IPEX Project Quick Facts
INTENSIVE OBSERVATION PERIODS (IOPs)
| Number | Date | What Happened? Data Collected |
|---|---|---|
| IOP #1 | 2/5/00 | Detailed airborne Doppler radar observation of snowfall in Tetons |
| IOP #2 | 2/11/00 | Major winter storm at Sundance: 14" snow |
| IOP #3 | 2/12/00 | 3 feet of snow in Little Cottonwood; major avalanche near Bridal Veil Falls resulting in damming of Provo River |
| IOP #4 | 2/14/00 | Unusual severe storm during February in Nevada, Idaho and Utah; 71 mph wind gust in Cache Valley; Woman killed in Brigham City due to high winds |
| IOP #5 | 2/17/00 | Very localized snowfall in Tooele County 6–8"; 14"in Settlement Canyon |
| IOP #6 | 2/21/00 | Another shot of February thunderstorms: lowland rains, Big Cottonwood Canyon closed due to rockslide |
| IOP #7 | 2/24/00 | Major winter storm: 41" at Snowbird |
RESEARCH RESULTS:
- First intensive observations of winter storms in Teton and Wasatch Mountains
- Detailed observations of the two largest storms in the Wasatch Mountains this winter
- Exceptional radar data collected during Valentine's Day wind storm (killed woman in Brigham City; 73 mph wind gust in Cache Valley)
- Unprecedented measurements of electrification and lightning in winter storms
- First dual-Doppler radar analysis of a cold front interacting with the Great Salt Lake and surrounding mountains
- Demonstrated value of the Mesowest Cooperative Networks for detailed analysis and short-range forecasting of winter storms (such as might be employed during the 2002 Olympics)
- Testing of experimental forecast products (that might be employed in the future by the National Weather Service for public dissemination)
- Real-time interaction of IPEX scientists and forecasters and National Weather Service forecasters
- Educational experience for 20 University of Utah undergraduate and graduate students who assisted in collection of data and forecasting
- 120 local junior high school students toured the NOAA WP-3D Orion Hurricane Hunter aircraft
- Multiple local media stories helped explain the project's purpose and educate the public about the complex weather forecasting challenges in the Intermountain West.
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
- The P-3 flew a total of 41 research hours and 10,000 miles
- About 1 gigabyte of data was collected per flight
DOPPLER ON WHEELS:
- First use of two mobile Doppler radars in winter-storm research
- 70 total hours of operation
- 7 gigabytes of radar data collected throughout IPEX
- Unique observations of complex airflow within Tooele Valley
WEATHER BALLOON RELEASES:
- NWS released 205 additional balloon launches at the following locations: Salt Lake, Utah (55); Reno (14), Elko (58), and Desert Rock/Las Vegas, Nev. (9); Grand Junction, Colo. (16), and Boise, Idaho (53)
- 100 research balloon launches from the two NSSL Mobile Laboratories
S-BAND VERTICALLY POINTING DOPPLER RADAR:
- 1 Gigabyte of data collected
- Observed air motions and reflectivity from clouds producing rain, snow, and graupel at very fine temporal and spatial (60 m) resolutions
- Interactions with Ski Patrol at Snowbasin Ski Resort were invaluable in helping maintain in situ measurements on the mountain
Content on this page last updated 3 December 2005.