Steamboat Pilot & Today

Scientists Ian McCubbin, left, and Daniel Obrist discuss the installation of equipment that will measure mercury in the atmosphere at the Storm Peak Laboratory earlier this week. The Storm Peak Laboratory, which just underwent renovations, is a research center that integrates research and education by advancing the discovery and understanding within the field of aerosol and cloud interactions. Photo by John F. Russell

Scientist Daniel Obrist looks toward the next step during the installation of equipment that will measure mercury levels in the atmosphere at the Storm Peak Laboratory earlier this week. The Storm Peak Laboratory, which just underwent renovations, is a research center that integrates research and education by advancing the discovery and understanding within the field of aerosol and cloud interactions. Photo by John F. Russell

Equipment inside the Storm Peak Laboratory is used to monitor the material found in clouds and the atmosphere. Photo by John F. Russell

Daniel Obrist, an associate professor at the Desert Research Center, talks about a new project to monitor mercury levels in the atmosphere while visiting the Storm Peak Laboratory on Wednesday. Photo by John F. Russell

Daniel Obrist, an associate professor at the Desert Research Center, unloads equipment used to monitor mercury in the atmosphere at the Storm Peak Laboratory on Wednesday. Photo by John F. Russell

Scientists Ian McCubbin, left, and Daniel Obrist discuss the installation of equipment that will measure mercury in the atmosphere at the Storm Peak Laboratory earlier this week. The Storm Peak Laboratory, which just underwent renovations, is a research center that integrates research and education by advancing the discovery and understanding within the field of aerosol and cloud interactions. Photo by John F. Russell

Gannet Hallar, assistant research professor and director of the Storm Peak Laboratory, checks equipment inside the research center located at the top of Steamboat Ski Area on Wednesday afternoon. Photo by John F. Russell

Ian McCubbin loads snow from outside the Storm Peak Laboratory located at the top of Steamboat Ski Area into tubs Wednesday. The snow is melted into nonpotable water and is used for a number of different projects inside the on-mountain research facility. Photo by John F. Russell

Ian McCubbin, front, and Gannet Hallar make lunch in the kitchen of the newly remodeled Storm Peak Laboratory at the top of Steamboat Ski Area on Wednesday afternoon. The Storm Peak Laboratory is a research center that integrates research and education by advancing the discovery and understanding within the field of aerosol and cloud interactions. Photo by John F. Russell

Scientists Ian McCubbin, right, and Daniel Obrist discuss the installation of equipment that will measure mercury in the atmosphere at the Storm Peak Laboratory earlier this week. The Storm Peak Laboratory, which just underwent renovations, is a research center that integrates research and education by advancing the discovery and understanding within the field of aerosol and cloud interactions. Photo by John F. Russell

Scientists Ian McCubbin, right, and Daniel Obrist discuss the installation of equipment that will measure mercury in the atmosphere at the Storm Peak Laboratory earlier this week. The Storm Peak Laboratory, which just underwent renovations, is a research center that integrates research and education by advancing the discovery and understanding within the field of aerosol and cloud interactions. Photo by John F. Russell

Daniel Obrist, an associate professor at the Desert Research Center, unloads equipment used to monitor mercury in the atmosphere at the Storm Peak Laboratory on Wednesday. Photo by John F. Russell

Equipment inside the Storm Peak Laboratory is used to monitor the material found in clouds and the atmosphere. Photo by John F. Russell

Equipment inside the Storm Peak Laboratory is used to monitor the material found in clouds and the atmosphere. Photo by John F. Russell

Scientists Ian McCubbin, left, and Daniel Obrist work to set up new monitoring equipment that will measure mercury in the atmosphere at the Storm Peak Laboratory earlier this week. The Storm Peak Laboratory, which just underwent renovations, is a research center that integrates research and education by advancing the discovery and understanding within the field of aerosol and cloud interactions. Photo by John F. Russell

Scientist Ian McCubbin sets up new monitoring equipment that will measure mercury in the atmosphere at the Storm Peak Laboratory earlier this week. The Storm Peak Laboratory, which just underwent renovations, is a research center that integrates research and education by advancing the discovery and understanding within the field of aerosol and cloud interactions. Photo by John F. Russell

Scientists Gannet Hallar, Daniel Obrist and Ian McCubbin, clockwise from left, check out a piece of new monitoring equipment that will help measure mercury levels in the atmosphere at the Storm Peak Laboratory earlier this week. The Storm Peak Laboratory, which just underwent renovations, is a research center that integrates research and education by advancing the discovery and understanding within the field of aerosol and cloud interactions. Photo by John F. Russell

Scientist Ian McCubbin looks for the right tool to help set up new monitoring equipment that will measure mercury in the atmosphere at the Storm Peak Laboratory earlier this week. The Storm Peak Laboratory, which just underwent renovations, is a research center that integrates research and education by advancing the discovery and understanding within the field of aerosol and cloud interactions. Photo by John F. Russell

Research scientist and site manager Ian McCubbin and Daniel Obrist, an associate professor at the Desert Research Center, talk about how to set up equipment used to monitor mercury in the atmosphere at the Storm Peak Laboratory on Wednesday afternoon near the top of the Morningside lift at Steamboat Ski Area. The Storm Peak Laboratory is a research center that integrates research and education by advancing the discovery and understanding within the field of aerosol and cloud interactions. The permanent mountaintop facility, which was constructed during summer 1995 and has been in existence in various forms for more than 25 years, was remodeled during the past year, increasing its ability to study the Earth’s atmosphere. Photo by John F. Russell