SLC-SOS

Why It Matters - The Wasatch Front in Northern Utah routinely experiences harmful summer ozone. This research clarifies how heat, lake breezes, smoke, and local emissions drive ozone formation - improving forecasts and supporting better public health and regulatory decisions. 

The Salt Lake City - Summer Ozone Study (SLC-SOS) campaign aims to investigate ozone production and pollutant evolution along Utah's Wasatch Front, where high summertime ozone poses significant health and economic concern. The project is split into two field phases - a mobile, ground-based component in August 2024 and an airborne component utilizing the University of Wyoming King Air in July and August 2026.  

The scientific goals are to examine: 

1. ozone  production and pollutant evolution in thermally driven lake breeze flows over and around Salt Lake City (SLC)
2. contributions of individual Volatile Organic Component (VOC) classes to ozone production,
3. differences in photochemistry on smoke-impacted versus smoke-free high ozone days
4. emissions from key  point and area sources