MET 166

Summer field course – August 2012

Schedule today:

0930-1030 (Bridger)

• Introductions

• Overview; greensheet

• Rules

• Equipment

• Registration for 180

• Questions?

Schedule today:

1030-1200 (Leach & Chiao)

• Synoptics of the monsoon

• Forecasting & software (IDV)

1200-1300

• Lunch

• Sign up for class!

Schedule today:

1300-1500 (Leach & Contezac)

• Lightning safety

• Instrumentation & launch

1500-1630 (Leach & Chiao)

• Forecasting practicum

Schedule tomorrow:

0830 – all!!

• Arrive at SJSU ready to go!

• Help load vans!

Last year – 1st road day:

0950 – depart campus (stopped @ Gilroy)

1225 – Coalinga (lunch to 1310)

1425 – Bakersfield

1505 – left Bakersfield (gas etc.)

1705 – Barstow city limit

Last year – 2nd road day:

0700 – depart hotel @ Barstow

0702 – arrive at Starbucks

0730 – depart Starbucks

0930 – Needles calibrate estrels, gas etc.

1200-1300 – Seligman (AZ) lunch (Roadkill Café)

1435 – Flagstaff city limit

Last year – FLG to Bishop:

0730 – depart hotel @ FLG

0940 – Kingman

1245 – Barstow lunch

1414 – turn onto Hwy 395

1730 – 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…

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 3 Class starts @ SJSU; forecasting & instruments “review” (theory & practical)

Sat Aug 4 Depart; overnight in Barstow

Sun Aug 5 Drive to Flagstaff (FLG)

Mon Aug 6 Set up & field experiments

Tues Aug 7 Field experiments

Wed Aug 8 Field experiments (and/or rest ½ day and/or Grand Canyon)

Thur Aug 9 Midterm (after breakfast); field experiments

Fri Aug 10 Field experiments

Sat Aug 11 Depart for Bishop

Sun Aug 12 Depart for SJSU via Yosemite

Mon Aug 13 Class @ SJSU & final exam

Overall schedule…

Barstow Ramada Inn (1-760-256-5673)

Flagstaff La Quinta Inn (near NAU)

1-928-556-8666 • Includes meeting room every night except Tuesday

Bishop Vagabond Inn (1-760-873-6351)

Hotels…

0730-0830 Breakfast

0830-0900 Pack vans

0900-1100 Drive to location; deploy instruments

1100-1600 Gather data; analysis etc. of yesterday’s data

1600-1800 Breakdown & return to hotel

1800-2000 Dinner & downtime

2000-2200 Forecasting for tomorrow; discussions

2200+ Relax & watch olympics

Rough daily schedule…

Registration

1. You will register for METR 166 in Fall 2010

2. 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!!!