This class will provide fundamental insight into the highly interdisciplinary field of snow science, which is situated at the interface of chemistry, materials science, physics, mechanics, and climate science. Key topics include an introduction to the global cryosphere, the energetics and kinetics of snow grain metamorphism, snowpack dynamics and their impacts on stability, fracture mechanics, heat transfer, and avalanche characteristics. The course will include field observations, laboratory characterization, and group-based in-class learning.

This class is all about scale. We'll use the molecular shape of water to rationalize everything from snow meteorology to the six-fold symmetry of snowflakes. We'll zoom out to consider metamorphism of snow on the ground as it relates to stress, strain, and avalanches. We'll spend 5 days in the classroom and 4 days digging in the snow.

This course will review basic mathematical concepts that are important for success in chemistry. The following concepts are among those that will be chosen to be reviewed: fractions, order of calculations, reciprocals, significant figures, exponents and scientific notation, ratios and percentages, the metric and SI systems, conversions of one unit of measure to another, simple stoichiometric calculations, dilutions, graphs and standard curves, and simple statistics. The mathematical topics will be integrated into selected topics from chemistry. Prerequisite: No credit after CH108.