About Us
The Horel Research Group is part of the Mountain Meteorology Group in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at then Universityof Utah. Our offices are located currently on the fourth floor of the Intermountain Network and Scientific Computation Center (INSCC) with laboratories on the 7th floor of the William Browning Building (WWB). We will be moving to the new Applied Sciences Building during summer 2025! Our fundamental and applied research and software development has been supported by federal, state, and local agencies over several decades. Web tools provide access to public data obtained from government agencies, commercial firms, academic institutions, and the public. Thanks to all those data providers!
Web tools are used to evaluate real-time and archival data for public safety, fire management, air quality, education, research, and many other diverse applications. We manage the UUNET network of weather stations across northern Utah, which is supported in part by the NWS National Mesonet Program (NMP). NMP facilitates access to non-federal environmental data resources for operational and research applications of the NWS. Prior support from the NWS CSTAR program provided support to help facilitate access to federal data providers as well.
Access to environmental data across Utah began in 1997 and later expanded across the nation as part of the MesoWest research and development effort. Early efforts focused on web tools needed for government and private forecasters supporting the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. We expect similar needs for the proposed return of the Winter Olympics in 2034.
Synoptic Data, a Public Benefit Corporation, grew out of collaboration between commerical firms and our group. Synoptic is a major participant in the NMP. It now provides much more extensive access to environmental data across the nation and internationally than the legacy MesoWest tools.
Dr. Horel, on behalf of the MesoWest team, accepted the 2016 Francis W. Reichelderfer Award of the American Meteorological Society "For development and leadership of the MesoWest observation network in support of operations, research, and education to improve understanding and forecasting of mountain meteorology."
Students and staff in our group undertake many research and development projects that involve analyzing in-situ and remote environmental data and numerical simulation output. Work is underway now examining air quality in urban basins, fire weather, Great Salt Lake projects, flash flooding, and urban unassisted system operations (drones).
Have any questions? Feel free to send email to atmos - uunet @ lists . utah . edu .