Urban Dispersion Program
Field Studies Overview
The New York City Urban Dispersion Program (UDP) is a four-year program which began in 2004. The major objective of this program is to study how air flows in a city environment. Data collected during field studies, will be used to improve and validate computer models that simulate the atmospheric movement of contaminants within cities, and around, into and within building interiors.
Each field study was designed to evaluate seasonal variations in the New York City area. The first of the field studies occurred in March, 2005, in the vicinity of the Madison Square Garden. The second and final field study took place August 6-26, 2005, in Midtown Manhattan. Data analysis and final documentation of the UDP field studies will be completed in 2007.
General Objectives of the Urban Dispersion Program
- Improve the permanent network of wind stations in and around New York City (NYC) to allow better estimates of where contaminants may travel and to enhance the city's emergency response capabilities,
- Conduct field studies in NYC to advance knowledge about the movement of contaminants in and around NYC and into and within building interiors,
- Improve and validate computer models that simulate the atmospheric movement of contaminants in urban areas using data collected from the field studies, and,
- Transfer the improved capabilities to NYC emergency agencies.
Safe Approach
- Only safe, inert perfluorocarbon and sulfur hexafluoride tracers will be released to track air movement.
- Perfluorocarbon and sulfur hexafluoride tracers are safely used internationally by scientists and industry.
Benefits
- The research study will enhance tools for NYC's emergency management and law enforcement personnel response to hazardous contaminants.
- The research study involves many organizations, including federal agencies, national laboratories and universities.
- The data can be used to improve air quality models.
- New York City's meteorological resources will be expanded with new, permanent instruments.
