Technology necessary to stop inversion

Sometimes in the winter, Salt Lake City air gets so bad you could mistakenly think you’re in a big city such as Beijing or Los Angeles.

Particularly in January along the Wasatch Front, Utah notoriously has had bad air. It’s so bad, in fact, that the National Science Foundation just approved $1.3 million to fund a study to collect better data as to why the inversion occurs.

So far this year, more than 20 health warnings have been issued by Utah environmental officials because of the bad air quality. The dirty air causes many people to cough, sneeze and have flu-like symptoms.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Utah has been given the distinction of having the worst air in America—several times.

Professor John Horel of the U’s department of atmospheric sciences is one of the principal investigators of the study about the inversion. He said this will be the largest field study of atmospheric conditions in Utah in more than a decade.

“This study is going to identify the weather that contributes to the development, maintenance and breakup of these inversions,” he said. “What is different about our study is the goal to improve the simulation and eventual prediction of the weather conditions associated with the pollution events.”

Because much of that money—$550,000—will come back to the U in the form of students and researchers setting up equipment and collecting and analyzing data, it’s difficult to turn up your nose at the study. However, because it is commonly known that the inversion results from cold-air pockets that trap pollutants and fog, it seems like an superfluous exercise that can be predicted with Doppler radar.

Another use of the money could be investing in weather modification technology. As seen with the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, the Chinese are fine-tuning their ability to make it rain on the eve of major events.

China’s Weather Modification Office employs 37,000 people. Essentially, it uses rocket launchers loaded with cloud-seeding compounds to either moisten clouds or drain them, depending on the need. Utah definitely has the need for wind and moisture to clear out the valley when cold pockets gather and dirty the air.

Yes, solutions such as carpooling, riding public transportation and staying indoors should definitely be put into practice by people doing their part as good citizens to reduce pollution. However, when circumstances beyond our control come into play, it makes sense to adopt creative answers to solve the problem.

By investing in weather modification technology and equipment, Utah can implement immediate solutions that will cut down on the poor visibility and lung congestion caused by the bad air.

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/opinion/technology-necessary-to-stop-inversion-1.2149332