Scientists are busy working at DRI’s Storm Peak Lab at Steamboat Springs, Colo. gathering in-cloud measurements and also verifying the data from radars and other instrumentation that is measuring clouds at four different elevations; one site in town and three within the Steamboat Springs ski area.

Enlarge image to see captionThe project, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility, is capturing a “vertical profile” of the clouds as they move across the mountain slopes.

"This is the first time we’re seeing clouds from the top to the bottom, said Gannet Hallar, Director of Storm Peak Lab and co-principal investigator for the project. “We have the entire mountain covered with remote-sensing instruments and we also have above the mountain covered with the aircraft. This is a very unique opportunity and will lead to a valuable record of cloud data."

To do this, scientists orchestrated by DRI’s Ian McCubbin are using nearly two dozen remote-sensing instruments to take continuous measurements from three different elevations beneath Storm Peak Lab, and then verify the data at the lab. McCubbin, earned the contract to manage installation of this equipment in Steamboat Springs.  He has been working closely with federal agencies, local contractors, utility and internet providers to ensure the success of StormVEx.

This data set will be crucial for validating ground-based measurements of liquid, mixed-phase, and precipitating clouds systems and to verify the accuracy of measurements used in computer models of the Earth’s climate system.

"Some of the largest uncertainties in climate change models have to do with clouds, and, in particular, these mixed-phase clouds that are part ice and part water. Those clouds are difficult to model. We have been fortunate to collect data from heavy storm systems and thin clouds, so it’s a wide-ranging perspective," Hallar said.

“So far scientists are observing new particle formation from two sites, during several different conditions,” Hallar added.

One of the features of the project is a computer program that allows scientists to view StormVEx data in graphical format within 24 hours. Galina Chriokova, DRI postdoctoral researcher, created it to help the team ensure that all equipment is working properly.

Enlarge image to see captionIn addition, the National Science Foundation-supported Colorado Airborne Multiphase Cloud Study (CAMPS) is providing nearly 100 hours of research flight time over the Steamboat area by the University of Wyoming King Air research aircraft. And researchers and volunteers are launching weather balloons twice a day from the base of the mountain.

“The project would not be possible with the support of Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation, Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation and all the research collaborators,” Hallar added.

The project will begin wrapping-up this Spring with final data collections, and then Hallar and her colleagues will begin compiling and organizing all of the data sets.