STORMVEx

The U.S. Department of Energy announced the initial deployment of the second ARM Mobile Facility (AMF2) to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, in 2010 for the Storm Peak Lab Cloud Property Validation Experiment (StormVEx). The already extensive instrument suite at SPL will be augmented with additional state of the art instruments that are typically used for airborne cloud research by the Stratton Park Engineering Corporation (SPEC). SPL and SPEC will collect in situ cloud and precipitation property measurements while the AMF2 operates at a location approximately 2.4 km west and 500 m in elevation during a winter season. For more information please visit http://www.arm.gov/news/cms/fac-updates/2165

New PICTURES are also available here.

Hygroscopic Growth of Organic Aerosols

Aerosols contribute to the Earth’s radiation balance directly by absorbing and scattering light and indirectly by nucleating cloud droplets which increase planetary albedo. Both effects depend on hygroscopic growth, but the contribution of organics to aerosol hygroscopicity is not well understood— limiting efforts to model those effects. The study addresses several important questions through field measurements, laboratory experiments, and modeling. This project is a collaboration with Drs. Hallar, Lowenthal, Zielinska, and Chow at DRI; Dr. Mazzoleni at Michigan Technolgical University; Dr. Collins at Texas A&M, and Dr. Clegg at University of California, Davis. Aerosol filter samples will be collected at Storm Peak Laboratory for future analysis.

GRASP

Geoscience Research at Storm Peak (GRASP) is a year-long program providing exceptional field research experiences for a diverse group of undergraduate students. GRASP is funded by the National Science Foundation’s Opportunity for Enhancing Diversity in GeoScience Program.

ASCENT

Atmospheric Science Collaborations and Enriching NeTworks (ASCENT) is a program focusing on women in atmospheric science/meteorology and is designed to initiate positive professional relationships among female faculty of different ranks and postdoctoral researchers. ASCENT is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation.

SPACCS

To better constrain our understanding of organic aerosols and the role of bioaerosols in the atmosphere, Storm Peak Aerosol and Cloud Characterization Study (SPACCS08) was conducted in March 24 through April 15, 2008 at the Storm Peak Laboratory. For further information, please download the SPACC summary (PDF). You may also wish to visit the SPACCS Web site.

ISPA

Inhibition of Snowfall by Pollution Aerosols (ISPA) is an ongoing project supported by the National Science Foundation since 2001. This study investigates the relationships among pollution aerosols, snow growth by riming, and snowfall amounts on the ground. ISPA results have important implications for water resources in the inter-mountain West. In Winter 2010, ISPA will be returning to Storm Peak Laboratory. The principal investigators are Doug Lowenthal of DRI and Bill Cotton from Colorado State University.

Watch NEW video about ISPA here.