Every winter, the University Grenoble Alpes organizes a training on snow and atmosphere in the field at Col du Lautaret in the French Alps for the master students of University Grenoble Alpes (UGA). This year, the training is open to ~6 international students (master or first year PhD).
The program comprises field work by group of 3 persons (6-7h/day) and complementary lectures (1h/day) on the following topics:
- snow stratigraphy in snowpits, snow metamorphism (2x 0.5 day)
- snow thermal regime (0.5 day).
- snow albedo and surface energy budget, micro-meteorology (0.5 day).
- atmospheric ozone (0.5 day).
- snow optics (0.5 day).
- data processing and interpretation (0.5 day)
This winter the training will be 4 - 9 March 2019 (Monday to Saturday), during the peak of the snow season. 13 students from UGA will attend. The fees are 450€, and include the courses, basic accommodation in chalets on the site (Jardin alpin du Lautaret) and food (each group is responsible for cooking for one day).
Col du Lautaret is at the altitude of 2100m.a.s.l and climate conditions in March can be harsh (with sustained -15°C and windy as in 2018) or clement (0°C and sunshine as in 2017). While all the field activities take place within 100 m around the chalets, good health conditions, adequate clothing and some initial experience with mountain environment are a prerequisite. Road access to the pass (and the training site) is occasionally closed for a few hours to a full day during snowfall and storm.
To apply, please send us an email with CV, details of your master curriculum and motivations not later than 1 December 2018. We will give a response within 3 weeks.
Jardin alpin du Lautaret: https://www.jardinalpindulautaret.fr/?language=en
University Grenoble Alpes: https://www.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/
Training flyer: http://pp.ige-grenoble.fr/pageperso/picardgh/enseignement/lautaret/poster.pdf
Pictures: https://www.google.com/search?q=col+du+lautaret+winter&tbm=isch
For PhD students experienced in snow science, we recommend to apply to the Snow Science Winter School rather than this training: https://www.slf.ch/en/about-the-slf/events-and-courses/snow-science-winter-school.html
