Current Dust Research Projects

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We are excited to share three new dust science efforts available to the public and Utah scientists. 

Project 1 – Expanding Our Monitoring Infrastructure: The Utah Dust Observatory and Research Network (UDORN)

Effective policy starts with precise measurement. Over the next five years, we are establishing UDORN, a state-wide network of approximately 20 monitoring stations. This infrastructure will provide near real-time data on dust and meteorological conditions. By expanding our reach, we can move beyond general observations to tracking exactly how dust plumes migrate from the Great Salt Lake and regional deserts into our growing communities. UDORN information will be available as an interactive hoverable map of UDORN stations displaying summary dust data captured for each station.

For each location, the map will display:

• number, timing, duration, and intensity of dust events occurring in the last year
• the heavy metal concentrations found within the dust events
• a link to all the dust data for a particular station

Project 2 – Analyzing Historical Trends: The Utah Dust Event Legacy Database

To understand our future, we must quantify our past. We have compiled 25 years of historical data to identify long-term trends in dust frequency. The Dust Legacy Database allows us to move from anecdotal observations to a rigorous, statistical understanding of how Utah’s changing landscape impacts air quality by using dust event information from multiple Utah airport’s Automated Surface Observing System combined with particulate matter data from our State or Local Air Monitoring Stations.

Project 3 – Decoding the Chemistry: Utah Dust Heavy Metals Inventory

Perhaps the most vital question regarding dust is its composition. We are investing $200,000 to perform advanced chemical analysis  on dust filters dating back to 2010. By examining these “forensic” records, we are building a Utah Dust Heavy Metals Inventory to identify the specific elements—such as arsenic or lead—carried in the wind.