UTC 2022 Funding - Cycle 2 Research Projects

Project Number: CY2-UNM-01
Project Title: Desertification Process Investigation on Lordsburg Playa
Performing Institution: University of New Mexico
Principal Investigator: Su Zhang
Proposed Start and End Date: 10/01/2024 to 09/30/2025
Project Description: The Lordsburg Playa in New Mexico is a recognized global hotspot for dust storms, contributing to 17 crash fatalities on I-10 in the area since 2014. In recent years, extreme weather events have contributed to alterations in vegetation and weather dynamics, further influencing the frequency and intensity of dust events in the region. In response to the pressing need for improved traffic safety, the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) has implemented static and electronic message boards, a quicker warning system (i.e., the National Weather Service alerts, social media notifications, and website updates), rapid highway closures, and mitigation programs under the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) to revegetate the Lordsburg Playa area. While these initiatives have been very successful to date, NMDOT remains interested in exploring the relationships between desertification (caused by factors, such as drought, cattle grazing, and moisture loss) and the frequency of dust storms. Research like this could offer valuable insights into the factors influencing dust storms and desertification. By understanding these relationships, NMDOT can develop more effective safety measures to protect both drivers and the environment.

To enhance traffic safety in the Lordsburg Playa area, the research project aims to leverage longitudinal satellite imagery for an in-depth analysis of desertification and its connection to dust storms. The goal of this research is to thoroughly investigate historical satellite imagery, such as Landsat and MODIS, climate data, such as precipitation and temperature data, and other data, such as greenness maps to reveal the connection between the desertification process and the frequency of dust storm activity in the Lordsburg Playa area. Specifically, this research focuses on addressing the following questions: how changes in vegetation and climate over time influence the dynamics of dust storms in the Lordsburg Playa area, and how information on vegetation and extreme weather events can be used to predict dust storm.
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