Module
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Learning Goals |
A
s00
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B
s11
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C
s22
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D
s33
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5. Winter Weather
By
the end of this snow sports module, you will be able to:
|
x
|
x
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x
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|
a
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Interpret
temperature from pressure-level maps
|
x
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x
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x
|
|
b
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Interpret winds
from pressure-level maps in terms of ski safety
|
|
x
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x
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c
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Interpret clouds and moisture on pressure-level maps
in terms of ski safety
|
|
x
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x
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|
d
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Use your knowledge of mean sea level pressure to
identify low pressure systems and troughs on pressure maps
|
x
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|
|
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e
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Use your knowledge of mean sea level pressure to
identify high pressure systems and ridges on pressure maps
|
|
x
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x
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|
f
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Identify the
location of cold and warm fronts using multiple weather maps
|
|
x
|
|
|
g
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List the weather
conditions associated with a cold front and their relevance to snow
sports
|
|
|
x
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|
h
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List the weather
conditions associated with a warm front and their relevance to snow
sports
|
x
|
|
|
|
i
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List the weather
conditions associated with a high pressure system and their relevance
to snow sports
|
|
|
x
|
|
j
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Use wind and pressure maps to predict large-scale
surface high winds
|
x
|
|
|
|
k
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Use wind and pressure maps to predict areas of
light/calm winds
|
|
|
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x
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l
|
List and give specific examples of the types of
resources you would use for past, current, and future weather
information
|
|
x
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x
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|
m
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List and describe weather conditions relating to low
pressure systems that are hazardous to skiers
|
|
|
x
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|
n
|
Explain the limitations of different types of
satellite imagery
|
|
|
x
|
|
o
|
Use satellite imagery to identify low pressure
systems, fronts, and fair weather
|
|
A
|
B
|
C
|
D
|
6. Winter Mountain Weather
By the end of this snow sports module, you
will be able to:
|
|
|
|
x
|
a
|
Explain the
causes and effects of cold air pooling
|
|
|
|
x
|
b
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Describe the
diurnal evolution of slope flows
|
x
|
|
|
|
c
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Explain what a
temperature inversion is and why it is important to mountain
recreation
|
|
|
|
x
|
d
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Identify
conditions that favour valley cloud/fog formation and dissipation
|
|
x
|
|
|
e
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Identify and explain
orographic lift and lee shadowing
|
|
|
x
|
|
f
|
Identify and explain areas in the mountains that are
likely to be wind-exposed
|
|
x
|
|
|
g
|
Identify and describe areas in the mountains that are
likely to be wind-sheltered
|
x
|
x
|
|
|
h
|
Determine the
temperature at your elevation by interpolating from pressure-level maps
|
x
|
x
|
|
|
i
|
List and explain factors affecting heating/cooling at
the surface, and adjust your temperature forecast accordingly
|
x
|
|
|
|
j
|
Identify unusually warm and cold conditions from
observations and weather and snow conditions
|
|
|
|
x
|
k
|
List and give examples of available resources for
gauging past, present, and future mountain weather conditions
|
|
|
|
x
|
l
|
Recognize the
large-scale weather pattern associated with arctic air and
outflow
|
|
|
|
x
|
m
|
Visualize and explain terrain
channelling of winds
|
x
|
|
|
|
n
|
Relate pressure
levels to ski areas and mountain elevations across southern BC
|
|
A
|
B
|
C
|
D
|
7. Snow Conditions
By the end of this snow sports module, you
will be able to: |
|
|
x
|
|
a
|
Identify and forecast the freezing level and when
precipitation will fall as rain vs. snow
|
|
x
|
x
|
|
b
|
Define
snow density and describe what conditions will lead to high vs. low
density newly fallen snow, and why this matters to skiers
|
|
x
|
|
|
c |
Describe right-side-up and
upside-down snowfall and their significance to skiing and
avalanches
|
x
|
|
|
|
d
|
Explain the
factors that influence snowpack evolution
|
x
|
|
|
|
e
|
List the
conditions that are favourable for rounding and faceting snow
crystals
|
x
|
|
|
|
f
|
Describe the
properties of a stable and an unstable snowpack and how to assess
stability
|
x
|
|
|
|
g
|
List
characteristics and geographic regions of coastal, continental, and
transitional snow climates
|
|
|
|
x
|
h
|
Describe the
effects of aspect on surface snow evolution
|
x
|
|
|
|
i
|
Describe the
atmospheric conditions for surface hoar formation and how this might
lead to an avalanche
|
|
x
|
|
|
j
|
Define an avalanche, and list and describe types of
avalanches
|
|
x
|
x
|
|
k
|
Identify
different snow crystal habits by sight
|
|
x
|
x
|
|
l
|
Give reasons why
snow crystal habits form differently
|
|
|
x
|
|
m
|
Describe what
makes an optimal ski run for recreation and racing
|
|
|
x
|
|
n
|
List and explain ways that
mountain operators reinforce the snowpack hardness on a recreational
and racing ski piste
|
|
|
x
|
|
o
|
List possible
snow-surface conditions found in ski resorts and describe a possible
weather scenario that leads to each condition
|
|
|
x
|
|
p
|
Give reasons why
snow-surface conditions are important to ski racers and recreational
skiers
|
|
|
|
x
|
q
|
List and give examples of resources for online
avalanche and snowpack information
|
|