Storm Peak Laboratory: A Research, Teaching, and Service Facility for the Atmospheric Sciences

Abstract

The Storm Peak Laboratory (SPL), operated by the Atmospheric Sciences Center of the Desert Research Institute, is now located in a newly constructed permanent building at elevation 3210 m (10 530 ft) above mean sea level in the northwestern Colorado Rocky Mountains. The laboratory provides a site for the conduct of basic and applied research in the atmospheric sciences, hands-on instruction in meteorology for students ranging from middle school through graduate school, and high-elevation atmospheric measurement programs for various scientific groups, agencies, and private companies. This article provides a background of the history of SPL, its past and current activities, and a description of the facilities and opportunities available at the laboratory.