Snow Sciences: The physics avalanches

Laboratory schedule and logistics

We meet at the Alpental Lodge (bootup room), Snoqualmie Pass at noon. My cell phone number is 509.899-1911 or John Stimberis at WSDOT is 425.434-6224.

Bring skis or snowboard, extra clothing, shovels, and transciever. You can check out snow science kits probes. Bring a hand lense, AIARE ield notebook, pencils, and eraser. We will start our snow observations at the top of Chair 2, Alpental. Later in the quarter, we might make snow observations at at Blewett Pass, Reecer Creek, or at Stevens Pass.

Go to class details for more information on required equipment and supplies.

Observational Guidlines

Go to SWAG for the AAA Snow, Weather, and Avalanches: Observational Guidelines for Avalanche Programs in the United States. The electronic copy below is not printable.

Telemetry at Snoqualmie Pass

Go to www.nwac.us and click on the Apental current snow observations. In your notebook, record the date,maximum and mininum temperatures at 5400', 4300'and 3120' elevation, RH at 5400'/3120', average wind speed/direction, and total precipitation/24hr snow. Next, click on the Snoqualmie Pass current snow observations and record the same observations at 3000' elevation.

Click here for an example on how to record telemetry information in your notebook.

Make sure you do record the data in your AIARE notebook everyday. Try to get in the habit of checking every night, or in the morning. Make simple columns in your notebook, keeping track of date and time of day.

Click here for an example of weather data from the Alpental Ski Area available from the NWAC.

Understanding upper air observations

Go to http://weather.unisys.com and click on upper air observations (left nav bar). Make sure you read the information on the upper air observations, at the 850 mb, 500 mb and 300 mb levels. Every few days, go to this site and review the current constant height plots. This is a good site for weather related information. Weather observations is one of the key factors for Pacific Northwest avalanches.

Imagery

Below are satellite and radar imagery links:
 Pacific NW radar loop
 Pacific NW satellite loop

Laboratory Equipment

• AIARE notebook [available in bookstore]
• Avalanche transceivers
• Collapsible avalanche probe
• Snow shovel
• Mechanical pencils or regular pencils with 2H and 4H lead and erasers
• Hand lense
• Pocket calculator for the classroom and compass
• Day pack