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January 2, 2007
Dear Friends,
Desert Research Institute (DRI) is the environmental research campus of the Nevada System of Higher Education and is a unique blending of academia and entrepreneurship. DRI’s Storm Peak Laboratory (SPL) is a high elevation facility in the high Rocky Mountains near Steamboat Springs, Colorado, at an elevation of 10,500 feet (http://stormpeak.dri.edu/ for more information). The laboratory's high elevation places scientists and students who work there in the middle of the atmosphere, allowing them to conduct experiments they previously had to accomplish from airplanes. SPL is operated year-round and thus provides an ideal location for long-term research on the interactions of atmospheric particles, clouds and natural radiation environments. These studies help us understand the implications of climate change for alpine regions. As a research scientist and educator with interests in human effects on climate and the environment and health, I (Anna Gannet Hallar) am the SPL Director.
In addition to being a world-class climate research facility, SPL has a long history of providing educational experiences. With its unique location, scientific equipment, full kitchen, and two bunk rooms with sleeping space for nine, SPL is ideal to teach students Earth sciences. For example, a graduate winter field course in atmospheric sciences (shown in photo) is taught by me, with two weeks of field research at SPL. This class is designed to give students experience in all facets of a field research program from development of the research proposal and experiment, project planning and implementation, and final reporting. Universities and colleges conducting annual field courses at SPL include City College of New York, University of Calgary in Alberta, Colorado State University, Colorado Mountain College, University of Nevada, Reno, and the University of Wisconsin.
Additionally, semi-annual “open house” community events are held at SPL. These educate the public about science conducted at the laboratory. Information for both adults and children is presented regarding the science of climate change as well the impact of environmental factors on health. I also have area 5th grade classes visit SPL year-round for one-day courses on weather and cloud identification. Students are driven up the mountain stopping frequently to make measurements of temperature, pressure, relative humidity, and particle concentration. Overall, SPL provides a practical, easily accessible facility for researchers, teachers, and students of all ages and abilities.
SPL, under my directorship, is expanding the research and educational outreach potential of the laboratory with a new focus. Specifically, SPL is suitable as a continental station to track transport of long-distance pollution observed at the Pacific West Coast. With this in mind, Dr. Daniel Obrist and I have installed mercury measurement instruments at SPL. Mercury is an air pollutant of great concern because of its high toxicity and its ability to bioaccumulate in the environment. Due to the large amounts of coal burned in east Asia presently (Wang et al., 2000) and projected into the future, industrial mercury emissions from east Asia contribute about 50% of the global anthropogenic total and are likely still increasing (Pacyna and Pacyna, 2002).
Besides the importance of this work on human health, our study will be used as a training ground for future students in the fields of meteorology, biology, hydrology, and atmospheric science. Using a sensitive alpine setting such as SPL, programs can engage students with scientific links between the Earth’s spheres (i.e., hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere). As stated by the American Geophysical Union Report of 2006, the Earth system serves as a natural laboratory which effectively demonstrates applications of fundamental principles of physical science, mathematics, and technology. Intensive work at SPL gives students the opportunity to be immersed in science. Unlike most research laboratories, SPL is constantly used as a classroom. Thus, it is vital that the laboratory has the funding to support student participation and development along with continuously upgrading the infrastructure.
With SPL’s new research focus, the Desert Research Institute and I would like to continue expanding the laboratory into an effective year-round facility for educational and research purposes. We are planning several summer programs for high school and university students nationwide. In fact, we anticipate the laboratory being visited by approximately 80 or more high school, undergraduate, and graduate students studying Earth sciences during 2007. We currently have planned one-week visits from groups representing the following schools: Howard University, Tennessee State University, University of Calgary, University of Nevada Reno, Colorado State University, University of Colorado, Colorado Mountain College, and High School for Math, Science and Engineering at New York City College. As in the past, these students will live at the laboratory experiencing the excitement and camaraderie of field research science. Key infrastructure support will enable these programs to proceed and be effective.
Thank you for your interest in Storm Peak Laboratory. If you would like to donate to the laboratory’s efforts, please select button titled “Donate to DRI Annual Fund” on this Web page. Additionally, please reference “Storm Peak Laboratory” in your donation form.
Respectfully,
Anna Gannet Hallar, Ph.D.
Director of Storm Peak Laboratory
Assistant Research Professor
Division Atmospheric Sciences
Desert Research Institute
Tel: 970-819-2842
Lab: 970-879-8298
Fax: 970-870-7914
E-mail: gannet.hallar@dri.edu
The Desert Research Institute is an equal opportunity service provider and employer. The Desert Research Institute is a permittee of the Medicine-Bow Routt National Forests.
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