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Emissions of Reactive Organics from Natural Gas-Fueled Engines
Utah State University scientists will improve estimates of the magnitude and composition of emissions from natural gas-fueled artificial lift engines in the Uinta Basin. Recent ambient air measurements have implicated natural gas-fueled engines as a large source of reactive organics, including formaldehyde, ethylene, propylene, and other compounds. The results from this project will allow Utah…
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Vertical Ozone Profiles in the Uinta Basin and Validating Drones as an Air Measurement Platform
The University of Utah will conduct vertical ozone profile measurements from ground level to the mid-stratosphere to develop a better understanding of ozone layers and evolution over Utah. Data collected by drones and balloons will provide information on the vertical distribution of ozone and nitrous dioxide (NO2) among other gases. This data will be used…
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Quantitative Attribution of Wildfires on Summertime Ozone Concentrations along the Wasatch Front
Wildfires can significantly enhance summertime ozone and aerosol concentrations, which can degrade air quality and have adverse effects on human health. While air quality has improved across much of the U.S., the Western U.S. has seen a recent increase in wildfire activity. This project will assess the contribution of regional fires and long-range smoke transport…
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Halogen Sources and their Influence on Winter Air Pollution in the Great Salt Lake Basin
The Great Salt Lake Basin is meteorologically and chemically distinct from other regions in the U.S. It is subject to both persistent cold air pools in complex terrain that lead to winter air pollution and potentially large inputs of natural and anthropogenic sources of halogen species. This project will investigate the role of these halogen…
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Winter Measurements of Heavy-duty Vehicles to Characterize the Cold Temperature Effectiveness of Selective Catalytic Reductions Catalyst in Controlling Oxide of Nitrogen Emissions
The Salt Lake City region in Utah experiences periods of high particulate levels in the winter months due to the combination of its topography, winter atmospheric inversions and local emissions. Secondary nitrate particles comprise the dominant fraction of the particles in these episodes and are the result of the reaction of oxides of nitrogen (NOx)…
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Identifying and Quantifying the Impact of Wildfires and Dust Events on Utah’s Air Quality
Wildfires and dust storms are considered “exceptional events” in air quality modeling because they are not reasonably controllable or preventable, are caused by human activity that is unlikely to recur at a particular location, or are a natural event. Exceptional events can unpredictably increase concentrations of pollutants like particulate matter (PM) and ozone precursors, especially…
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Improving Volatile Organic Compound Emission Estimates for the Uintah Basin
This study builds on last year’s effort to improve the speciation of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from oil and gas wells in the Uintah Basin. Better speciation profiles will yield a better emission inventory for the basin and will help focus emission reduction strategies. Principal Investigators: Trang Tran, Huy Tran (USU) Funded by Science…
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Characterizing Air Quality Impacts from Exceptional Events along the Wasatch Front
This study, led by researchers at BYU, will use particulate matter (PM) sampling to identify regional dust sources that impact local air quality and public health, as well as model how dust sources might change in the future. Principal Investigators: Dr. Greg Carling (BYU) Funded by Science for Solutions Research Grant: $150,000
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Improving WRF/CMAQ Model Performance using Satellite Data Assimilation Technique for the Uintah Basin
This study will test if satellite observations of vegetation and land use can be used to improve photochemical model performance in the Uintah basin. An improved model will help inform emission reduction strategies and regulatory action. Principal Investigators: Huy Tran, Trang Tran (USU) Funded by Science for Solutions Research Grant: $38,392
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TRAX Air Quality Observation Project (Blue Line)
The TRAX air quality project continues to measure PM2.5 and ozone from TRAX light rail trains, and will add measurements to the Blue line. All data is publicly available and posted in near real-time on the MesoWest website. Principal Investigators: Daniel Mendoza, Logan Mitchell, John Horel, John Lin (UU) Funded by legislative appropriation: $44,000
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Investigating Sources of Ammonia Uncertainty in Modeling the Salt lake City PM2.5 Nonattainment Area
This study will investigate the existing emission inventory of ammonia (NH3) sources and compare modeled NH3 concentrations to those observed during recent field studies in order to identify and correct missing NH3 sources. In addition to improving the inventory, this study will add new NH3 emission pathways to the photochemical model. Principal Investigators: Chris Emery…
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The Red Butte Canyon Air Mass Exchange and Pollution Transport Study
The University of Utah will make measurements of vertical wind and aerosol profiles, as well as ozone and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations at the mouth of Red Butte Canyon in order to better understand air exchange in the Salt Lake Valley during wintertime PM2.5 events. Principal Investigators: Sebastian W. Hoch, Erik T. Crosman (UU)…
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The Red Butte Canyon Ozone Network:
Leveraging Existing Infrastructure to Probe Background Concentrations, Canyon Flows, and Stratospheric Oxidant ExchangeThis study will deploy a number of ozone sensors at different distances up Red Butte Canyon to better understand natural gradients in ozone and how phenomena like large thunderstorms and valley drainage flows contribute to ozone concentrations in the Salt Lake Valley. Principal Investigators: Logan Mitchell, Ryan Bares, David Eiriksson (UU) Funded by Science for…
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Understanding How Wood-Burning’s Contribution to Particulate Matter Concentrations Have Changed over Time
Wood burning contributes to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution in the Wasatch Front, and reducing the use of wood burning during pollution episodes has been the focus of many policy decisions. This study looks at patterns of temperature, heat deficit, and day of the week along with markers of woodsmoke and mandatory no-burn days, to…
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2014 Air Agencies Oil and Gas Emissions Inventory:
Uinta BasinFor almost a decade the 2006 Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP) Phase III oil and gas emissions inventories were relied on for the Uinta Basin (Basin), the main oil and gas producing region in Utah. Although these inventories were projected forward using up-to-date annual production and drilling activity data from the region, the inventories still…
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Hydrocarbon Emission Detection Survey
of Uinta Basin Oil and Gas WellsUtah State University’s Bingham Research Center presents the results of simultaneous aerial and ground-based optical gas imaging surveys conducted in winter and spring 2018.
