Publications by authors named "Michael Pirhalla"

The Wide Area Demonstration (WAD) was a field exercise conducted under the U.S. EPA's Analysis of Coastal Operational Resiliency program, in conjunction with the U.

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This study examined the washoff of Bacillus globigii (Bg) spores from concrete, asphalt, and grass surfaces by stormwater. Bg is a nonpathogenic surrogate for Bacillus anthracis, which is a biological select agent. Areas (2.

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Following the release of a harmful substance within an urban environment, buildings and street canyons create complex flow regimes that affect dispersion and localized effluent concentrations. While some fast-response dispersion models can capture the effects caused by individual buildings, further research is required to refine urban characterizations such as plume channeling and spreading, and initial dispersion, especially within the presence of a nonhomogeneous array of structures. Field, laboratory, and modeling experiments that simulate urban or industrial releases are critical in advancing current dispersion models.

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Article Synopsis
  • The Jack Rabbit II Special Sonic Anemometer Study investigates wind flow and turbulence in a mock-urban setting made from CONEX shipping containers using 35 sonic anemometers across different heights and locations.
  • The study reveals that wind flow within the urban framework tends to follow one of three main flow regimes, with significant variability even among anemometers placed closely together due to surrounding structures.
  • Results highlight the increased turbulence in urban areas, showing that urban environments dramatically affect wind patterns and pollutant dispersion, providing valuable insights for enhancing wind flow models in environmental studies.
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