) ASU research program gives particular attention to thermally induced circulation, for example, slope and valley wind systems, pooling of cold air in basins and breakup of cold pools during which the trapped air is dispersed vertically. Several approaches, laboratory experiments, theoretical modeling, numerical simulations and field observations will be used for the investigations, but major emphases will be on laboratory experiments and field observations. For more details look here for the accepted VTMX proposal of the ASU group.

The field campaign took place in October 2000. The ASU site was ready for the first measurements on September 30. ASU experiments have been performed at ACS until October 18, 2000. During this time the wind velocity, temperature and radiation data were collected continuously using the meteorological tower. For most of the time also data on the aerosol concentration were collected at one position (2.5 above the ground level) using DustTrack and TEOM. During the IOPs (IOP #1, #2, #4, #5, #6, #7) two balloons equipped with tethersondes, DustTrack and Streaker were employed. The meteorological airplane (2m electricaly driven model) was tested to acquire data on pressure, humidity and temperature.

The time scale used is defined as a real number described by the variable DayofYear. The time starts at January 1, 2000, 00UTC as day 0, and day 1 starts on the 1st midnight. Therefore, October 1st begins as Julian day 274 and October 1st midnight is Julian 275.

PRELIMINARY DATA COLLECTED at ASU Cemetery Site (ACS)

Location: Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Salt Lake City, Utah:
LATIT: 40:45'20" LONG: -111:51' Height: 1410m

ASU Cemetery site description

ASU atmospheric projects

Contact us

Email questions regarding VTMX project: Prof. Harindra J.S. Fernando

VTMX experiment in Utah: dr Tomasz A. Kowalewski

Data analysis: dr Paolo Monti

Archive: dr Andjelka Srdic

IMPORTANT NOTICE!
Data contained in this site arise from VTMX field campaign conducted in October 2000 in the Salt Lake Valley. The data is intended to be used primarely by the VTMX program participants. The data may also be used for research and educational purposes. It was agreed (VTMX meeting April, 2000) that to use the data the appropriate acknowledgment should be given to the persons in any publications that result. "Appropriate" may range from co-authorship to simple inclusion in an acknowledgment section. Any uses of the data must receive written approval from ASU/EDF (Prof H.J.S. Fernando).

Last modification
ASU, Nov. 30, 2000
T.A. Kowalewski