South Coast AQMD showcased new tools and
technology deployed to better understand and reduce
windblown dust pollution in the Coachella Valley
during a field demonstration on May 29 held in partnership
with Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez near the
UC Riverside Palm Desert Campus.
Windblown dust is a persistent challenge in the Coachella
Valley, contributing to elevated particulate matter levels
that can affect public health and quality of life. The
ongoing work will help scientists identify where dust
originates, how it travels, and which mitigation strategies
will be most effective. The enhanced data will also improve
dust forecasting and support more targeted solutions for the
region.
South Coast AQMD
scientists, joined by
Supervisor Perez
and research partners
from UC Riverside
and UC San Diego,
demonstrated how
expanded air monitoring,
targeted fieldwork, and
specialized equipment
are providing the data
needed to analyze the
valley’s unique dust
conditions.
A key feature of the
demonstration was the
Portable In-Situ Wind
Erosion Laboratory
(PI-SWERL), a specialized field instrument that measures
how easily dust becomes airborne under different wind
conditions. Scientists will use data collected from the PISWERL,
along with geographic mapping and air quality
modeling, to identify the surfaces that generate the most
dust emissions and develop more targeted mitigation
strategies.
The event also highlighted South Coast AQMD’s growing
network of air quality monitoring tools throughout the
Coachella Valley. Seven new air quality sensors have been
installed to measure particle pollution (PM2.5 and PM10).
These sensors complement the regulatory monitoring
stations and provide more localized and real-time data
that helps both scientists and the public better understand
changing air quality conditions.
In addition, South Coast AQMD recently expanded its
dust monitoring network by installing two high-elevation
environmental cameras and partnering with UC San
Diego to utilize two additional cameras. The cameras help
South Coast AQMD
scientists visually
track dust events,
identify where dust
plumes originate, and
guide field sampling
efforts.
Together, these
technologies are
advancing South
Coast AQMD’s
comprehensive
three-part strategy to
reduce windblown
dust by identifying
major dust sources,
developing science based
mitigation solutions, and investing in projects that
reduce emissions in the communities most affected. The
enhanced data collection and forecasting capabilities will
help inform future dust reduction efforts while providing
communities with more timely information about local air
quality conditions.