MET 166 Summer field course – August 2012
Schedule today: (Bridger) Introductions Overview; greensheet Rules Equipment Registration for 180 Questions?
Schedule today: (Leach & Chiao) Synoptics of the monsoon Forecasting & software (IDV) Lunch Sign up for class!
Schedule today: (Leach & Contezac) Lightning safety Instrumentation & launch (Leach & Chiao) Forecasting practicum
Schedule tomorrow: 0830 – all!! Arrive at SJSU ready to go! Help load vans!
Last year – 1 st road day: 0950 – depart campus Gilroy) 1225 – Coalinga (lunch to 1310) 1425 – Bakersfield 1505 – left Bakersfield (gas etc.) 1705 – Barstow city limit
Last year – 2 nd road day: 0700 – depart Barstow 0702 – arrive at Starbucks 0730 – depart Starbucks 0930 – Needles calibrate estrels, gas etc – Seligman (AZ) lunch (Roadkill Café) 1435 – Flagstaff city limit
Last year – FLG to Bishop: 0730 – depart FLG 0940 – Kingman 1245 – Barstow lunch 1414 – turn onto Hwy – Bishop city limit Dinner Star gazing
Last year –Bishop to SJSU: 0840 – depart Bishop (Schat’s Bakery!!) Lunch & mini-hike at Tuolomne Meadows 1245 – depart Tuolomne Meadows 1250 – dip toes in river 1420 – depart Yosemite 1800 – arrive back at SJSU
Main goals: 1.Study convective weather –Very rare in the Bay Area in summer –Occasional in the Sierra –Not rare elsewhere – need to experience for “well roundedness”
Main goals: 2.Develop the following skills: –Developing experimental protocols –Instrumentation set-up & break-down –Data analysis –Short-term forecasting (24h max) –Oral and written presentations
Also: 3.Develop the instrumentation & field study skills of SJSU undergrads & grads 4.Improve our program!
Where to go? Where to go to study convection? Arizona! Why? The monsoon!
Arizona topography Flagstaff, AZ “the rim”
Imagery…
Synoptics… Later today… The big, fat anticyclone over the midwest was helping lock in the monsoonal moisture flow. We want it to stay in place.
Fri Aug 3Class SJSU; forecasting & instruments “review” (theory & practical) Sat Aug 4Depart; overnight in Barstow Sun Aug 5Drive to Flagstaff (FLG) Mon Aug 6Set up & field experiments Tues Aug 7Field experiments Wed Aug 8Field experiments (and/or rest ½ day and/or Grand Canyon) Thur Aug 9Midterm (after breakfast); field experiments Fri Aug 10Field experiments Sat Aug 11Depart for Bishop Sun Aug 12Depart for SJSU via Yosemite Mon Aug SJSU & final exam Overall schedule…
BarstowRamada Inn ( ) FlagstaffLa Quinta Inn (near NAU) Includes meeting room every night except Tuesday BishopVagabond Inn ( ) Hotels…
Breakfast Pack vans Drive to location; deploy instruments Gather data; analysis etc. of yesterday’s data Breakdown & return to hotel Dinner & downtime Forecasting for tomorrow; discussions 2200+Relax & watch olympics Rough daily schedule…
Registration 1.You will register for METR 166 in Fall You need to register for one unit of 180 in summer for “legal/liability reasons” –cost $50
Costs 1.Project covers: travel, hotels, meals 2.You pay for: One unit of 180 in summer Fees etc. in Fall “Spending money” Tee shirts???
Rules 1.Bad behavior will NOT be tolerated. 2.Bad behavior will reflect badly on the SJSU-Meteorology program, which is my main concern. 3.I will be very happy to escort students to the nearest airport, and send them home (at YOUR expense). 4.Booze…drugs…sex…rock and roll…JUST SAY NO.
Don’t worry – this is gonna be fun!!!