Storm Peak Laboratory: A Research and Training Facility for the Atmospheric Sciences

Storm Peak Laboratory, located on the Steamboat Springs Ski Resort in Colorado on the west summit of Mount Werner at 10 532 ft (3220 m) MSL, is an internationally recognized high-elevation atmospheric research station that has been in use for over 40 years. This article provides a brief history of the Storm Peak Laboratory and the major research themes it has supported and discusses opportunities to leverage mountain observatory measurements to advance our understanding of the atmospheric processes. This facility provides long-term measurements of meteorology, clouds, aerosols, snow hydrology, and atmospheric gases, and it serves as a “proving ground” for instrument development and testing. Storm Peak Laboratory is part of multiple national and international observational networks. Due to the unique capabilities of Storm Peak Laboratory, there is a long history of targeted field campaigns primarily within the following research areas: mixed-phase cloud microphysics; atmospheric chemistry pertaining to the formation, characterization, and hygroscopicity of aerosols; and the transport and transformation of atmospheric mercury. Research training has been central to the mission of Storm Peak Laboratory (SPL) over the last 40 years. Currently, SPL hosts both undergraduate-and graduate-level courses in atmospheric science and snow hydrology organized by numerous institutions. Examples of these unique research training opportunities are provided.