Desert Research Institute

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The Desert Research Institute, Reno, Nevada
The Desert Research Institute, Reno, Nevada

The Desert Research Institute (DRI) is the nonprofit research campus of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE), the organization that oversees all publicly-supported higher education in the U.S. state of Nevada. At DRI, approximately 440 research faculty and support staff engage in more than $27 million in environmental research each year.

DRI's environmental research programs are divided into three core divisions (Atmospheric Sciences, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, and Hydrologic Sciences) and two interdisciplinary centers (Center for Arid Lands Environmental Management and the Center for Watersheds and Environmental Sustainability).

Contents

[edit] Atmospheric and Dispersion Modeling Program

For over a decade the Atmospheric and Dispersion Modeling Program team has been performing work focused on observations and modeling of atmospheric dispersion processes over complex terrain and coastal areas. In particular, the team is applying, developing, and evaluating mesoscale meteorological models as well as regulatory and advanced atmospheric dispersion models such as ISC3ST, AERMOD, WYNDVALLEY, ASPEN and CALPUFF. They have developed a Lagrangian Random Particle Dispersion Model that has been applied to complex coastal and inland environments.

Several recent projects led to developing real time mesoscale forecasting system using the MM5 model coupled with a Lagrangian random particle dispersion model and implementation of data assimilation schemes.

[edit] Main Research Campuses

  • Dandini Research Park - Reno, Nevada
  • Southern Nevada Science Park - Las Vegas, Nevada

[edit] Subsidiary Campuses

  • Solar One - Boulder City, Nevada
  • Storm Peak Laboratory - Steamboat Springs, Colorado

[edit] See also

[edit] Further reading

For those who are unfamiliar with air pollution dispersion modelling and would like to learn more about the subject, it is suggested that either one of the following books be read:

  • Turner, D.B. (1994). Workbook of atmospheric dispersion estimates: an introduction to dispersion modeling, 2nd Edition, CRC Press. ISBN 1-56670-023-X.  www.crcpress.com

[edit] External links

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