It's been quite awhile since I've posted anything, mostly because I haven't really felt like sitting down and actually thinking of things to write. For the past two weeks, I've been savoring what little time is left of my stay down here in Oak Ridge and trying to make as many memories as possible.
The work load has been light, considering the air quality down here in East Tennessee is the best that its been for years. I've simply been working on my final presentation and paper, and getting everything in order for the final week in Silver Spring, MD.
The upcoming weekend will be my last down here in East Tennessee, and I'm looking forward to see what it brings. That's all for now, I really have no motivation to write anything at this time.
Don't worry though, I have a few closing posts up my sleeve still!
I can't embed this video, but all you have to do is click on the link and it will bring you right to youtube.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
The Countdown
Somehow, six weeks have come and gone and only three remain. I arrived in Oak Ridge on May 22nd and that seems just like yesterday. Although I am more than excited to go home, there is also a touch of sadness when I think about all of the people I've met that will suddenly be 600 plus miles away. Many of these people have become great friends, even in such a short period of time.
But then I think of home, Penn State, and all of the amazing people back there that are waiting for my return (I hope!).
This isn't quite the right time to be preparing for goodbyes, considering three weeks still remain. There will be plenty of time for that at the very end. But I know that those three weeks will fly by and at this time on July 24th, I will be on the highway, heading home. And as soon as I cross that Oak Ridge line, "with 10 miles behind me, and 10,000 more to go", I know that I will be leaving behind a lot of great memories.
But then I think of home, Penn State, and all of the amazing people back there that are waiting for my return (I hope!).
This isn't quite the right time to be preparing for goodbyes, considering three weeks still remain. There will be plenty of time for that at the very end. But I know that those three weeks will fly by and at this time on July 24th, I will be on the highway, heading home. And as soon as I cross that Oak Ridge line, "with 10 miles behind me, and 10,000 more to go", I know that I will be leaving behind a lot of great memories.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Blowin in the Wind
During the past week, it has become evident that PM2.5 concentrations are significantly influenced by local meteorological conditions. This isn't a very ingenious comment, considering EVERYTHING suspended in the atmosphere is influenced by meteorological conditions. With this in mind, I guess it's still neat to prove that everything is right with the world and science is still behaving as it should.
So, lets provide example number 1. Late last week, after my return from Gulfport, I noticed these two distinct spikes in PM2.5 concentrations that occurred overnight (Figure 1).
Figure 1: PM2.5 concentrations
These brief increases are almost a full order of magnitude greater than the expected trend set earlier in the day. Clearly, a plume of something was advected (meteorology lingo for blown with the wind) over the instrument causing the higher readings. Had this been a poisonous gas (such as chlorine) the impacts on human life would have been huge. This plume, however, is still something that I would not want to be breathing in. Taking a look at wind data from this time, it is clear that a wind shift played a signifcant role in these higher readings. Figure 2 shows recorded 10 meter wind directions during this time.
Figure 2: Wind direction
At approximately 23:00, the wind changed direction from 50 degrees (from the NE) to 250 degrees (from the WSW). This change in wind direction lines up perfectly with the increased PM2.5 concentrations. This simple example provides clear evidence that small, microscale changes in the environment can produce significant changes in atmospheric pollutants.
The previous example was from a calm night, so your next question should be: What happens during an extremly unstable period, such as during the passage of a thunderstorm? No worries, I have diligently analyzed that situation also!
On the afternoon of June 28th, multiple thunderstorms passed through the area and provided some interesting data. Figure 3 below shows the changes in temperature and wind speed as the thunderstorms moved by.
Figure 3: Temperature and Wind Speed during the passage of thunderstorms.
The thunderstorm passages can be clearly seen when looking at the temperature data because of the sudden drops. When thunderstorms pass, they are accompanied by a pool of cold air that is immediately felt at the onset. Of course, wind speed is bound to increase during the thunderstorm, and this is also evident in the above figure.
So, what do you think the PM2.5 concentrations looked like during this time? The answer lies below!
Clearly, during the two main thunderstorm passages (at 13:30 and 17:30) PM concentrations fell dramatically. Thunderstorms get their energy by sucking air from the entire boundary layer (the lowest kilometer of the atmosphere) and using this air as fuel. Therefore, any pollutants at the surface are immediately taken into the thunderstorm and advected elsewhere/dissolved in precipiation.
TA DA!
The amazing effects of local weather conditions on the dispersion/advection of atmospheric particles!
In the wise words of Bob Dylan, "The answer, my friend, is blowin in the wind."
So, lets provide example number 1. Late last week, after my return from Gulfport, I noticed these two distinct spikes in PM2.5 concentrations that occurred overnight (Figure 1).
Figure 1: PM2.5 concentrations
These brief increases are almost a full order of magnitude greater than the expected trend set earlier in the day. Clearly, a plume of something was advected (meteorology lingo for blown with the wind) over the instrument causing the higher readings. Had this been a poisonous gas (such as chlorine) the impacts on human life would have been huge. This plume, however, is still something that I would not want to be breathing in. Taking a look at wind data from this time, it is clear that a wind shift played a signifcant role in these higher readings. Figure 2 shows recorded 10 meter wind directions during this time.
Figure 2: Wind direction
At approximately 23:00, the wind changed direction from 50 degrees (from the NE) to 250 degrees (from the WSW). This change in wind direction lines up perfectly with the increased PM2.5 concentrations. This simple example provides clear evidence that small, microscale changes in the environment can produce significant changes in atmospheric pollutants.
The previous example was from a calm night, so your next question should be: What happens during an extremly unstable period, such as during the passage of a thunderstorm? No worries, I have diligently analyzed that situation also!
On the afternoon of June 28th, multiple thunderstorms passed through the area and provided some interesting data. Figure 3 below shows the changes in temperature and wind speed as the thunderstorms moved by.
Figure 3: Temperature and Wind Speed during the passage of thunderstorms.
The thunderstorm passages can be clearly seen when looking at the temperature data because of the sudden drops. When thunderstorms pass, they are accompanied by a pool of cold air that is immediately felt at the onset. Of course, wind speed is bound to increase during the thunderstorm, and this is also evident in the above figure.
So, what do you think the PM2.5 concentrations looked like during this time? The answer lies below!
Clearly, during the two main thunderstorm passages (at 13:30 and 17:30) PM concentrations fell dramatically. Thunderstorms get their energy by sucking air from the entire boundary layer (the lowest kilometer of the atmosphere) and using this air as fuel. Therefore, any pollutants at the surface are immediately taken into the thunderstorm and advected elsewhere/dissolved in precipiation.
TA DA!
The amazing effects of local weather conditions on the dispersion/advection of atmospheric particles!
In the wise words of Bob Dylan, "The answer, my friend, is blowin in the wind."
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Oh Simpsons...How Right you Were!
If you have a spare twenty minutes to sit down and watch this Simpsons episode, I urge you to do so. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. The episode deals with Bart's trip to Knoxville TN, and Oak Ridge even makes an appearance.
When you click play, an add will pop up on another tab. Simply close this tab, come back to the blog page and click play again. And the episode should load.
Enjoy!
When you click play, an add will pop up on another tab. Simply close this tab, come back to the blog page and click play again. And the episode should load.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Goodbye Biloxi
After two weeks in Biloxi, we finally finished the project and headed home to Oak Ridge late last night. We ended up staying over in Birmingham (almost the half way point of the trip) and left early this morning finally arriving in Oak Ridge a little after noon.
Over the past week, I have failed to keep up with this blog simply because of the boring nature of the work. Since I promised to show the oh so exciting nature of balloon launches, here it goes.
The balloon is inflated with helium and is automatically shut off when the balloon acquires a certain buoyancy. We then tie the balloon. We then tie the tied balloon to the instrument package (called a radiosonde). We then let go of the balloon. We watch the balloon. We sit and wait for the next launch in another 1 hour and 45 minutes.
I know...exciting stuff.
Although the field work may be boring, the data is extremely interesting to a meteorologist. The radiosonde allows us to create a vertical profile of temperature, wind speed/direction, and moisture. Of course, these variables are extremely important in the world of atmospheric science. It was pretty neat to be able to see real time data being sent in as the balloon rose through cloud base and into the upper atmosphere. Data was being plotted on a skew-T, which looks something like this. I won't bother explaining it, but you can visit this site if you are really interested in what you are looking at.
Eventually the balloon will pop somewhere around 70,000 ft (this varies). Because of the low pressures aloft, the balloon will expand almost to the size of a two story house. After it pops, the radiosonde will fall back to the ground on a parachute and most likely be lost forever. The National Weather Service puts a mailing address on their instruments asking for them to be returned, but the return rate is extremely low.
So from Monday through Friday, this was pretty much all that was done. Over the weekend, however, we had a whole bunch of work to do with the meteorological towers that we put up during the first week. At first, we thought the towers were only going to be a two week set-up, but some of the sites were interested in keeping them up for another few months. So we had to make a few adjustments to the towers to be able to make them withstand the longer stay.
15 concrete blocks were added to each leg to help the tower hold up against hurricane force winds (current estimates are that the tower will stand up against 90 mph). A trench had to be dug (with a machine of course) in order to bury the electrical line. A lightning protection system was also set up with a copper rod extending 3 feet above the tower and coiled copper wire running down the tower and 100 feet horizontally away from the tower underground. Here are some pictures of the trench.
For the lightning grounding system, we poured Bentonite into the trench below and on top of the copper wire to provide a greater surface area for electricity to flow. Bentonite holds water really well (cat litter uses the same stuff apparently), so this also helps in directing the flow of electricity.
That pretty much sums up the last week in Gulfport/Biloxi. Now its time to get some rest and try to regain some energy. I leave you with the one and only...Jimmy Buffett.
Over the past week, I have failed to keep up with this blog simply because of the boring nature of the work. Since I promised to show the oh so exciting nature of balloon launches, here it goes.
The balloon is inflated with helium and is automatically shut off when the balloon acquires a certain buoyancy. We then tie the balloon. We then tie the tied balloon to the instrument package (called a radiosonde). We then let go of the balloon. We watch the balloon. We sit and wait for the next launch in another 1 hour and 45 minutes.
I know...exciting stuff.
Although the field work may be boring, the data is extremely interesting to a meteorologist. The radiosonde allows us to create a vertical profile of temperature, wind speed/direction, and moisture. Of course, these variables are extremely important in the world of atmospheric science. It was pretty neat to be able to see real time data being sent in as the balloon rose through cloud base and into the upper atmosphere. Data was being plotted on a skew-T, which looks something like this. I won't bother explaining it, but you can visit this site if you are really interested in what you are looking at.
Eventually the balloon will pop somewhere around 70,000 ft (this varies). Because of the low pressures aloft, the balloon will expand almost to the size of a two story house. After it pops, the radiosonde will fall back to the ground on a parachute and most likely be lost forever. The National Weather Service puts a mailing address on their instruments asking for them to be returned, but the return rate is extremely low.
So from Monday through Friday, this was pretty much all that was done. Over the weekend, however, we had a whole bunch of work to do with the meteorological towers that we put up during the first week. At first, we thought the towers were only going to be a two week set-up, but some of the sites were interested in keeping them up for another few months. So we had to make a few adjustments to the towers to be able to make them withstand the longer stay.
15 concrete blocks were added to each leg to help the tower hold up against hurricane force winds (current estimates are that the tower will stand up against 90 mph). A trench had to be dug (with a machine of course) in order to bury the electrical line. A lightning protection system was also set up with a copper rod extending 3 feet above the tower and coiled copper wire running down the tower and 100 feet horizontally away from the tower underground. Here are some pictures of the trench.
For the lightning grounding system, we poured Bentonite into the trench below and on top of the copper wire to provide a greater surface area for electricity to flow. Bentonite holds water really well (cat litter uses the same stuff apparently), so this also helps in directing the flow of electricity.
That pretty much sums up the last week in Gulfport/Biloxi. Now its time to get some rest and try to regain some energy. I leave you with the one and only...Jimmy Buffett.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
What Time is it Again?
Like I expected, this week has not been very tough at all. We've been launching radiosondes every two hours, and that is pretty much it. It really only takes 15 minutes to prepare the balloon, and then 1 hour and 45 minutes of sitting around and watching it. I really haven't had time to post any new entries because of the somewhat long hours and a few trips to the casino. I'll probably post a few pictures of the launches tomorrow, but I'm not promising anything.
So far this week, the high temperatures have been in the mid to high 90's with dewpoints in the high 60's. The rest of the research team that came down this week for the balloon launches have been complaining about how unbearable the heat is. The other two guys and I that came down last week just laugh when we hear this. Compared to the work we put in last week with temperatures in the 90's, this week is child's play.
Tomorrow is the last day of balloon launches for the Jackson State team, but the ATDD will continue launches through the weekend. At this point, we should be making our way back to Oak Ridge by Monday.
I'll post a review of this past week tomorrow, but trust me, it's not very thrilling/exciting work.
A common theme of this week, however, has been our inability to give the right time. ATDD works in some dumb time system that just confuses everybody. Life would be made so much easier if we just used Zulu time (like every other meteorological institution). In addition, we're in another time zone and some people don't reset their watches, so they constantly forget to subtract the hour from eastern time. Therefore, this song is dedicated to time, and how stupid it is.
So far this week, the high temperatures have been in the mid to high 90's with dewpoints in the high 60's. The rest of the research team that came down this week for the balloon launches have been complaining about how unbearable the heat is. The other two guys and I that came down last week just laugh when we hear this. Compared to the work we put in last week with temperatures in the 90's, this week is child's play.
Tomorrow is the last day of balloon launches for the Jackson State team, but the ATDD will continue launches through the weekend. At this point, we should be making our way back to Oak Ridge by Monday.
I'll post a review of this past week tomorrow, but trust me, it's not very thrilling/exciting work.
A common theme of this week, however, has been our inability to give the right time. ATDD works in some dumb time system that just confuses everybody. Life would be made so much easier if we just used Zulu time (like every other meteorological institution). In addition, we're in another time zone and some people don't reset their watches, so they constantly forget to subtract the hour from eastern time. Therefore, this song is dedicated to time, and how stupid it is.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
A Day of Recollection
Today was a light day as far as actual work goes. We really only put in half a day going to the different sites and making sure everything was functioning as it should. Everything needs to be working properly by Tuesday, when the actual experiment begins. The rest of the research team will arrive Monday.
All of the hard work on this trip is pretty much done by this point. The rest of the time here in Gulfport simply involves launching weather balloons every two hours.
When I think back about all of the events of the past week, I realize that I have learned quite a lot.
For one, this field installment has reinforced the idea that the last thing I want to do for a job is sit behind a computer every day. By actually being out in the field, the days have flown by and I have enjoyed almost every minute of it. Even though the hours are sometimes long and tedious, its all worth it in the end. Therefore, it seems safe to say that when it comes time for job searching, I will be looking for a job that involves a good mix of field study combined with some data analyzation on the computer.
Secondly, I learned how to change a flat tire! Even though it wasn't difficult at all, it was still good experience...and I got to experience it twice (we had another blow out down here in Gulfport).
Finally, I learned that laughter is the cure of all ills, even when things start going wrong. When we were on the side of a highway in the middle of Alabama during the middle of the night, dead tired, with a flat tire, we never stopped laughing. By keeping a positive attitude , it is possible to get through even the most difficult situation.
With week 1/3 complete, I'm looking forward to a nice little break before we start the next phase. I'm also hoping to visit the casino tonight, but we'll see.
I had a hard time finding a theme song for this post, but I think this will work pretty well.
All of the hard work on this trip is pretty much done by this point. The rest of the time here in Gulfport simply involves launching weather balloons every two hours.
When I think back about all of the events of the past week, I realize that I have learned quite a lot.
For one, this field installment has reinforced the idea that the last thing I want to do for a job is sit behind a computer every day. By actually being out in the field, the days have flown by and I have enjoyed almost every minute of it. Even though the hours are sometimes long and tedious, its all worth it in the end. Therefore, it seems safe to say that when it comes time for job searching, I will be looking for a job that involves a good mix of field study combined with some data analyzation on the computer.
Secondly, I learned how to change a flat tire! Even though it wasn't difficult at all, it was still good experience...and I got to experience it twice (we had another blow out down here in Gulfport).
Finally, I learned that laughter is the cure of all ills, even when things start going wrong. When we were on the side of a highway in the middle of Alabama during the middle of the night, dead tired, with a flat tire, we never stopped laughing. By keeping a positive attitude , it is possible to get through even the most difficult situation.
With week 1/3 complete, I'm looking forward to a nice little break before we start the next phase. I'm also hoping to visit the casino tonight, but we'll see.
I had a hard time finding a theme song for this post, but I think this will work pretty well.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
On the Top of the World
The last two days, not surprisingly, have been extremely busy. We've been putting in 12 hour days trying to get all of the necessary sites installed while working in 90 degree heat and dew points in the mid 70's. Yesterday consisted of installing and outfitting a 10 meter (30 feet) tower with the necessary instruments (wind speed, direction, temperature, radiation intensity, temperature). Pictures are included below.
Meanwhile, a friendly little creature decided to stop by and say hi. We eventually found his home, and stayed away. We later asked a local what kind of snake it was and he told us it was a coachwhip, which is not poisonous.
After installing this tower, we went to go talk to a few of the US Forest Service people to ask about our next installation at one of the local fire towers. This leads us to today.
Fire towers were originally built prior to WWII as a means of spotting wild fires in the distance. Today, however, with our current population spraw and constant connection via cell phones, they really are no longer needed. The particular fire tower that we climbed today was approximately 100 feet tall and was built sometime around 1930. The tower was pretty much original, except for new wooden stairways. We installed the same equipment at this site as we had at previous sites.
Working on the fire tower was actually much more difficult than installing our own tower because of the small space and the need to actually hang from the 100 foot tower. Let's just say I let the other guys do all the hanging...I just stood on the stairs and watched, that was good enough for me!
Today was another 11 hour day pretty much considering we left for the site at 7:00 am and didn't get back home until 6:00 pm. I also have a pretty nice sunburn on my arms and neck now from working in the hot southern sun for hours on end.
Too tired to write anything more, but enjoy the video of our fire tower climb!
Meanwhile, a friendly little creature decided to stop by and say hi. We eventually found his home, and stayed away. We later asked a local what kind of snake it was and he told us it was a coachwhip, which is not poisonous.
After installing this tower, we went to go talk to a few of the US Forest Service people to ask about our next installation at one of the local fire towers. This leads us to today.
Fire towers were originally built prior to WWII as a means of spotting wild fires in the distance. Today, however, with our current population spraw and constant connection via cell phones, they really are no longer needed. The particular fire tower that we climbed today was approximately 100 feet tall and was built sometime around 1930. The tower was pretty much original, except for new wooden stairways. We installed the same equipment at this site as we had at previous sites.
Working on the fire tower was actually much more difficult than installing our own tower because of the small space and the need to actually hang from the 100 foot tower. Let's just say I let the other guys do all the hanging...I just stood on the stairs and watched, that was good enough for me!
Today was another 11 hour day pretty much considering we left for the site at 7:00 am and didn't get back home until 6:00 pm. I also have a pretty nice sunburn on my arms and neck now from working in the hot southern sun for hours on end.
Too tired to write anything more, but enjoy the video of our fire tower climb!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The Long and Winding (and apparently too bumpy) Road
If I were to say that yesterday was one of the most tiring days ever, I wouldn't be lying. I woke up at 7am and went into work at 8. The morning was relatively quiet as people were doing various other tasks. We were supposed to leave Oak Ridge by noon, but we still had to disassemble all of the meteorological towers that we had assembled previously to see that everything functioned correctly. We didn't actually start until about 11 or so and we also had yet to pack a single trailer for the trip. Working in 90 degree heat, we took down all five of the towers (30 feet) and packed them away into the trailer. We also had to take down and pack all of the instruments, data loggers, and tools that we would need in Gulfport. By the time we got everything packed, it was 5:00. We didn't actually get out of Oak Ridge until 5:30.
Having already logged a nine hour day, we still had a ten hour drive ahead of us! The first half of the trip flew by pretty fast as we drove through Tennessee and into Alabama. This was the first time I had ever been in Alabama, and lets just say, no great loss. If you like trees, and nothing, then Alabama is the place for you.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. At about the halfway mark of the trip, the tire on one of our trailers decided to completely blow up. I was riding in the vehicle behind the trailer and we were talking to the other guy on the phone. He was saying how something didn't feel right, and then the tire just exploded. After a few seconds, the fender was torn off and went flying 100 feet in the air (okay...that was an exaggeration, but it was still pretty awesome). So, for the next half an hour, we changed the trailer tire on a highway somewhere in the middle of Alabama. For the next six hours, we kept our speed at 60 and stopped frequently to check on the spare that we put on. We didn't actually arrive in Gulfport until 5 am.
Tomorrow we will actually start the installation process at a nearby airport. Understandably, we weren't in the best condition today to do much of anything. I'll make sure to have a whole bunch of pictures up tomorrow.
As for today, we drove around for a little bit trying to figure a few things out. Downtown Biloxi is basically a small Las Vegas with casinos lining the shore. You can also see the obvious effects of hurricanes on the city with downed trees and sand everywhere. Overall, its a nice little tourist spot. I'll definetly visit these places over the next few weeks. Right now all I want to do is sleep!
This is also the first time i've been in another time zone (I know...I'm lame), so thats pretty cool!
Well, I think it's time to get some rest and get ready for another long day tomorrow.
Having already logged a nine hour day, we still had a ten hour drive ahead of us! The first half of the trip flew by pretty fast as we drove through Tennessee and into Alabama. This was the first time I had ever been in Alabama, and lets just say, no great loss. If you like trees, and nothing, then Alabama is the place for you.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. At about the halfway mark of the trip, the tire on one of our trailers decided to completely blow up. I was riding in the vehicle behind the trailer and we were talking to the other guy on the phone. He was saying how something didn't feel right, and then the tire just exploded. After a few seconds, the fender was torn off and went flying 100 feet in the air (okay...that was an exaggeration, but it was still pretty awesome). So, for the next half an hour, we changed the trailer tire on a highway somewhere in the middle of Alabama. For the next six hours, we kept our speed at 60 and stopped frequently to check on the spare that we put on. We didn't actually arrive in Gulfport until 5 am.
Tomorrow we will actually start the installation process at a nearby airport. Understandably, we weren't in the best condition today to do much of anything. I'll make sure to have a whole bunch of pictures up tomorrow.
As for today, we drove around for a little bit trying to figure a few things out. Downtown Biloxi is basically a small Las Vegas with casinos lining the shore. You can also see the obvious effects of hurricanes on the city with downed trees and sand everywhere. Overall, its a nice little tourist spot. I'll definetly visit these places over the next few weeks. Right now all I want to do is sleep!
This is also the first time i've been in another time zone (I know...I'm lame), so thats pretty cool!
Well, I think it's time to get some rest and get ready for another long day tomorrow.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Going to Gulfport
Well, this Monday I officially depart Oak Ridge for a few weeks and travel to Gulfport/Biloxi, MS. The first week I will be assisting a few of the engineers in setting up meteorological towers and instruments. During the second week, I will be launching radiosondes every two hours. More of this in another post. Hours will be approximately from 7am-7pm M-F. During my two week hiatus, I will definitely visit a few of the beaches and casinos in the Gulfport/Biloxi area. It will also be interesting to see the extent of damage caused by Katrina in 2006. That's all for now, here's a video to end with.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
It's All About Stability
The main goal of this research project in Oak Ridge is to find a connection between PM concentrations and the overall stability of the atmosphere. Oak Ridge National Laboratory has done extensive research at the I-40/Watt Road Interchange, but it the belief of my mentor that they incorrectly theorized the reasons for the existence of PM diurnal oscillations.
In 2006, ORNL performed a huge field study where they analyzed truck and vehicle emissions along the I40 interchange. From this study, it was determined that 100,000 vehicles pass this site per day, with 20,000 of those vehicles consisting of trucks. In the three nearby truck stops, there were over 700 parking spaces. The picture of this interchange can be seen below.
Additionally, it was found that idling trucks at the truck stop produced much more PM2.5 than those moving at constant speed along the highway. This was a significant find, considering that over 60% of trucks were found to be idling their engines when parked in their spaces. When observing the daily concentration of PM2.5, they noticed a clear spike in concentrations during the overnight hours. This is the prime time for trucks to be idling their engines at the truck stop (when most truckers sleep, they leave their engines idling in order to provide air conditioning, and that constant hum that helps them sleep). Therefore, ORNL concluded that the nocturnal spike was due solely to an increase in idling trucks.
Meteorologists, however, are more than familar with pollution buildups during overnight hours.
Overnight, as the ground cools much more quickly than the surrounding air, a temperature inversion develops in the lowest 1000 m of the atmosphere. An inversion is simply a layer where temperature actually increases with height (normally, temperature decreases with height). Because of this increase, this layer is an extremely stable area that limits vertical movement and acts as a lid. Therefore, any source pollution present is unable to disperse and is kept at the surface. When located in a valley, between two ridges, almost all movement is entirely suppressed. Not surprisingly, the I-40/Watt Road interchange is located in a valley between two ridges approximately 300ft above the surrounding valley.
At the ATDD's site at Watt Road, we are measuring PM concentrations in addition to 3 and 10 meter temperatures and wind components. We will use the wind and temperature measurements to compute stability indices. I will discuss this in another post. For right now, I just want to discuss the effects of the inversion.
Inversions can be easily identified on radar during the early morning hours. Because of their stability, inversions are capable of bending radar beams into the ground and causing the radar to pick up the back scatter of the ground (trees, cars, etc) instead of actual rain drops. The image below shows an example of the effects of an inversion on radar.
As soon as the sun rises, however, the ground begins to warm more quickly than the surrounding air, resulting in the break down of this inversion. Below, you will find a time series of this breakdown obtained on June 3rd in Knoxville. Throughout the half hour time period, you will notice the intensity of the colors decreasing, an indication of the breakdown of the inversion.
7:30am
7:41 am
8:00
Theoretically, with the breakdown of this inversion, turbulent mixing in the lowest 1000 meters should quickly take over, resulting in the dispersion of anything that has built up overnight. Below is a graph of PM concentrations (in ug/m^3) obtained during this same day.
As can be seen, at around 7:30 am, PM concentrations fell from a max of 33 ug/m^3 to 20 ug/m^3 over a time period of about a half hour. Not surprisingly, this drop corresponds with the breakdown of the inversion! TA DA!
This quick and simple inversion example that I found earlier this week has shown that stability is most likely the controlling factor in PM concentrations.
The next step in this project is to use sophisticated techniques to measure stability and really prove that this is a major issue in diurnal oscillations. Sorry ORNL, maybe next time....
In 2006, ORNL performed a huge field study where they analyzed truck and vehicle emissions along the I40 interchange. From this study, it was determined that 100,000 vehicles pass this site per day, with 20,000 of those vehicles consisting of trucks. In the three nearby truck stops, there were over 700 parking spaces. The picture of this interchange can be seen below.
Additionally, it was found that idling trucks at the truck stop produced much more PM2.5 than those moving at constant speed along the highway. This was a significant find, considering that over 60% of trucks were found to be idling their engines when parked in their spaces. When observing the daily concentration of PM2.5, they noticed a clear spike in concentrations during the overnight hours. This is the prime time for trucks to be idling their engines at the truck stop (when most truckers sleep, they leave their engines idling in order to provide air conditioning, and that constant hum that helps them sleep). Therefore, ORNL concluded that the nocturnal spike was due solely to an increase in idling trucks.
Meteorologists, however, are more than familar with pollution buildups during overnight hours.
Overnight, as the ground cools much more quickly than the surrounding air, a temperature inversion develops in the lowest 1000 m of the atmosphere. An inversion is simply a layer where temperature actually increases with height (normally, temperature decreases with height). Because of this increase, this layer is an extremely stable area that limits vertical movement and acts as a lid. Therefore, any source pollution present is unable to disperse and is kept at the surface. When located in a valley, between two ridges, almost all movement is entirely suppressed. Not surprisingly, the I-40/Watt Road interchange is located in a valley between two ridges approximately 300ft above the surrounding valley.
At the ATDD's site at Watt Road, we are measuring PM concentrations in addition to 3 and 10 meter temperatures and wind components. We will use the wind and temperature measurements to compute stability indices. I will discuss this in another post. For right now, I just want to discuss the effects of the inversion.
Inversions can be easily identified on radar during the early morning hours. Because of their stability, inversions are capable of bending radar beams into the ground and causing the radar to pick up the back scatter of the ground (trees, cars, etc) instead of actual rain drops. The image below shows an example of the effects of an inversion on radar.
As soon as the sun rises, however, the ground begins to warm more quickly than the surrounding air, resulting in the break down of this inversion. Below, you will find a time series of this breakdown obtained on June 3rd in Knoxville. Throughout the half hour time period, you will notice the intensity of the colors decreasing, an indication of the breakdown of the inversion.
7:30am
7:41 am
8:00
Theoretically, with the breakdown of this inversion, turbulent mixing in the lowest 1000 meters should quickly take over, resulting in the dispersion of anything that has built up overnight. Below is a graph of PM concentrations (in ug/m^3) obtained during this same day.
As can be seen, at around 7:30 am, PM concentrations fell from a max of 33 ug/m^3 to 20 ug/m^3 over a time period of about a half hour. Not surprisingly, this drop corresponds with the breakdown of the inversion! TA DA!
This quick and simple inversion example that I found earlier this week has shown that stability is most likely the controlling factor in PM concentrations.
The next step in this project is to use sophisticated techniques to measure stability and really prove that this is a major issue in diurnal oscillations. Sorry ORNL, maybe next time....
Monday, June 1, 2009
Those Pesky Particles
As has been stated previously, the main objective of this research is to study the concentration of PM2.5 particles in the atmosphere. Of course, these are particles with diameters less than 2.5 microns (although this is much more complicated than it seems since these particles aren't spherical!) Because of their small size, these fine particles are capable of entering the respiratory system and wreaking havoc on the passageways of the lungs. Additional research, however, still must be performed to determine whether short-term instantaneous peak concentration is more harmful than long-term exposure. Current research is focusing on this topic, but is outside the realm of my research.
Although the difference between 2.5 micron particles and 10 micron particles may seem small, there is a huge difference as far as radiative and chemical properties. Because of their radiative and chemical differences, differentiating between these particles is essential. Atmospheric scientists have therefore divided the particulates into three categories; those particles smaller than 2.5 um, particles between 2.5 um and 10 microns, and particles greater than 10um. By differentiating between these fine and course particles, we are better able to judge the impact of these particles on the environment and human welfare.
Although my research focuses solely on those PM2.5 particles produced by traffic, there are numerous other sources that you wouldn't even think of. Let's start with some indoor causes:
1) Cooking, for example, is a main cause for indoor air pollution as these particles are easily suspended. In fact, grilling meat outdoors is a huge concern during periods of stagnant weather because of their uptake into the surrounding environment. You can only guess how much charbroiled meat you just breathed in during Memorial Day Weekend!
So, I guess it really does rain meatballs. (and there's also a movie coming out, who would have guessed?)
2) Dust from human and pet fibers also are found extensively.
3) Smoking, duh.
4) Cleaning substances.
The image above was obtained from the EPA analysis of outdoor and indoor PM concentration. The paper was titled Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter and was released in October of 2004.
This post could go on forever detailing all of the sources of particulate matter, but I will spare you. I think you get the point that these particles can be found readily in the environment from a variety of sources.
I'll conclude with the possible health consequences, and the true reasons why this research is vital for human health.
As we progress through life, taking the next breath is the last thing on our mind. As adults, we average almost twenty breaths per minute, yet it is often as involuntary as the beating of our heart. We breath while we sleep, while we exercise, and while we eat, and meanwhile our lungs just keep on pumping. But what if, one day, our lungs decided they were sick of doing all of the hard work. What if you had to struggle to inhale and every breath felt like it may just be the last?
Ask any child who suffers from asthma and they will tell you exactly how it feels. Sit by the elderly man in the nursing home who suffers from COPD, and he will tell you the pain and fear he experiences. Observe the retired coal miners whose lungs are as black as the coal they mined and they will tell you the continual struggle.
Although studying air quality may not be as exciting as chasing tornadoes and hurricanes, it can be just as deadly (if not more so). It is, in fact, a silent killer that can take years to act and will inflict more misery than any EF-5 tornado could ever produce.
As our population continues to skyrocket, and industry explodes across the world, it is the duty of our generation to find a cure. With all of our technological advancements, it is ridiculous to rely on a fuel that is as old as the car itself. Unfortunately, politics and money are the root cause of this utter failure. Once again, Thoreau comes to the rescue with his wise advice.
"If a man loses pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured, or far away."
- Henry David Thoreau
Although the difference between 2.5 micron particles and 10 micron particles may seem small, there is a huge difference as far as radiative and chemical properties. Because of their radiative and chemical differences, differentiating between these particles is essential. Atmospheric scientists have therefore divided the particulates into three categories; those particles smaller than 2.5 um, particles between 2.5 um and 10 microns, and particles greater than 10um. By differentiating between these fine and course particles, we are better able to judge the impact of these particles on the environment and human welfare.
Although my research focuses solely on those PM2.5 particles produced by traffic, there are numerous other sources that you wouldn't even think of. Let's start with some indoor causes:
1) Cooking, for example, is a main cause for indoor air pollution as these particles are easily suspended. In fact, grilling meat outdoors is a huge concern during periods of stagnant weather because of their uptake into the surrounding environment. You can only guess how much charbroiled meat you just breathed in during Memorial Day Weekend!
So, I guess it really does rain meatballs. (and there's also a movie coming out, who would have guessed?)
2) Dust from human and pet fibers also are found extensively.
3) Smoking, duh.
4) Cleaning substances.
The image above was obtained from the EPA analysis of outdoor and indoor PM concentration. The paper was titled Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter and was released in October of 2004.
This post could go on forever detailing all of the sources of particulate matter, but I will spare you. I think you get the point that these particles can be found readily in the environment from a variety of sources.
I'll conclude with the possible health consequences, and the true reasons why this research is vital for human health.
As we progress through life, taking the next breath is the last thing on our mind. As adults, we average almost twenty breaths per minute, yet it is often as involuntary as the beating of our heart. We breath while we sleep, while we exercise, and while we eat, and meanwhile our lungs just keep on pumping. But what if, one day, our lungs decided they were sick of doing all of the hard work. What if you had to struggle to inhale and every breath felt like it may just be the last?
Ask any child who suffers from asthma and they will tell you exactly how it feels. Sit by the elderly man in the nursing home who suffers from COPD, and he will tell you the pain and fear he experiences. Observe the retired coal miners whose lungs are as black as the coal they mined and they will tell you the continual struggle.
Although studying air quality may not be as exciting as chasing tornadoes and hurricanes, it can be just as deadly (if not more so). It is, in fact, a silent killer that can take years to act and will inflict more misery than any EF-5 tornado could ever produce.
As our population continues to skyrocket, and industry explodes across the world, it is the duty of our generation to find a cure. With all of our technological advancements, it is ridiculous to rely on a fuel that is as old as the car itself. Unfortunately, politics and money are the root cause of this utter failure. Once again, Thoreau comes to the rescue with his wise advice.
"If a man loses pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured, or far away."
- Henry David Thoreau
Thursday, May 28, 2009
A Peaceful Summer Night
Tonight was one of those early summer nights that rejuvenates the mind, body, and soul. As the heat of the day subsided and the sun slid below the horizon, thunderstorms began firing about twenty miles south of Oak Ridge. These storms were far enough south to provide a calming light show without even a rumble of thunder. For me, there is nothing better in the world than watching a far off storm cross the horizon as twilight gradually fades into darkness.
I grabbed a beer out of the fridge, pulled out a chair on my front porch and watched a splendid show free of charge. :)
I grabbed a beer out of the fridge, pulled out a chair on my front porch and watched a splendid show free of charge. :)
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
The First Day: Oh Boy!
Well, after touring the town of Oak Ridge over the weekend, it was finally time to get down to business and start my internship. I've been pretty light on the topic of what I will actually be working on this summer, but that was mostly because even I didn't know the full extent of it. So here it goes. Some of this may get a bit technical, but just stick with it, I actually think I explained it pretty well!
The ATDD (picture available tomorrow) has installed two separate TEOM particulate monitors within the Oak Ridge/Knoxville region. The TEOM is actually a pretty neat instrument when you figure out how it works. An inlet valve at the top of the instrument takes in air at a rate of 16.7 L/min (via a vacuum pump) and is then diverted into a 3 L/min flow and a 13.7 L/min exhaust flow. Before diverting, however, the instrument is able to filter out particles of certain sizes (in this case greater than 2.5 microns). The inlet valve contains a certain curved geometry that allows for the passage of smaller particles but blocks those larger ones that we are not interested in. By changing this geometry, we are able to change which sizes we filter out.
After the initial filtering process, the 3 L/min flow progresses to what is called the mass transducer. This is simply a small filter that is resting on an oscillating hollow tube. The 2.5 micron particles then collect on this filter. The instrument is able to measure the accumulated mass because of the basic concepts of a mass spring system. By adding mass to the oscillating filter, the frequency of the oscillation must change. Since we know the change in frequency that has occurred, we can compute the mass of particulate matter on that filter. In order to compute a concentration (which we are really interested in), the instrument simply divides the mass by the flow rate (3 L/min) and a constant time ratio to arrive at a number with units of (microgram/m^3). This calculation is done every two seconds and the baseline mass is adjusted each time (so that the mass doesn't just keep adding up as particulates accumulate). This allows for instantaneous data which tells us the concentration of 2.5 micron particles. The instrument, however, computes a whole bunch of different timed averages (15 min, 30 min, 1 hour, 24 hour) in order to make the data more useful for analyzation.
After that long winded and involved description, lets get down to the important stuff. Why are we doing this?
Our first TEOM was installed next to the busy interchange of I-40 and Watt Road. Approximately 10,000 trucks per day pass this site, and trucks are constantly idling at the nearby truck stop. 2.5 micron particles are primarily produced by burning fossil fuels and other anthropogenic (aka human induced) sources. These particles and their health hazards will be discussed in an upcoming post. Therefore, it is believed that the concentration of these particles should be drastically higher along these populated industrial regions than in other areas.
For comparison purposes, a second TEOM was placed in the Walker Branch Watershed in Oak Ridge, TN. Let's just say that this instrument is basically in the middle of a bunch of nothing (aka, mountain ridge surrounded by trees). It is my job to analyze these two machines (in addition to other instruments in the region) and see if our hypothesis holds true.
In addition, daily weather conditions will be noted so that we can gain an increased understanding of how these particles behave in different atmospheric situations. Unstable conditions (think thunderstorm), for example, should allow for the transport and dispersion of these particles and not cause an extreme buildup within the local region. Strong and persistant high pressure, however, which is often common in the summer, should significantly hinder the transport of these particles and could create hazardous air quality levels. I guess we shall see!
My other project this summer involves traveling to Gulfport, MS with the research team for a 2-3 week period. This is a completely unrelated project that has nothing to do with air quality. I really don't know the complete details just yet, but it involves sea breeze circulations. I am actually really excited about this portion of the internship because it entails true field research, which I am extremely interested in.
So, to sum it all up, it looks like I will have 6-7 weeks of data analyzation mixed in with some field work in Oak Ridge, and 2-3 weeks of pure field research along the shores of Gulfport, MS.
In conclusion, this is my heart-felt thank you to all those big rigs and truck drivers who gave me the opportunity to study the byproducts of their amazing contributions to our planet.
The ATDD (picture available tomorrow) has installed two separate TEOM particulate monitors within the Oak Ridge/Knoxville region. The TEOM is actually a pretty neat instrument when you figure out how it works. An inlet valve at the top of the instrument takes in air at a rate of 16.7 L/min (via a vacuum pump) and is then diverted into a 3 L/min flow and a 13.7 L/min exhaust flow. Before diverting, however, the instrument is able to filter out particles of certain sizes (in this case greater than 2.5 microns). The inlet valve contains a certain curved geometry that allows for the passage of smaller particles but blocks those larger ones that we are not interested in. By changing this geometry, we are able to change which sizes we filter out.
After the initial filtering process, the 3 L/min flow progresses to what is called the mass transducer. This is simply a small filter that is resting on an oscillating hollow tube. The 2.5 micron particles then collect on this filter. The instrument is able to measure the accumulated mass because of the basic concepts of a mass spring system. By adding mass to the oscillating filter, the frequency of the oscillation must change. Since we know the change in frequency that has occurred, we can compute the mass of particulate matter on that filter. In order to compute a concentration (which we are really interested in), the instrument simply divides the mass by the flow rate (3 L/min) and a constant time ratio to arrive at a number with units of (microgram/m^3). This calculation is done every two seconds and the baseline mass is adjusted each time (so that the mass doesn't just keep adding up as particulates accumulate). This allows for instantaneous data which tells us the concentration of 2.5 micron particles. The instrument, however, computes a whole bunch of different timed averages (15 min, 30 min, 1 hour, 24 hour) in order to make the data more useful for analyzation.
After that long winded and involved description, lets get down to the important stuff. Why are we doing this?
Our first TEOM was installed next to the busy interchange of I-40 and Watt Road. Approximately 10,000 trucks per day pass this site, and trucks are constantly idling at the nearby truck stop. 2.5 micron particles are primarily produced by burning fossil fuels and other anthropogenic (aka human induced) sources. These particles and their health hazards will be discussed in an upcoming post. Therefore, it is believed that the concentration of these particles should be drastically higher along these populated industrial regions than in other areas.
For comparison purposes, a second TEOM was placed in the Walker Branch Watershed in Oak Ridge, TN. Let's just say that this instrument is basically in the middle of a bunch of nothing (aka, mountain ridge surrounded by trees). It is my job to analyze these two machines (in addition to other instruments in the region) and see if our hypothesis holds true.
In addition, daily weather conditions will be noted so that we can gain an increased understanding of how these particles behave in different atmospheric situations. Unstable conditions (think thunderstorm), for example, should allow for the transport and dispersion of these particles and not cause an extreme buildup within the local region. Strong and persistant high pressure, however, which is often common in the summer, should significantly hinder the transport of these particles and could create hazardous air quality levels. I guess we shall see!
My other project this summer involves traveling to Gulfport, MS with the research team for a 2-3 week period. This is a completely unrelated project that has nothing to do with air quality. I really don't know the complete details just yet, but it involves sea breeze circulations. I am actually really excited about this portion of the internship because it entails true field research, which I am extremely interested in.
So, to sum it all up, it looks like I will have 6-7 weeks of data analyzation mixed in with some field work in Oak Ridge, and 2-3 weeks of pure field research along the shores of Gulfport, MS.
In conclusion, this is my heart-felt thank you to all those big rigs and truck drivers who gave me the opportunity to study the byproducts of their amazing contributions to our planet.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Welcome to Oak Ridge: The Secret City
Well, after an 11 hour drive through PA, DE, MD, VA, and TN, I finally arrived in Oak Ridge, TN late Friday night. After settling down in my apartment, pictured below, I traveled around the area and took a few photos.
Interestingly enough, right behind my apartment was my own little Walden Pond. I'm sure this will become a nice secluded spot to come and relax during some of my free time!
I also visited the American Museum of Science and Energy, located in Oak Ridge. This museum basically details the history of Oak Ridge and its prominent nuclear past. Even though I've only been here for a few days, you can tell that this town is highly in favor of nuclear energy (duh..didn't see that one coming).
For a really interesting read, I recommend looking at this short essay.
Here are some of the photos taken today.
Interestingly enough, right behind my apartment was my own little Walden Pond. I'm sure this will become a nice secluded spot to come and relax during some of my free time!
I also visited the American Museum of Science and Energy, located in Oak Ridge. This museum basically details the history of Oak Ridge and its prominent nuclear past. Even though I've only been here for a few days, you can tell that this town is highly in favor of nuclear energy (duh..didn't see that one coming).
For a really interesting read, I recommend looking at this short essay.
Here are some of the photos taken today.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
The Town of Oak Ridge
When I first applied for the internship in Oak Ridge, I had never even heard of this Tennessee town. Therefore, the next logical step for any college student was to ask Google. In a matter of moments, I discovered that Oak Ridge was not the typical southern town that I was expecting.
Oak Ridge is located in eastern Tennessee, approximately 15 miles west of Knoxville. The city was secretly established by the federal government in 1942 in order to develop nuclear weapons. Under the instruction of President Roosevelt, 60,000 acres were cleared and three plants were developed: K-25, Y-12, and X-10. The population of the town skyrocketed to 75,000, composed mainly of construction workers to build the facilities and scientists to work at the plants. Ultimately, this secret government town would produce the two atomic bombs (yes, those bombs) that would help end World War II.
By 1949, Oak Ridge was opened to the public and became renowned for its scientific research. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (perhaps the most popular research center in Oak Ridge) was established at the X-10 plant. K-25 is currently in the process of decontamination and Y-12 is still being used for nuclear weapons processing and storage.
Today, the population has dwindled to 27,000 (according to the 2000 census), but is still known for its scientific research.
Stay tuned for additional information and pictures as soon as I arrive in Oak Ridge (T-minus 3 days).
I leave you with this famous country band, who's inspiration came from this very town:
The Oak Ridge Boys!
Oak Ridge is located in eastern Tennessee, approximately 15 miles west of Knoxville. The city was secretly established by the federal government in 1942 in order to develop nuclear weapons. Under the instruction of President Roosevelt, 60,000 acres were cleared and three plants were developed: K-25, Y-12, and X-10. The population of the town skyrocketed to 75,000, composed mainly of construction workers to build the facilities and scientists to work at the plants. Ultimately, this secret government town would produce the two atomic bombs (yes, those bombs) that would help end World War II.
By 1949, Oak Ridge was opened to the public and became renowned for its scientific research. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (perhaps the most popular research center in Oak Ridge) was established at the X-10 plant. K-25 is currently in the process of decontamination and Y-12 is still being used for nuclear weapons processing and storage.
Today, the population has dwindled to 27,000 (according to the 2000 census), but is still known for its scientific research.
Stay tuned for additional information and pictures as soon as I arrive in Oak Ridge (T-minus 3 days).
I leave you with this famous country band, who's inspiration came from this very town:
The Oak Ridge Boys!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
A Southern Summer
When I first applied for the internship in Oak Ridge, I planned on living in a small Tennessee town with a typical southern history and country roots. Having relatives that live in the state, I am more than familiar with the common Tennessee people and their southern ways. Being a kid from the north, raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia, this southern way of life was actually something I longed for. Quiet nights on the porch as the sun set below the Appalachians, country music blaring on the radio, and that down home southern hospitality just seemed like the perfect way of life.
I had the opportunity to go anywhere in the country, from the tropical paradise of Maui to the glacial shores of Alaska. Although I may be kicking myself in another nine weeks for not making these choices, I still feel that a southern summer will suit me just fine. Hawaii and Alaska are great places, don't get me wrong, but I want to be able to experience these places for the first time with people that I care about. Tennessee offers the fantastic opportunity to experience amazing sites while also doing a little bit of soul searching.
That's probably what this summer is about more than anything else, searching my soul. After three years of college, everything becomes pretty hectic between classes, internships, scholarships, and the everyday hassles. With all of this piling on you at once, you start losing sight of what is truly important. By taking a nine week hiatus away from all that is familiar, I hope to recharge and come back a person who knows where he wants life to take him. Thoreau had this epiphany almost 165 years ago when he went to live alone beside Walden Pond and take in natures full beauty.
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."
-Thoreau
I believe the south, Tennessee in particular, will allow me to face the essential facts of life and replenish my resources for the long and enjoyable road ahead.
By picking this internship, I am also killing two birds with one stone. I have a passion for field research, and I will gain valuable experience this summer doing just that. I could think of no better way of enlightening both the mind and the soul.
I think this is a good song to end with(even though it's about a river in Nova Scotia). It still has that whole transcendental theme.
I had the opportunity to go anywhere in the country, from the tropical paradise of Maui to the glacial shores of Alaska. Although I may be kicking myself in another nine weeks for not making these choices, I still feel that a southern summer will suit me just fine. Hawaii and Alaska are great places, don't get me wrong, but I want to be able to experience these places for the first time with people that I care about. Tennessee offers the fantastic opportunity to experience amazing sites while also doing a little bit of soul searching.
That's probably what this summer is about more than anything else, searching my soul. After three years of college, everything becomes pretty hectic between classes, internships, scholarships, and the everyday hassles. With all of this piling on you at once, you start losing sight of what is truly important. By taking a nine week hiatus away from all that is familiar, I hope to recharge and come back a person who knows where he wants life to take him. Thoreau had this epiphany almost 165 years ago when he went to live alone beside Walden Pond and take in natures full beauty.
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."
-Thoreau
I believe the south, Tennessee in particular, will allow me to face the essential facts of life and replenish my resources for the long and enjoyable road ahead.
By picking this internship, I am also killing two birds with one stone. I have a passion for field research, and I will gain valuable experience this summer doing just that. I could think of no better way of enlightening both the mind and the soul.
I think this is a good song to end with(even though it's about a river in Nova Scotia). It still has that whole transcendental theme.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Prologue: The Beginning
As we all go our separate ways this upcoming summer, I thought it would be a great idea to share our internship/job experiences. The idea came from Matt Rydzik who is currently patrolling the the Midwest in search of tornadoes with the VORTEX2 team. Matt is also keeping a blog that details his exciting five week adventure in the heart of tornado alley, which can be found here. In order to share our exciting/educational experiences with each other and the rest of the world, we decided that modern technology and the blogging revolution was the route to take.
In addition to myself and Matt, Marc Chenard, an intern forecaster for the National Weather Service in State College, PA has also decided to join the party. Marc has an interest in severe weather, and will be providing forecast discussions and helpful forecasting tips at his very own blog. If you have a desire to learn the ins and outs of severe weather forecasting, this will be a great tool.
If anyone else is interested in this summer experience blog party, I urge you to join in!
Finally, after providing a sufficient explanation for this project, the time has come to explain the reason for this blog. In 2008, I was awarded the Hollings Scholarship by NOAA, which includes a summer internship during the summer after Junior year. After taking a look at available internship oppurtunities within NOAA, I chose to intern at the Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division (ATDD) in Oak Ridge, TN.
For nine weeks, I will be studing the concentration of atmospheric particles (2.5 microns and smaller) along Interstate 40 in Knoxville, TN. Interstate 40 is notorious for its high truck population, reaching almost 10,000 trucks per day. The emissions from these big rigs, in addition to other pollution sources, make Tennessee a high risk area in terms of air quality (Ever hear of the Smoky Mountains?)
2.5 micron particles are important in this study because these are the particles that can enter the lungs and contribute to a number of respiratory illnesses. Don't worry, all of this will be discussed in future discussions.
So, from May 24th to July 24th, I will become a resident of Oak Ridge, TN and study the particulates that may pose a significant threat to our respiratory system.
Not only will this blog detail my experiences, but will also serve as a source of information. There will be many future posts describing the science/physics/fun facts surrounding my experiences.
I hope you enjoy the blog and I look forward to hearing from you.
With a little under two weeks remaining until the start of my internship, what better song to listen to than this famous Tennessee anthem.
In addition to myself and Matt, Marc Chenard, an intern forecaster for the National Weather Service in State College, PA has also decided to join the party. Marc has an interest in severe weather, and will be providing forecast discussions and helpful forecasting tips at his very own blog. If you have a desire to learn the ins and outs of severe weather forecasting, this will be a great tool.
If anyone else is interested in this summer experience blog party, I urge you to join in!
Finally, after providing a sufficient explanation for this project, the time has come to explain the reason for this blog. In 2008, I was awarded the Hollings Scholarship by NOAA, which includes a summer internship during the summer after Junior year. After taking a look at available internship oppurtunities within NOAA, I chose to intern at the Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division (ATDD) in Oak Ridge, TN.
For nine weeks, I will be studing the concentration of atmospheric particles (2.5 microns and smaller) along Interstate 40 in Knoxville, TN. Interstate 40 is notorious for its high truck population, reaching almost 10,000 trucks per day. The emissions from these big rigs, in addition to other pollution sources, make Tennessee a high risk area in terms of air quality (Ever hear of the Smoky Mountains?)
2.5 micron particles are important in this study because these are the particles that can enter the lungs and contribute to a number of respiratory illnesses. Don't worry, all of this will be discussed in future discussions.
So, from May 24th to July 24th, I will become a resident of Oak Ridge, TN and study the particulates that may pose a significant threat to our respiratory system.
Not only will this blog detail my experiences, but will also serve as a source of information. There will be many future posts describing the science/physics/fun facts surrounding my experiences.
I hope you enjoy the blog and I look forward to hearing from you.
With a little under two weeks remaining until the start of my internship, what better song to listen to than this famous Tennessee anthem.
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