Editor’s note: Stephen Springston, a scientist from Brookhaven National Laboratory, headed to the STORMVEX deployment site in October to set up the Aerosol Observing System (AOS). This week, we will feature blog posts about his experience in Colorado. BNL personnel practiced assembling the AOS before its deployment to Steamboat Springs.The aerosol inlet on the new…

Yesterday during lunch, a stranger stopped by the AMF2 OPS van looking for work.  He appeared somewhat useful, so we assigned him the duty of Thunderhead security (calls himself T-man).  Not sure he’ll stick around long enough to help with packing this Spring; he kind of has the look of a short-timer. New AMF2 Volunteer…

Editor’s Note: Chuck Long shared this picture captured by the Total Sky Imager, showing rime on it and nearby instruments. It sure is going to be an “interesting” winter at Storm Peak Lab. This photo was taken this morning right before sunrise.

The first “real” snow of the season fell on the AMF2, covering the valley and mountain sites.  This picture of the Valley site is taken from the General Purpose Van (thanks Karen).  The mountain sites are completely obscured by clouds. AMF2 Valley site covered in the first snow of the season

Radiation plot calculating sun blockage at Thunderhead in local time.Another update from scientist Chuck Long, lead for the total sky imager (TSI) and radiation instruments. Yesterday was a nice clear day, so I was able to quantify the extent of the direct sun blockage on the radiometers at Thunderhead. In the morning, the sun cleared…

Editor’s Note: Scientist Chuck Long is the instrument lead for the total sky imager (TSI). He shared a quick note from his review of the video taken by his instrument up at Storm Peak Lab (SPL) last weekend. To see the footage that the TSI captured of the first snow on October 8, view the…

Sadly this is the last full day for Durga Kafle and Michael Ritsche.  They will be heading back to the Chicago area after 17 days here at Steamboat Springs.  Michael, Durga, Karen and Mike Turner spent the day doing calibration checks on the surface meteorological systems.  The ORG, PWD, Barometer and T/RH probe were all…

Another good day at the valley site.  The telescoping tower was tipped down to check on the PSP and PIR, which were giving some strange readings.  We weren’t too worried as we had not yet updated the coefficients and serial numbers in the datalogger program.  Once we changed those to the proper values, errors were…

Today the AMF2 received its first visitors.  Connor Flynn, Luc Rochette, Chuck Long, Kevin Widener and Nitin Bharadwaj showed up to work on the various instruments they are responsible for.  Including the six AMF2 personnel already onsite, conditions are cozy to say the least. Connor and company were working on the ASSISTII (the AMF2’s version…

With most systems running in some sort of mode we head into the last three days of installation activities.  Several mentors are expected this week to install their equipment.  Travel to and from the mountain site could be interesting, since some need to work at night (likely that means we might as well !!!??).  That’s…