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Oklahoma
City Hosts Largest U.S. Urban Atmospheric Study
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Oklahoma City Hosts Largest U.S. Urban Atmospheric Study
For Immediate Release
June 27, 2003
Oklahoma City - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department
of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Defense -
Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) are sponsoring a month-long
atmospheric dispersion study in Oklahoma City, Okla., June 28 to
July 31, 2003. Nearly 150 scientists, engineers, and student assistants
are dedicated to this study.
The study will track the air movement of safe, non-toxic tracer
gases in and around city buildings. This will aid scientists in
better understanding how chemical and biological agents are spread.
Resulting data will be used to enhance and develop urban specific
computer models that will allow emergency management, law enforcement
and other personnel to train for and respond to potential terrorist
attacks.
A series of outdoor and indoor experiments will be conducted in
the downtown area with approximately 200 portable wind stations
and more than 200 small portable tracer samplers set-up to measure
winds and outdoor tracer concentrations. The equipment will be placed
on sidewalks, buildings, within secure areas and on light poles
or other tall poles about one week before the study begins and removed
approximately one week after it ends.
Dependent upon weather and wind conditions the following schedule
will apply to the downtown areas:
Portable instruments will be set up in four-by-four-block area between
Hudson Ave. and Santa Fe Ave., and between Sheridan Ave. and Dean
A. McGee Ave;
The west lane of Robinson Ave. will be closed for approximately
50 feet just south of its intersection with Sheridan Ave.;
Testing will be conducted between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.;
Four one-day indoor studies are also planned for the second and
third weeks of July.
Oklahoma City agreed to host the study, and city officials have
provided considerable support. The Oklahoma Climatological Survey,
the University of Oklahoma, and its research partners are providing
local expertise and assistance.
For more information about Joint Urban 2003, visit the website
at http://JU2003.pnl.gov
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