Scientists begin 5-month study of cloud life cycles
Thursday, December 9, 2010 - 16:00
in Earth & Climate
(PhysOrg.com) -- Ski season is snow season, and snow season means clouds exactly what a team of atmospheric scientists in "Ski Town USA" are anticipating. For the next five months, a dense collection of remote-sensing instruments will gather data from the clouds at four different elevations on Mount Werner in the Steamboat Springs ski area. Scientists will use these data to study how clouds especially those that produce rain and snow - evolve in mountainous terrain. They will use the data to verify the accuracy of measurements used in computer models of the Earth's climate system.