Interns

Matthew Cann, Summit Intern

Matt is an upcoming senior at Plymouth State University and a lifelong New Hampshirite. His studies include meteorology, physics and mathematics, and he plans to continue with his interest in research after graduating. His enthusiasm for weather was sparked by his love of nature and everything outdoors.

Matt enjoys fishing, hiking, ice hockey, snowshoeing and tending to his vegetable garden. He is also interested in organic farming, self-sufficiency and sustainability and worked at a local organic farm in 2012. Matt is fascinated in the connections between the atmosphere and other earth systems. In 2009 he performed a study on the effects of weather on bass fishing in southern New Hampshire.

While on the summit, Matt plans to absorb as much knowledge as possible and immerse himself in the weather. When Matt is not conducting research, he can be found hiking and expanding his photography portfolio.

Research Project: Matt will evaluate how well a weather forecast model (called the Weather Research and Forecast model, or WRF) can forecast weather conditions in the White Mountains. The WRF model will be run during a three-day period from last winter. The model forecasts of temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and other weather variables will be compared with weather observations taken by MWO's network of White Mountain weather stations, as well as other weather stations, to assess the forecast skill of the WRF model. This procedure will be repeated for three-day periods during each season and for varying atmospheric circulation patterns to help determine how forecast skill changes with these varying atmospheric conditions.

Alex Carne, Summit Intern

Raised in the Detroit suburb of Huntington Woods, Michigan, Alex developed an interest in weather at a very young age. A severe thunderstorm sparked an interest in both weather and nature, leading him to pursue a degree in Meteorology at Valparaiso University.

Alex enjoys skiing, hiking, cooking, hockey (go Red Wings!), and traveling to new places. He has hiked all over the world including the Swiss Alps, Alaska, and throughout the western U.S. On skis, he has sampled much of the Colorado Rockies and Midwest.

Alex's fascination with extreme weather brought him to the Observatory, and he is excited to experience a wide range extreme weather conditions that he has never seen before.

Research Project: Assessing avalanche danger in Tuckerman Ravine is a challenge that involves knowing the weather conditions along the ridge above the ravine. Weather data from the summit of Mount Washington and near the Hermit Lake shelter below the ravine base are the closest weather stations to assess weather conditions leading to avalanches. Together, Alex and Luke will compare the weather records of snowfall, temperature, wind speed and wind direction from the summit and Hermit Lake shelter to determine how well they correlate. Regional weather patterns will be analyzed and statistical procedures will be performed to determine weather conditions that lead to avalanches.

Luke Davis, Summit Intern

Luke is a third year undergraduate attending McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. He is pursuing a B.Sc. in Atmospheric Science -- he has always shown a fascination with extreme weather, and has aspired to a career in meteorology from an early age. He plans to finish his degree in 2015, and has future research interests in cyclogenesis and cloud dynamics, which he hopes to explore in graduate school.

Growing up in central Connecticut, Luke discovered his passion for the outdoors through family outings and trips with the Appalachian Mountain Club's Teen Wilderness program. Luke now enjoys backpacking, hiking, and kayaking throughout the mountains of the Northeast, especially the Adirondacks and White Mountains, and has ascended 22 of New Hampshire's 4,000 footers -- he hopes to climb the rest by the end of the summer. He is also an avid amateur landscape photographer, and is grateful for the opportunity to hone his skills at one of the most wild and beautiful locations in the country.

Luke is excited to learn from the experienced summit staff in a hands-on environment and to have the chance to extend his enthusiasm to the public.

Research Project: Assessing avalanche danger in Tuckerman Ravine is a challenge that involves knowing the weather conditions along the ridge above the ravine. Weather data from the summit of Mount Washington and near the Hermit Lake shelter below the ravine base are the closest weather stations to assess weather conditions leading to avalanches. Together, Alex and Luke will compare the weather records of snowfall, temperature, wind speed and wind direction from the summit and Hermit Lake shelter to determine how well they correlate. Regional weather patterns will be analyzed and statistical procedures will be performed to determine weather conditions that lead to avalanches.

Kaitlyn O'Brien, Summit Intern

Kaitlyn recently graduated from the University of Oklahoma, where she obtained a Bachelor's degree in Meteorology. She was also a student member of the American Meteorological Society and worked for the Oklahoma Climatological Survey as a student assistant for the Climate and Data Services team.

Originally from northwestern New Jersey, Kaitlyn first remembers being interested in the weather at age 12 when she would go outside to watch a summer thunderstorm roll through. Her curiosity grew from there and her adventurous nature led her to attend school in Oklahoma.

Kaitlyn enjoys traveling, outdoor activities including hiking and camping, and spending time with friends and family. She is eager to gain experience while working atop Mount Washington and looks forward to learning a lot over the summer.

Research Project: On clear and calm (<25 mph) mornings on the summit, the air temperature will often spike by 10-15°F about two hours after sunrise. This peak temperature is usually the daily maximum temperature of the day. The temperature then cools during the rest of the day and becomes relatively steady overnight. This phenomenon has been observed in all seasons at the summit and is likely a result of the daily cycle of the nocturnal inversion metamorphing into the diurnal mixed boundary layer. Kaitlyn will characterize its daily cycle, the vertical structure, and regional atmospheric conditions that allow the occurrence of this phenomenon. The results will help summit Observers improve weather forecasts.

Tom Padham, Summit Intern

Serving as a summer intern in 2011, Tom has returned to the summit of Mount Washington to learn more about this fascinating and unique place. His first internship provided real-world knowledge and experience to help him complete his senior year at Pennsylvania State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Meteorology in the spring of 2012.

Like many meteorologists, Tom discovered his passion for weather at an early age. Growing up in northwest New Jersey, he was fascinated by the ever-changing weather—especially the extremes, like the blizzard of '96 and the more recent Hurricane Sandy.

An avid hiker, Tom is a state high-pointer, with 8 high points under his belt and a few more to hopefully add to the list this summer. He is thrilled to be returning to Mount Washington, and plans to make the most of the opportunity by expanding his knowledge of the weather and the mountain, while sharing that knowledge and passion with visitors.

Research Project: When high winds blow across Mount Washington, the gustiness of the wind speed can vary significantly. Some days the wind speed will be relatively constant, while other days the wind speed will increase and decrease by >30 mph in a matter of seconds. Increased gustiness increases the risk to human health and property damage. Tom will study local and regional atmospheric conditions that occur during each of these cases to determine what controls the gustiness of the wind on the summit. Results from this study will help improve wind forecasts for the high elevations of the White Mountains.