BEACHON-2010

Augmented observations to support BEACHON at Manitou, Colorado

PROJECT DATES
08/01/2010 - 08/31/2010
Project Location
Manitou, Colorado
PROJECT DESCRIPTION

ISF facilities deployed to to Manitou Experimental Forest

ISF supported BEACHON (Bio-hydro-atmosphere interactions of Energy, Aerosols, Carbon, H2O, Organics and Nitrogen); a broad ranging, multi-year study being lead by NCAR / ISP.  The 2010 BEACHON study was centered on the Manitou Experimental Forest southwest of Denver in the Front Range foothills.  ISF support comprises three components:

  1. ISFS turbulence flux tower.  This tower is 45 meters tall and is instrumented at 5 levels.  Operation of this system is on-going.
  2. Two GAUS radiosonde sounding systems.  These systems were deployed for a brief study in August 2010 to compare the atmosphere at the undisturbed Manitou Forest and the nearby Hayman fire area (recovering from devastating wildfire in 2002).
  3. CL-31 ceilometer.  This system was deployed for the month of August 2010 to examine boundary layer structure and clouds.

A wide variety of measurements are also being made by other groups.

Leadership of the BEACHON project was transferred to the NCAR Earth Systems Laboratory.