Due by 9 December 2011, but May Be Turned in Earlier

ATS 620 Fall 2011 Snowflake Lab Due by 9 December 2011, but may be turned in earlier

When the opportunity arises, during either a local snowfall event in Fort Collins or one while on a trip in the mountains, collect a variety of snow/ice particle samples. The samples may be collected on a dark cloth, arm of your jacket, or using some other technique (you may see Manual for Snowflake Observations, Identification, and Replication by T. C. Peterson, J. D. Yeh, and W. R. Cotton for more information- hopefully still available on Dr. Cotton’s AT 620 website). Try to collect both aggregates (clumps of snowflakes) and individual, pristine ice crystals. Assess observed ice crystal types, and try to assess the crystal types comprising the aggregates. Note the meteorological conditions present during sampling (e.g., relevant sounding data like temperature, estimated cloud base height, cloud base temperature, estimated cloud top height, cloud top temperature).

Once you have your data, prepare a lab report that includes the following: a) Describe the sampling procedure b) Describe the meteorological conditions c) Analyze ice crystal types d) Concluding remarks

You should easily be able to keep your write up fewer than 2.5 pages single-spaced (5 double-spaced) plus any tables (and/or figures) you may decide to include.

WARNING: DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. THE FIRST SNOWFALL YOU SEE MAY BE THE LAST BEFORE THE DUE DATE.