AMS/COMET/MSC Mountain Weather Workshop: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Forecasting

5–8 August 2008, Telus Conference Centre
Whistler, Canada

Introduction
A 4-day workshop will be offered prior to the 2008 AMS Mountain Meteorology conference to provide a unique learning opportunity for faculty, forecasters, graduate students, and others interested in mountain meteorology. A main goal of the workshop is to bridge the gap between the research and forecasting communities by providing a forum for extended discussion and joint education. The workshop will consist of lectures given by distinguished speakers, and discussion sessions. The workshop will take place Tuesday through Friday, August 5-8, 2008, ending mid-day on Friday. Please also see the Workshop Flyer (PDF).

The field of mountain meteorology has evolved greatly in the last two decades since the last similar workshop was held. The workshop will provide faculty, forecasters, graduate students, and others interested in mountain meteorology with a broad understanding of the fundamental principles driving flow over complex terrain and provide historical context for recent developments and future direction for researchers and forecasters. For academic researchers, the workshop will provide a unique opportunity to engage with the forecasting community, which will lead to a better understanding of the technical needs of today’s forecasters, including learning about outstanding questions and needed research, and gaining awareness of current practical limitations of theoretical and numerical models. For the forecasting community, the workshop will provide training on fundamentals of flows specific to mountainous regions which are notoriously difficult to predict, understanding of current research challenges, and an opportunity to learn about the latest contributions and advancements to the field.

About 12 lectures followed by extensive discussion sessions will be given which will provide a comprehensive overview of important and emerging topics in mountain meteorology. Discussion sessions will be facilitated by several guest panelists. Handouts for all lectures will be provided. Results of the workshop will be disseminated via the publication of a meteorological monograph on mountain meteorology which will be published by the AMS. A copy of the monograph will be sent to all workshop participants after publication.

Sponsorship/Organizers
The workshop is sponsored by the American Meteorological Society (AMS), the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) acting on behalf of the Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education and Training (COMET) and the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC).

The workshop is being organized by workshop Co-Chairs: Tina Katopodes Chow of the University of California, Berkeley, CA, Stephan De Wekker, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, and Brad Snyder, Environment Canada, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Important Dates
Detailed Workshop Agenda to be posted On-Line: May
Pre-Registration Deadline: Monday, 30 June
Hotel Reservation Deadline: Friday, 27 June

Registration fees
Registration fees will be posted in May. Early registration rates are valid before the pre-registration deadline on June 30, 2008. A student registration rate will be available. Non-AMS members pay a higher fee. The registration fee covers attendance at the workshop, copies of lecture handouts, the banquet dinner on Thursday night, and a copy of the monograph that will be published after the workshop.

Student travel support
Several travel awards of $500 each will be available to students attending the workshop who need financial assistance for travel costs. A number of these awards are designated for women and underrepresented minorities. Students (graduate and undergraduate) may apply for this support by sending an email to Tina Chow (chow@ce.berkeley.edu) describing their interests and reasons for attending the workshop, the source of the funds they will use for the remainder of the workshop related travel, and why additional travel support is necessary. This email should indicate the year in school and current research topic. A separate email should be sent from the student's advisor with a brief (few lines) endorsement of the student’s application. The students selected will be required to pay for their travel expenses, but will be reimbursed after submitting receipts. Applications are due by May 15, 2008. Applicants will be notified of the decisions by May 30, 2008. Please note that a few other funding sources are available to attend the Mountain Meteorology Conference, as described on the conference website.

Activities
A banquet dinner is planned for Thursday, August 7, 2008 and will be included in the registration fee. The workshop will end mid-day on Friday August 8. Social activities in the Whistler area will be planned for the weekend between the workshop and the conference the following week.

Accommodations
 The workshop will be held at Telus Conference Centre, 4010 Whistler Way, Whistler, BC, V0N 1B4, Canada. Workshop attendees are responsible for making their own hotel arrangements.  A block of rooms have been reserved at the Hilton Whistler located within feet of the center.

Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa
4050 Whistler Way,Whistler, BC, V0N 1B4, Canada
A special workshop rate of $105 CAD single/double plus tax has been secured for workshop participants. To receive the special meeting rate, attendees must request a room under the American Meteorological Society (AMS) block. The special rate will be honored 3 days prior to the workshop and up to 3 days after the conference which follows the workshop. For reservations, call the hotel directly at 1-800-515-4050.  On-line reservation information will be provided at a later time.

Reservations must be made prior to Friday, 27 June. All reservations must be guaranteed to a credit card at time of booking.  Full payment will be taken 14 Days prior to arrival from credit card provided. Please note that sleeping room cancellations made within 14 days of arrival will be charged for 2 nights. Reservations made after the cut-off date will be on a space-available basis. Underground parking is available for $18.00/night plus tax for self parking and $26.00 for Valet services.

We urge you to book at the Hilton hotel since revenue from sleeping rooms helps offset other workshop costs and is passed down to meeting attendees in keeping registration rates to a minimum. Please make your reservations early since space is limited.

Getting to Whistler, BC

Driving from Vancouver Airport to Whistler
The Vancouver-Whistler drive takes about 2 hours, depending on road and traffic conditions.
Travel Time: approximately 2 hours
Distance: approx. 115 kilometres or 70 miles

Driving from Seattle to Whistler
Whistler is at least a 4 to 5-hour drive from Seattle depending on road and traffic conditions and border conditions. The trip to from Seattle to Vancouver takes about 3 hours. The Vancouver-Whistler drive takes about 2 hours.
Travel Time: approximately 4.5 - 7 hours depending on the border
Distance: approx. 340 kilometres or 215 miles

You can get great Google directions at
http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/getting_here/maps_directions/index.htm

Rental Cars                                                                                                             
Enterprise is the official rental car agency for this meeting and special rates are available. Advance reservations may be made on-line at Enterprise.com. Select “Corporate Account” then “Make a reservation”.  Then you simply enter this account number 10AT034 and the first three letters of the account name (AME). You can also call Enterprise directly at 1-800-593-0505 and give them the AMS corporate account number.

Bus transportation from Vancouver Airport:
AMS has discounted rates through Perimeter Whistler Express.  The cost for one way is $50CAD.  A reservation is required and can be made by faxing a form to:  604 266-1628or on-line through their secure site:  www.perimeterbus.com or  Email: res@perimeterbus.com.

• Bus Registration 13th Conference on Mountain Meteorology (PDF)
• Bus Registration 17th Conference on Applied Climatology (PDF)

For information call Toll Free 1 877 317 7788
Please note that in order to receive this special rate you must make a reservation under either 13th Conference on Mountain Meteorology or the 17th Conference on Applied Climatology.

This link offers great information in regards to getting to Whistler: http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/getting_here/index.htm

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