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2007-09-09 09:59:19.000 – Karen Thorp,  Summit Intern

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The fall weather observed here at the summit is rapidly approaching. Although temperatures have been in the 50s and 60s for the last few days, it is apparent that the crisp autumn season will soon be upon us. In preparation for fierce winds, biting temperatures, and heavy snow, Linnea and I have been embarking on several maintenance tasks. Some of such chores have included wire bushing and painting several instrument stands and the thermometer shack. Today’s venue includes painting the cement floor of the cold room. This could be a substantial task considering all the computers and other such instrumentation that will need to be moved. One of the devices that could prove to be particularly difficult to handle is the AIRMAP cabinet that analyzes several chemical species. The cabinet is approximately 6 ft tall and will require careful handling within a very small space.Outside of our manual labor efforts, Linnea and I have been assisting in the museum gift shop, taking/ leading tours of the observatory, and beginning our research projects. My investigation will be a continuation of a collaborative effort between the MWO and the AMC, concerning the relationship of cloud base to alpine flower communities. Interestingly enough, the research has a particular interest for me as I am a former AMC employee. Linnea’s inquiry might involve the Met2010 data, but at this point is yet to be decided. Although my stint at the observatory has just begun, I look forward to all the meteorological features that bring visitors up here daily: high winds, below zero temperatures, and rime ice.

Karen Thorp,  Summit Intern