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. -

• Written assignment based on readings due Saturday at 8.30a.
• Individual projects: Initial Ideas due Sunday at 5p.
  

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

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

Handouts/Notes	Physical Setting & Climate lecture handout (color: pdf / B&W: pdf, 2M) Lecture-related notes: Four sources of winter precipitation (ppt) in the Colorado Front Range: 1) Mid-latitude cyclonic storms arriving from the West, with Warm Front/Cold Front structure 2) Orographic ppt on the Westerlies, spilling over the Divide - favors higher elevations, especially near Divide, little ppt below Pk-to-Pk hwy.  Also favors wind loading from the N/NW. 3) Upslope ppt from a "Four-Corners' Low" - usually has high ppt amounts pulling 'warm' moist air from south, similar with elevation on East Slope or even greater in Boulder.  Larger flakes. 4) "Arctic Blast" - small amounts ppt because very cold, 'dry' air; starts out as shallow air layer, pushing up Front Range canyons. Small flakes.  Often more ppt favored at lower elevations, depends on depth and moisture of Arctic air. Notes:  (3) and (4) are also orographically-induced (as 2), just that flow is from East.  Cyclonic storms (in 1) are orographically-enhanced, but primary mechanism is the storm's cold front/warm front circulation.   Cyclonic storms are also enhanced as in (3) by circulation of warm, moist air from south - difference is that in (3) the storm itself is too far to the south, not overhead as in (1). In summer also can add 5th & 6th precipitation mechanisms with (5) local convection developing along the Divide (with moisture drawn up from the Plains) and (6) monsoonal flow from the S and SW into the continent center, and interacting with the mountains
Lesson points: Climate	How do global, continental, regional, local position determine climate? What are the main mechanisms that generate wintertime precipitation? What are the main processes that determine surface temperature (of the air, of the surface of a tree/mammal)?
Additional Resources	from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orographic_lift: The leeward edge of an extensive mass of orographic clouds may be quite distinct. On the leeward side of the mountain, the air flowing downward is known as a foehn wind. Because some of the moisture has condensed on the top of the mountain, the foehn (or föhn) is drier, so any suspended moisture quickly evaporates as the air descends. A view of the Front Range of the Rockies capped by a föhn wall. The distinct cut-off line which forms along and parallel to the ridge line is sometimes known as a foehn wall (or föhn wall). This is because the edge appears stationary and it often appears to have an abrupt wall-like edge. A foehn wall is a common feature along the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies.[1]

8:15a – Orientation

• Site logistics:  MRS Station Manager
  
• Safety
• Introduction to the study area



Handouts	Niwot Ridge Sites (doc, 130k) - edit to add field collection sites as needed Topo of MRS and lower Niwot Ridge (pdf, 650k)
MRS links	MRS site
Niwot Ridge links	Niwot Ridge site description Niwot Ridge Virtual Fieldtrip Winter (and Summer) Panoramas (.mov) Mountain Cams: Niwot Ridge - Saddle Stn TundraCam  Nederland (c/o nednet) Longs Peak and other RMNP Cams Loveland Basin and Divide, Loveland Basin Realtime Wx Station Mount St. Helens
Resources	Niwot Ridge Vegetation and Vertebrates: overview MRS Plant, Mammal, and Bird Species Lists

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

7:15p – Link To:  EVENING PROGRAM: Avalanche Dynamics and Safety –  Ethan Davis, Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC)

• Link includes Presentation and Other Resources
  

8:30a-1:30p – Link To:  WINTER SOIL BIOLOGY FIELD DAY (Schedule, Readings, What to Bring)

1:30-3:00p –  Walkabout: Winter Ecology Biological Setting

• Key to MRS Conifers (pdf, 600k)
• Photographic Guide to Common Conifers of the Colorado Front Range - Gwen Kittel (pdf, 1M)
  

3:00-5:00p – Individual projects - Instructor consultation

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

rev. 25 Jan 16