ASU partners Energy Department to launch monsoon study

The Arizona monsoon begins June 15. Now, Arizona State University is partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy on a first-of-its-kind comprehensive monsoon study launching this spring and continuing through the next two monsoon seasons.

The project, called Desert-Urban SysTem IntegratEd Atmospheric Monsoon, will be based at ASU’s West Valley campus.

The goal is to improve understanding of the many variables that influence monsoon storm development, movement and intensity, leading to better forecasting and preparation and ultimately helping protect life and property.

Vernon Morris, associate dean at ASU’s New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the anticipated study.

The star of the show here is DUSTIEAIM (Desert-Urban SysTem IntegratEd Atmospheric Monsoon). It’s an acronym which represents a large scale data gathering campaign. “The purpose of this data gathering is to support the development of and improve model prediction of the monsoon in this region,” Morris said.

“We have a rapidly changing environment and a rapidly changing land surface as well, so when you have that many variables that are changing at the same time, predictability becomes very difficult”

And while weather stations have always existed, this partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy brings more accurate prediction capabilities.

Some tools that will be implemented to achieve this include vertical ground lasers, tethered & weather balloons launching four to six times daily to profile wind and dust characteristics, and continuous monitoring capturing data 24/7 to understand the “pre” and “post” conditions of monsoon storms.

“We’re going to try to characterize the entire monsoon season… and really try to get a feel for what the preconditions are, post conditions, and what really drives the process when it comes into this desert metropolitan region,” Morris said.

“We want to turn everything on for the campaign on June 1. I think we’re on track to do that, but we’ve got a lot of work to do,” said Morris.