Mechanical Engineering Senior Researches Dust Storm Cause and Effect

Mechanical engineering senior Ruby O'Brien-Metzger is part of a team of researchers and students conducting research to determine what soil types and wind conditions cause dust storms, which can sometimes be deadly.

The group takes their portable dust generator, a machine weighing about 50 pounds, to areas like Picacho Peak, where they measure the threshold friction velocity, or the rate of wind speed needed to stir up that particular soil.

"It's like a mini wind tunnel inside of this pot,” O’Brien-Metzger said. "So, really, we’re looking at the wind speed at which dust production begins."

The device is easily portable, unlike a regular wind tunnel, which would take more work to set up. Powered by two car batteries, it can go anywhere in the field.

At Picacho Peak, the $800 tool helped the team find that it takes a wind speed of only 10 mph to cause blowing dust, depending on whether the soil is crusted or rocky.

"What we are trying to do with our research is to use it to help other people create a model that will help predict dust storms, to try to keep everybody safer," O’Brien-Metzger said.

The team's work has also been featured in the Daily Wildcat and on KGUN.