Introduction
For more than a decade, the Department of Meteorology at the University of Utah has been a center of excellence for education, research, and public service in the area of mountain meteorology. Department faculty, led by Profs. John Horel and Jim Steenburgh, established a coordinated research program in 1996 within the framework of the NOAA Cooperative Institute of Regional Prediction (CIRP). CIRP's objective was to improve weather and climate prediction in regions of complex terrain, with an emphasis on weather and climate issues of the Great Basin, Colorado River Basin, and other regions of the western United States. Research Professor C. David Whiteman joined the Department of Meteorology in 2005 and has broadened the scope of mountain meteorology research underway in the department.
Administrative Structure
Building on the foundation laid by CIRP, the department established the Mountain Meteorology Group (MMG) as a center of excellence within the Department of Meteorology.
David Whiteman serves as Director of the Mountain Meteorology Group.
Mission Statement
MMG's mission is to foster an interdisciplinary research and educational program aimed at improving understanding and prediction of weather and climate processes in regions of complex terrain, with particular attention to ecological, water resource and air quality issues facing the increasingly urbanized western United States.
Goals
The Mountain Meteorology Group has two goals:
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Improve the breadth and quality of undergraduate and graduate education in mountain meteorology and related disciplines at the University of Utah.
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Strengthen both applied and basic research programs in mountain meteorology and climate at the University of Utah.
Faculty and Staff
Faculty members John D. Horel, W. James Steenburgh, C. David Whiteman lead MMG activities and collaborate with other staff and students on a variety of research projects. Prospective students interested in participating in this research are encouraged to contact the faculty directly.
Facilities
The MMG uses Department of Meteorology facilities on the main campus of the University of Utah on the fourth floor of the Intermountain Network and Scientific Computation Center (INSCC). The facilities include a 20-student audiovisual teaching laboratory/classroom, student and faculty workspace, research equipment, computers, and software. Administrative and financial services are provided by the department. A mountain meteorology laboratory and equipment storage area is located near the exit of Red Butte Canyon approximately one mile from INSCC.
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