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Secrets of San Lorenzo Valley’s Atmosphere: Vertical Meteorological Measurements

Secrets of San Lorenzo Valley’s Atmosphere: Vertical Meteorological Measurements. Connor Lydon, Natalie Gallagher San Lorenzo Valley High School Students. MBUAPCD. Located in Monterey, California Jurisdiction over Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties

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Secrets of San Lorenzo Valley’s Atmosphere: Vertical Meteorological Measurements

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  1. Secrets of San Lorenzo Valley’s Atmosphere: Vertical Meteorological Measurements Connor Lydon, Natalie Gallagher San Lorenzo Valley High School Students

  2. MBUAPCD • Located in Monterey, California • Jurisdiction over Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties The Mission of the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District is to Protect the Public Health while balancing Economic and Air Quality Considerations.

  3. Air Expressions:Grants for Clean Air Projects • Grant program for high school or college students: • $1,500 for high school projects • $5,000 for college student projects • Get students excited about air quality! • Engage the local community

  4. Example Projects • Clean Air app for Android phone • Solar panel demonstration • Diesel technology equipment • SLV radiosonde measurements

  5. About Our Project We investigate thermal inversions & their affect on hazardous Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) levels created by excessive wood burning in San Lorenzo Valley (SLV). We then communicated our results in science fairs, at air district meetings, board meetings, and directly to SLV residents.

  6. Importance of Our Research • During winter, SLV has many days of moderate to unhealthy amounts of PM 2.5 (as determined by AQI Index). • Much PM 2.5 is released in SLV due to wood burning. • Thermal inversions result in a major increase in PM 2.5 levels, and many occur throughout winter in SLV. • No lower atmospheric data had been previously collected for SLV.

  7. How Inversions Affect PM 2.5 Levels in SLV Inversion PM 2.5 Mountains Mountains

  8. Flight Apparatus

  9. i-Met 3050 Sounding System

  10. Non-Inversion Day, January 9th: PM 2.5 24HR Average: 14.7 ug/m3 Inversion Day, January 16th: PM 2.5 24HR Average: 35.3 ug/m3

  11. Results & Conclusions • Particulate matter 2.5 increased significantly on all inversion days. • On inversion days, PM 2.5 can reach unhealthy levels for the general population in San Lorenzo Valley. • Inversions occur frequently in San Lorenzo Valley, and they are usually quite strong. • Wood burning is the major cause of high levels of PM 2.5 in San Lorenzo Valley

  12. Accomplishments • 1st in Earth Sciences & 1st Overall at Santa Cruz County Science Fair. • 1st in Earth & Planetary Sciences at the State Science Fair. • Finalists at the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair in Phoenix, Arizona. • American Meteorological Society Outstanding Achievement Award • Naval Science Award • Invited to the I-Sweep International Fair and the International Mostratec Science Fair in Brazil. • Received $1,600 in cash awards.

  13. Where We’re Going • We are continuing to launch weather balloons this winter season. • We are planning to use the data we have collected and are collecting in new ways. • We plan to continue to present at science fairs. • We wish to still present the issue to residents of SLV, and hopefully prompt change.

  14. Educational Enhancement • Public Speaking • Research • Cultural Exposure • The Grant Process

  15. Funding • The Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District (MBUAPCD) donated supplies, EBAM data, and much of their employees’ time in training and mentoring. • InterMet donated generous amounts of supplies, allowing us to perform well over 40 launches in the 2012/2013 year.

  16. Questions ?

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