Winter Ecology - Spring 2012 - Week I

WEEKLY  SCHEDULE  AND  READINGS
WEEK 1: Midweek, Sat, Sat eve, Sun | WEEK 2 | WEEK 3 | WEEK 4 | WEEK 5 | WEEK 6 |RETURN TO SYLLABUS
(Schedules etc. subject to modification)

N.B. -

Week I –  Weds 18 Jan 12

5:00p - On-campus lecture meeting (Ramaley N183)




6:00-6:15p - Organizational Meeting: Dinners & Carpooling, other logistics

 Agenda:

- Food. The Lodge has a fully equipped kitchen, but is relatively small.  To minimize the chaos and to be sure we're done with dinner before the evening program starts, I suggest we organize Saturday dinners together. 

  • We need to talk about how we'd like to organize this
  • and if anyone has special dietary needs (e.g., vegetarian, etc.).

- Carpool.  Most folks will be coming from the Boulder area, so we can explore carpooling possibilities at the meeting. 

  • Related to this -- the last bit of road uphill to the Station can at times be slick with icey, packed snow, presenting problems for some cars.  This is handled easily by cars with 4-wheel/all-wheel drive and good tires.

- Information about staying at the Mountain Research Stn.

- Equipment - bring your equipment questions. 

  • Personal field equipment list: link.
  • Note that each week has an "Additional Gear" list for that weekend's activities (e.g., see next)

Additional Gear to Bring for this weekend
for Sunday field work
Weekend Preparation
Readings & Lesson points
& Assignments

Saturday – 21 Jan 12 - Mountain Research Stn
Current Weather & Forecasts

8:00a – Arrive · Check-in · Late registration/Late tuition payment

8:30a – Orientation


 

8:45 a - Lecture: Winter Climate – Mountain winter climates (light, thermal, moisture, wind regimes) · Dynamics of mid-latitude winter storms

10:00-11:30p – Field: Introduction to MRS campus study area

12:00n – Lunch in the Lodge.  Pack snacks for the field.

12:30-3:30p – Field: Introduction to the upper montane forest study area – Hike along Niwot Ridge Road through Lodgepole Pine forest.

3:30-5:00p - Free time

5:00p – Group Dinner Prep
6:00p – Group Dinner

7:15p – Evening program with Guest lecture: Avalanche Dynamics and Safety –  Spencer Logan, Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC)

Related links
Handout
  • Avalanche Weather Forecast Guide (pdf, 70k)
    • Source: COMET (http://meted.ucar.edu/) [see Avalanche Weather Forecasting training module, below]
Lesson points
  • What key factors contribute to avalanches? 
  • What mechanisms are involved in each?
  • Why is there a high occurrence of avalanches in the Colorado Rockies?
  • What human factors lead to avalanche accidents?
Other resources
Sunday – 22 Jan 12
Current Weather & Forecasts


8:30a –Written assignment based on readings due

8:30a-5:00p Link To:  SNOWPACK FIELD DAY (Schedule, Readings, What to Bring)

5:00p – Individual projects: Initial Ideas due - one sentence
5:00p - Departure

Course website including all internal links © 2012 T. Kittel.  All rights reserved.  All copyrighted material on this website is made available for limited educational use only (commerical use strictly prohibited).
Previous links -- (password required): Mark Williams's Snow Hydrology course page on snowpack

rev. 14 Jan 12