Over a dozen students from West Texas A&M University will be conducting the study from May – August 2021. The research project has been entitled: Summertime Canyon Observations and ResearCh on Heat ExtRemes (SCORCHER). Funding for the project comes from a collaborative grant between National Weather Service Amarillo and West Texas A&M University funded by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). WTAMU Undergraduate students will be conducting all aspect of the study from start to finish, including installing and operating the various weather sensors in the park, and collecting and analyzing the data, overseen by Assistant Professor Erik Crosman from West Texas A&M University and Stephen Bieda, Science and Operations Officer at the National Weather Service in Amarillo.
The goals of the study are:
· Map spatial and temporal variations in the extreme heat within the heavily used trail system of Palo Duro State Park to inform public health and safety during the hazardously hot summer months.
· Improve scientific understanding of the complex terrain meteorology and the forecasting of extreme heat in the National Weather Service forecast zone in the Palo Duro Canyon.
· The study goals are being achieved through deploying a network of 25 temperature and humidity sensors, collecting meteorological data on vehicles and with a weather balloon system throughout Palo Duro Canyon State Park between May and August 2021. Following the data collection, student analysis of the data will help answer the study goals.
The WTAMU students and National Weather Service are grateful to the Palo Duro Canyon State Park for supporting this study!
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