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Atmos 3200/Geog 3280
Instructor: Dr. Dave WhitemanAtmospheric Sciences Department
[email protected] 486 / 585-1414
Guest Lecturer: Maura [email protected]
Mountain Weather and Climate
Photo: Megan Dever
Atmospheric Sciences 3200/Geography 3280Mountain Weather and Climate
Friday, August 24
Applications of Mountain Meteorology:
Avalanche ForecastingFire Weather Forecasting
Who else cares about Mountain Meteorology?
Urban Planning Wildfire Forecasting Avalanche Forecasting Recreation Industry Air Pollution Scientists Energy Industry Water Use/Hydrologists River Forecasting Snowpack Scientists ..... and many more!
Photo: KSL.com Brady Harris
Avalanche & Fire Triangles
Avalanche Triangle
Fire Triangle
What weather factors impactAvalanche Forecasting?
What weather factors impact Avalanche Forecasting? Precipitation
– Type– Amount– Rate
Wind– Direction– Speed– Duration
Temperature– Trend– Radiation– > or < 0 º Celsius– Gradient
Components of a Slab Avalanche
Bed Surface Weak Layer Slab Steep Slope Trigger
A Dozen More Turns Part 1
http://www.lifeonterra.com/ Check out Parts 2 & 3 online
– HIGHLY RECCOMENDED!!!!
While watching note how mountain weather led to this avalanche incident
What weather factors impactFire Weather Forecasting?
What weather factors impact Fire Weather Forecasting? Precipitation
– Rate– Duration– Lightning
Wind– Direction– Speed– Duration
Temperature Moisture
– Relative Humidity
Fire Danger Forecasting
© 2002 Regents of the University of Minnesota
Fire Danger Forecasting
HIGH
© 2002 Regents of the University of Minnesota
Fire Danger Forecasting
© 2002 Regents of the University of Minnesota
Fire Danger Forecasting
LOW
© 2002 Regents of the University of Minnesota
Fire Danger Forecasting
© 2002 Regents of the University of Minnesota
Fire Danger Forecasting
HIGH
© 2002 Regents of the University of Minnesota
Seasonal weather impacts on Fire Weather Forecasting
Temperature Humidity Wet/Dry Season
Drought!!!
US Drought Monitor/Fire Weather Forecast
DAY 1 FIRE WEATHER OUTLOOK NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER
NORMAN OK 0354 AM CDT TUE AUG 21 2007 VALID 211200Z - 221200Z ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR
SRN WY... ...SYNOPSIS... RELATIVELY COOL BUT
WINDY CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL ACROSS THE NRN ROCKIES/PLAINS UNDER BROAD UPPER TROUGH WHILE VERY WARM CONDITIONS CONTINUE FROM THE GREAT BASIN/DESERT SW EWD ACROSS THE SRN PLAINS INTO THE SERN STATES. COMBINATION OF LOW RH AND STRONG WINDS WILL RESULT IN LOCALLY CRITICAL CONDITIONS OVER PORTIONS OF WY...WITH DROUGHT...HOT TEMPERATURES AND LOW RH NEARING CRITICAL LEVELS OVER THE CAROLINAS AND GA.
US Drought Monitor/Fire Weather Forecast
DAY 1 FIRE WEATHER OUTLOOK NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER
NORMAN OK 0443 AM CDT SUN JUN 24 2007 VALID 241200Z - 251200Z ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR
ERN SIERRA/NV/UT/WRN WY/WRN CO/NRN AZ...
...SYNOPSIS... CLOSED UPPER LOW NOW OFF PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST WILL MOVE INLAND TODAY AND WILL BE LOCATED OVER SRN BC BY EARLY MONDAY. STRONG MID LEVEL FLOW WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN WITH SPEEDS OF 40-50 KT LIKELY. SFC BAROCLINIC ZONE WILL EXTEND FROM ND THROUGH WRN WY AND CNTRL NV BY LATE AFTN. AHEAD OF FRONT...STRONG W/SW WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY VALUES WILL CONTRIBUTE TO CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY ACROSS MUCH OF THE GREAT BASIN/UT/AZ/WY. TSTMS ARE NOT EXPECTED ACROSS THE CRITICAL FIRE AREA.
2007 Tahoe Wildfire Flare-Up: News Coverage
Fire Began Sunday June 24, 2007
News Coverage from Wednesday morning June 27
Contained on July 2, 2007
While watching note how mountain weather impacted this wildfire
Fire claims 100 acres near Columbia
By MICHAEL R. SHEA
The Modesto Bee
Last Updated: August 24, 2007, 05:00:56 AM PDT COLUMBIA -- Roughly 100 acres of Tuolumne County mountain
country burned Thursday after a marijuana farm nestled in the canyons northeast of Columbia State Park caught fire and the flames spread toward nearby homes. Flames were first seen around 11 p.m. Wednesday night and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection issued a voluntary evacuation for 30 homes along Yankee Hill and Mountain Boy Mine roads early Thursday morning.
The fire was contained by 5:20 Thursday evening. The marijuana growers fled as the fire grew, leaving behind
bundles of harvested crop and firearms, said Cal Fire spokeswoman Nancy Longmore.