May 28, 1996 For Immediate Release

The University of Northern British Columbia has acquired a variety of meteorological equipment which will provide data never before possible in Prince George. The equipment, worth about $160,000, has been loaned to the University from Westcoast Energy, which previously had the equipment installed at its gas plant in Taylor, south of Fort St John.

"The key component is a Doppler Sodar system, which will gauge wind direction and wind speed between the ground and 500 metres above ground," says Peter Jackson, UNBC professor of Environmental Studies. "With sensors pointing straight up, to the north, and to the east, the equipment uses the Doppler effect to provide a constant reading of wind speed and direction. It's an ideal tool to measure the dispersion of air pollution in the Bowl. This piece of equipment has not been used in Prince George before."

The Doppler Sodar system will be installed in the Bowl area, but an exact location has not yet been determined.

A 30-metre meterological tower will also be installed at the north end of UNBC's Prince George campus. The unit will be the tallest meteorological tower in Prince George and provide data on temperature, winds, and solar and terrestrial radiation. It's expected that the system will be linked to the campus computer system.

The equipment was recently dismantled from the Westcoast Energy site in Taylor and will soon be installed in Prince George.