RENO: Basin Inversion (Reno Basin I)

Summary

As part of a graduate student project to study the Reno basin inversion and associated airflow, an NCAR integrated sounding system was deployed near the Reno airport for a two-week period in November 1994. Several strong wind shear and inversion formation/breakup situations were observed.

A follow-on project was conducted in 2002 and is described under the Basin Inversion project on EOL’s list of all field projects and as RenoBasin_2002 on Codiac. That information is below.

Reno Basin 2002 investigated airflow and stability in Nevada in conjunction with a course in atmospheric measurements taught by John Hallett at the University of Nevada, Reno. The project provided in depth training for graduate students in the use of ISS instruments, data collection, and data analysis. The course included lectures on the theory and practice of meteorological measurements including instrument design, construction, deployment, and operation. Dr. Steve Cohn, a scientist within ATD was heavily involved in Reno Basin. He gave several lectures and demonstrated how to operate and use the ISS. Steve also worked closely with several of the Reno Basin students, helping them with their individual projects. Cohn together with Dr. William Brown were nominated in FY02 for UCAR's Outstanding Accomplishment Award for Education based on their contribution to Reno Basin II but also for their extensive teaching and experimental interactions with the university community in Reno Basin I, PROPHET I and II and several other educational projects within the last five years. The award is given annually for efforts that have a significant impact on, and lead to, improvements in scientific, mathematics, or technical education, or other efforts that significantly enhance the Public's understanding of scientific technical issues.