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Boise Valley Inversion and Air Pollution Study

EPA Grant Number: R829425
Title: Boise Valley Inversion and Air Pollution Study
Investigators: Dawson, Paul
Institution: Boise State University
EPA Project Officer: Winner, Darrell
Project Period: May 27, 2002 through May 26, 2005
Project Amount: $256,266
RFA: EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) (2001)
Research Category: EPSCoR (The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research)

Description:

The Boise Valley (Treasure Valley [TV]), 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 TV, and make it unhealthy to breathe.

One goal of the research project was to better understand the meteorology and the associated evolution of PM in deep stable layers in the TV. Another goal was to apply a state-of-the-science meteorological model to simulate deep stable layer episodes successfully.

The objectives of the research project were to: (1) gain an understanding of the science and physics of atmospheric valley inversion development, persistence, and break-up; (2) analyze and model the 3-D airflow in the TV under various atmospheric conditions to provide a qualitative description of flow processes in the valley under various dynamic and thermal conditions; (3) monitor, model, and analyze the meteorology associated with deep stable layers in the TV during the project period; (4) monitor and analyze pollutant concentrations in the TV under winter inversion conditions during the project period to provide a better understanding of how air quality in the valley is related to the meteorology; (5) develop local training and expertise on local air quality problems in the TV; (6) compare results from all the winter inversion studies in the TV and make conclusions and suggestions for future studies, particularly for the air quality modeling; and (7) suggest possible improvements for mitigating air pollution events in the TV.

Supplemental Keywords:

mountain valley inversions, cool air pools, mesoscale modeling, particulate matter monitoring, air quality episodes, , Air, Scientific Discipline, RFA, Air Quality, Ecology, Atmospheric Sciences, particulate matter, Environmental Monitoring, meteorology, air quality models, atmospheric particles, aerosol formation, air pollution, atmospheric inversion, atmospheric aerosol particles

Progress and Final Reports:
2003 Progress Report
Final Report

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The 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.

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