Wolf Ridge Phenology & Weather gathering this weekend

Here's a great opportunity to learn a little weather and phenology high above Lake Superior's beautiful North Shore this weekend.

Wolf Ridge ELC is hosting the second annual Phenology & Weather Observers Gathering this weekend March 4-6, 2011 at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center; Finland, Minnesota.

From Wolf Ridge:

"The Gathering is organized, taught, and supported by Minnesota Phenology Network, University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources, UMD Large Lakes Obeservatory,National Weather Service (Duluth office), Minnesota Climatology Working Group, USA National Phenology Network, Wolf Ridge ELC, Sugarloaf North Shore Stewardship Assn., John Latimer, Larry Weber, and a variety of dedicated individuals."

The complete agenda is here, and it includes sessions on everything from weather observing to SKYWARN to making clouds to phenology in the classroom. You can find registration information here.

Peter Harris at Wolf Ridge has been kind enough to invite me as a keynote speaker this Friday evening. I will focus my talk on the wild weather of the past year. Topics will include the record 2010 tornado season, and our remarkable snow season of 2010-'11.

I am also planning to do my Friday 5:45pm weather broadcast live from Wolf Ridge during All Things Considered with Tom Crann.

The conference hosts a wealth of speakers on different weather and phenology topics this weekend.

John Latimer KAXE Radio Phenologist

Larry Weber KUMD Radio "Backyard Almanac" Phenologist & Author

Dr. Rebecca Montgomery U of M Dept. of Forest Resources Assistant Professor

Michelle LaRue U of M Antarctic Geospatial Information Center Research Fellow

Welby Smith MN DNR Botanist/Ecologist & Author

Paul Huttner Minnesota Public Radio Meteorologist

Steve Gohde National Weather Service Observing Program Leader

Carol Christanson National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist

Dr. Jay Austin UMD Large Lake Observatory Assistant Professor

Chris Buyarski U of M Forest Ecology Lab Junior Scientist

Teresa Chrimins USA National Phenology Network Partnerships & Outreach Coordinator

John Weber Citizen Scientist Butterfly's of Minnesota

Joe Walewski Wolf Ridge ELC Naturalist Training Coordinator

Peter Harris Wolf Ridge ELC Science Projects Coordinator

Danielle Tesmer Wolf Ridge ELC Liason & Student Naturalist

Stephanie Erlandson Wolf Ridge ELC Contract Naturalist

Kyrsta Prost Wolf Ridge ELC Student Naturalist

This is a great opportunity to attend all or part of the conference and hear a rare collection of experts on weather and phenology in one beautiful location. I hope you will join us and enjoy the beauty of the Wolf Ridge campus high above Lake Superior, the drive and rugged winter scenery along the North Shore, and take part in the many activities Wolf Ridge has to offer.

Forgive the shameless plug for Wolf Ridge (I am presenting free of charge as a service to Wolf Ridge) but if you have never been to Wolf Ridge ELC it is one of those rare and beautiful Minnesota treasures that you must see at least once!

PH