Hot shot on a cold day

   

The Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences Building is seen in the center of two photographic interpretations, a digital photograph at left and a thermal-imaged infrared view at right. Both images were taken from the Engineering Research Building roof at dusk following a below-zero winter day. Physical Plant maintenance supervisor David Coffey explains some of the buildings’ red-hot mysteries: On the infrared image, while blue and green indicate colder surfaces such as sky, ground and well-insulated buildings, red zones indicate heat. In the foreground, heat radiates from exhaust grills of the mechanical-room penthouse of Wendt Library. The heating and cooling mechanical room on the seventh floor of the Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences Building is another heat source. The exhaust chimney stacks of the Charter Street Heating and Cooling Plant are in the background. The infrared image was made possible with technical help from Pat Farrell, associate dean of academic affairs in the College of Engineering and a mechanical engineering professor. Farrell uses his research equipment to study the gas-phase emissions of diesel engines.