Utah's winter inversion: pictures and different elevations and discussions on solutions.

With the year 2016 on its way out, now is a great time to think about change and the future.  One thing I really wish we could say good bye to this year is the winter inversion.  The Salt Lake City website describes the inversion as...

"Inversions occur during the winter months when normal atmospheric conditions (cool air above, warm air below) become inverted. Inversions trap a dense layer of cold air under a layer of warm air. The warm layer acts much like a lid, trapping pollutants in the cold air near the valley floor. The Wasatch Front valleys and their surrounding mountains act like a bowl, keeping this cold air in the valleys. The snow-covered valley floors reflect rather than absorb the heat from the sun, preventing the normal vertical mixing of warm and cold air. Fog exacerbates the problem, facilitating chemical reactions that create even more particles and higher pollutant concentrations. The longer the inversion lasts, the higher the levels of pollution trapped under it. The warm inversion air layer is usually displaced by a strong storm system which restores air quality to healthy levels."  

http://www.ci.slc.ut.us/winter-inversions-what-are-they-and-what-we-can-all-do-help

The air quality today is is as follows....

The PM level of 33.5 is really close to being unhealthy for sensitive groups.

You don't have to be a scientist to realize this is very unhealthy for Utahns and visitors alike.  Today I went on a snowshoe hike in the foothills and took a number of pictures cataloging a visual display of the inversion at different elevations.  This group of pictures shows what the inversion looks like at different elevations.

Utah Clean Air Offers some of these tips

http://www.ucair.org/at-home/

Drive Less

• Carpool:If you don’t already carpool there are resources that can help. One is UTA’s rideshare program that matches you up with possible commuting partners.
• Use Transit:Utah offers several transit options:
  • UTA FrontRunner is a commuter rail line that operates in Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, and Utah counties with connections to UTA’s bus system.
  • UTA TRAX light rail operates four lines throughout the Salt Lake Valley.
  • UTA Buses serve more than 1,400 square miles along the Wasatch Front and offer traditional and express services.
  • Carshare is a relatively new program along the Wasatch Front delivered in partnership with Enterprise Carshare. Carsharing lets you take transit or carpool yet still have access to a vehicle.
  • If you live outside of the Wasatch Front consider using:
    • Logan/Cache Valley Transit
    • Park City Transit
    • St.George Bus
  See if transit works for you. UTA has a trip planner and a route finder to help you find your best options. In addition, UTA has a new transit tool that allows you to track the location of a bus or train on your mobile device.
• Bike or Walk:Sometimes exercise and fresh air is just what you need. Run errands, commute to work or have fun with your family and friends by biking or walking. Here are some helpful resources:
  • The Utah Bicycle Commuter Guide provides information on Utah bicycle laws, equipment needs, riding safety and bicycle security for those who are interested in commuting by bicycle.
  • Smart Trips help you incorporate more biking and walking into your travel plans using strategies and tools provided by Salt Lake City.
  • The UDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Program addresses the infrastructure needs of pedestrians and bicyclists throughout the state.
  • Road Respect encourages safe cycling throughout the state, sponsored by Bike Utah, UDOT, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Zero Fatalities.
  • The Provo Bicycle Committee provides event calendars, road rides and maps and commuting resources.
  • The Salt Lake City Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee provides bike maps, bicycling basics, equipment, commuting information and more.
• E-travel:Using the Internet or phone instead of going out has become such a major part of our lives, that sometimes we don’t even realize we are doing it. Shopping online, downloading a video or making a phone call instead of taking a trip are just a few of the ways that you can travel. Shop online with a local retailer and you can support the local economy while limiting congestion.

Plan

• Develop your own Air Quality Action Plan:Since we can’t always predict when there will be a poor (yellow or red) air quality day, BreatheUtah designed an Emergency Air Quality Implementation Plan (EAQIP). The plan helps Utahns prepare to help reduce emissions when it’s needed most and protect community health.
• Plan your route ahead:Plan your route ahead to avoid traffic tie-ups and other delays. The UDOT Traffic website and mobile app allow you to see the traffic situation all over the state.
• Trip chain:Trip chain by grouping errands together to save time and money by conserving gas and reducing trips.
• Use technology:Use technology to help you choose the best route to your destination. You can also use technology to track your travel patterns and see how making little changes can make a big difference. Sign up for the TravelWise tracker to set travel goals, track emissions, save time and improve air quality.

Choose the Greenest Lawn and Garden Products

• Switch From a Two Stroke to Four Stroke Engine:Four-stroke engines create fewer emissions because they don’t burn oil the way two-stroke engines do. A four-stroke engine creates one tenth of the pollutants of a two-stroke engine. Go one step further and buy an electric lawn mower or trimmer. Consider using any type of lawn equipment in the evening to reduce ozone pollution.
• Advice for Clearing Your Snow:If possible, switch from a two-stroke snowblower model to a four-stroke, keep your snowblower well maintained, don’t let fuel sit in containers for too long, don’t spill fuel on the ground and fuel up your snowblower in advance of a predicted snowstorm. Better yet, use a snow shovel if possible. Utah’s fluffy powder can make shoveling easier.
• Replace Old Fuel Containers:By replacing old fuel containers with those made since 2009, you’ll lose less of your fuel as vapors into the air. Replacing just one container reduces four pounds of VOCs a year. Learn more about UCAIR’s efforts to help Utahns replace old fuel containers with new, EPA approved ones. Consider using your gas cans in the morning or evening to reduce ozone pollution.
• Buy Water-Based Paints:By purchasing paints that are water-based like latex paints, you will help reduce harmful emissions.

Conserve Energy

Energy efficiency, combined with a well-maintained furnace, can reduce the emissions produced to heat your home in the winter. There are a number of simple ways to reduce natural gas usage now along with more long-term solutions that will help you save energy throughout your home.

FrontRunner

I would really like to see the Utah legislature and UTA work faster towards getting additional right of way for the Frontrunner train to have two full tracks the entire Wasatch Front corridor.  Two tracks would allow for faster trains and more often.  A major complaint for Frontrunner is that during rush hour a train is only going every half hour and non peak time its every hour.  In major metropolitan cities with mass transit transit occurs more often.  I realize this takes an incredible amount of funds; however with UDOT I15 corridor near maximum width expansion now is the time to think alternative solutions and faster.