Desert Research Institute
Encyclopedia
Nevada System of Higher Education
The Nevada System of Higher Education was formed in 1968 to oversee all state-supported higher education in the U.S. state of Nevada. The name was changed in 2004. Two doctoral-granting research universities, one state college, four community colleges and one research institute comprise the...
(NSHE), the organization that oversees all publicly-supported higher education in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. 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).
Cloud Seeding Program
DRI weather modification research produced the Nevada State Cloud Seeding Program in the 1960s. This initiative, funded by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
, seeks to augment snowfall in mountainous regions of Nevada in order to increase snow pack and water supply. DRI researchers use ground stations and aircraft to release microscopic silver iodide
Silver iodide
Silver iodide is a yellow, inorganic, photosensitive iodide of silver used in photography, in medicine as an antiseptic, and in rainmaking for cloud seeding.-Crystal structure:...
particles into winter clouds, stimulating the formation of ice crystals which develop to snow.
Research indicates that cloud seeding leads to precipitation rate increases of 0.1 - 1.5 millimeters per hour.
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 processesAtmospheric dispersion modeling
Atmospheric dispersion modeling is the mathematical simulation of how air pollutants disperse in the ambient atmosphere. It is performed with computer programs that solve the mathematical equations and algorithms which simulate the pollutant dispersion...
over complex terrain and coastal areas. In particular, the team is applying, developing, and evaluating mesoscale meteorological
Mesoscale meteorology
Mesoscale meteorology is the study of weather systems smaller than synoptic scale systems but larger than microscale and storm-scale cumulus systems. Horizontal dimensions generally range from around 5 kilometers to several hundred kilometers...
models as well as regulatory and advanced atmospheric dispersion models such as ISC3ST, AERMOD
AERMOD
The AERMOD atmospheric dispersion modeling system is an integrated system that includes three modules: *A steady-state dispersion model designed for short-range dispersion of air pollutant emissions from stationary industrial sources....
, WYNDVALLEY, ASPEN and CALPUFF
CALPUFF
CALPUFF is an advanced, integrated Gaussian puff modeling system for the simulation of atmospheric pollution dispersion distributed by the Atmospheric Studies Group at TRC Solutions...
. They have developed a Lagrangian
Air pollution dispersion terminology
Air pollution dispersion terminology includes the words and technical terms that have a special meaning to those who work in the field of air pollution dispersion modeling...
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
Data assimilation
Applications of data assimilation arise in many fields of geosciences, perhaps most importantly in weather forecasting and hydrology. Data assimilation proceeds by analysis cycles...
schemes.
Main research campuses
- Dandini Research Park - Reno, NevadaReno, NevadaReno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
39°34′19"N 119°48′3"W - Southern Nevada Science Park - Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
36°6′50"N 115°8′54"W
Subsidiary campuses
- Solar One - Boulder City, NevadaBoulder City, NevadaBoulder City is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It is approximately from the City of Las Vegas. As of the 2010 census the population of Boulder City was 15,023.Boulder City is one of only two cities in Nevada that prohibit gambling....
- Storm Peak Laboratory - Steamboat Springs, ColoradoSteamboat Springs, ColoradoThe city of Steamboat Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Routt County, Colorado, United States. The city is also known as "Steamboat," "The Boat," or "Ski Town USA". As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,088.The city is an...
See also
- Climate change in NevadaClimate change in NevadaClimate change in Nevada has been measured over the last century, with the average temperature in Elko, Nevada, increasing 0.6°F , and precipitation has increased by up to 20% in many parts of the state. These past trends may or may not continue into the future.-Potential changes:Over the next...
- Atmospheric dispersion modelingAtmospheric dispersion modelingAtmospheric dispersion modeling is the mathematical simulation of how air pollutants disperse in the ambient atmosphere. It is performed with computer programs that solve the mathematical equations and algorithms which simulate the pollutant dispersion...
- List of atmospheric dispersion models