What's Happening on Tuesday, 11 January

Please see the Programs and Events page for a complete listing.

Second Symposium on Space Weather Tuesday, 11 January, 8:30 A.M.–5:30 P.M.; Room 1A
The Second Symposium on Space Weather will examine the similarities between space weather and tropospheric weather with emphasis on climate change, data assimilation, new sources of data, satellite observing systems, operational products, industry needs, and value-added products from vendors. The Symposium on Space Weather solicited papers on aspects of space weather that have an element of commonality with terrestrial weather applications: What are the parallels between the integration of terrestrial and space weather information? What are the contrasts?

For additional information please contact the program chairperson, Bob McCoy (tel: 703-696-8699; email: mccoyr@onr.navy.mil), or Genene Fisher (tel: 202- 737-9006 ext. 422; e-mail: fisher@dc.ametsoc.org).

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Third Presidential History Symposium Tuesday, 11 January, 8:30 A.M.–4:30 P.M.; Room 7B
The History Symposium will consist of papers that broadly address the history of earth science policy broadly defined. Of special interest are papers on the history of remote sensing devices and the use of the data they provide to the earth sciences, as well as historical papers related to the two subtheme, “Living with a Limited Water Supply” and “Living in the Coastal Zone.” Historians of science and scientists engaged in historical research are strongly encouraged to attend, and all are welcome.

For more information, please contact History Committee Chairperson Kristine Harper, 946 NW Circle Blvd., No. 306, Corvallis, OR 97330-1410 (email: kharper@proaxis.com).

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GOES-R-NPOESS Symposium Tuesday, 11 January, 8:00 A.M.–5:30 P.M.; ROOM 14AB
The Symposium on Future National Operational Environmental Satellite Systems – Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R-Series (GOES-R) and National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS), is sponsored by the American Meteorological Society and organized by the joint GOES-R/NPOESS Symposium Committee. This fullday meeting during the 85th AMS Annual Meeting in San Diego, California will focus on the US operational environmental satellite contributions to the Global Earth Observations System of Systems (GEOSS) with:

a) Keynote address by Greg Withee, Assistant Administrator, NOAA/NESDIS;
b) Invited presentations and discussions from program, science, and operational users, and
c) Closing address by Dr. Colleen N. Hartman, Deputy Assistant Administrator NOAA/NESDIS.

The goal of this forum is to enlighten the society’s membership and foster discussion for use in planning upcoming generations of satellite remote sensing measurements and information needs. Presenters will highlight current activities and future plans for the GOES-R series and NPOESS.

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Luncheon Panel Discussion: "Potential US Contribution to the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS)" (at the Symposium on Future National Operational Environmental Satellites) Tuesday, 11 January, 12:15–1:15 P.M.; ROOM 14AB
While the symposium will focus on the US operational environmental satellite role in the GEOSS, the lunch panel will identify the special US role in integration of satellite and in situ capabilities to meet the requirements of the GEOSS. The GEOSS initiative is scheduled to deliver an international 10-year implementation plan in February 2005.

The NPOESS and GOES-R satellites will provide core capacity in the Earth observation "system of systems" and will be a key contributor of information for society. The Interagency Working Group for Earth Observations (IWGEO) under the White House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) has drafted the Strategic Plan for the US Integrated Earth Observation System that will serve as the US contribution to the GEOSS. This working group has explored policy and technical issues relating to data access and utilization challenges, governance issues, and plans for systematic transition from research to operations. The panel discussion will be moderated and comprised of selected IWGEO agency members. Audience attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions of the panel and moderator.

For further information contact the co-chairs of the GOES-R / NPOESS Symposium Committee: GOES-R: Gerald Dittberner, NOAA/NESDIS (tel: 301-713-2789 Ext 145; fax: 301-713-3136; e-mail: Gerald.Dittberner@ noaa.gov; GOES-R Web Site: http://www.osd.noaa.gov/ goes_R: NPOESS: Stephen Mango, NPOESS/IPO (tel: 301-713-4801, fax: 301-427-2164; e-mail: Stephen.Mango@noaa.gov; NPOESS Web Site: http://www.ipo.noaa.gov

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IMPACT: Weather 2004 Tuesday, 11 January, 8:00 A.M.–5:30 P.M.; Room 6A
The year 2004 will be noted for a number of significant weather events—Atlantic hurricanes, massive tornado outbreaks, floods, the Alaska heat wave, wildfires, and winter storms. Tuesday’s session, Impact: Weather 2004 (formerly the Annual Weather Review), will cover the top weather stories from a science and newsworthiness point of view.

Departing from previous Annual Meeting formats Program Chairperson Joseph Schafer of NSSL has organized Impact: Weather 2004 with links to the major program themes—Living with a Limited Water Supply and Living in the Coastal Zone. The format will include presentations by key scientists and business leaders. The potential impact of Space Weather will be covered for the first time.

A major message that is expected to emerge from the program is that the year 2004 included a combination of weather events that impacted major populations living in a fragile environment adjacent to the coastal areas of the United States. The program will conclude with a look at what 2005 may have in store for us.

For more information, please contact Stephanie Kenitzer (tel: 425-432-2192; e-mail: kenitzer@ ametsoc.org).

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Town Hall Meeting: Advancing Weather Research, Operations and Applications in the United States: Next Steps Tuesday, 11 January, 12:00–1:30 P.M.; Room 5B
The Weather Coalition will host a public Town Hall Meeting to engage the broad community in a discussion of weather research in the United States and next steps in optimizing and coordinating weather research in operations and applications.

For additional information please contact Raymond J. Ban, Meteorology Science and Strategy, The Weather Channel, Inc., 300 Interstate North Pkwy., Atlanta, GA 30339 (tel: 770-226-2161; Fax-770-226-2951; e-mail: rban@weather.com.)

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North American Regional Reanalysis Users Workshop Tuesday, 11 January, 1:30–5:30 P.M.; Room 10
The 85th Annual Meeting is being organized around the broad theme of “Building the Earth Information System” and the role that science can play in decision making for society. The NCEP North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) is a long-term, consistent, high-resolution climate dataset for the North American domain, and fits this broad theme perfectly since its data can be used not only to address various science issues but for numerous applications as well. It covers the 25-year period 1979–2003, and is being continued in near–real time as the Regional Climate Data Assimilation System, R-CDAS.

At the workshop, presentations will be given on the reanalysis system, data used, and its accuracy, as well as other features including the climatology of the datasets produced, contents of the datasets, and NARR archiving and data retrieval options in place at the time of the workshop. An attempt will be made to allow for ample discussion. Early users of the NARR data are encouraged to propose short presentations on experience gained and their preliminary results to Fedor Mesinger (e-mail: fedor.mesinger@noaa.gov) and Perry Shafran (e-mail: perry.shafran@noaa.gov).

For additional information please contact the workshop cochairpersons: Fedor Mesinger (tel: 301-763- 8000 ext 7249; e-mail: fedor.mesinger@noaa.gov) or Geoff DiMego (tel: 301-763-8000 ext 7221; e-mail: geoff.dimego@noaa.gov).

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Town Hall Meeting: Strategic Guidance for NSF’s Support of Research in the Atmospheric Sciences Tuesday, 11 January, 7:00–9:00 P.M.; Room 5B The National Research Council’s Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (BASC) has appointed a committee to perform a study that will provide guidance to the NSF’s Division of Atmospheric Sciences (ATM) on its strategy for achieving its goals in the atmospheric sciences. In essence, the committee is asked to consider how ATM can best accomplish its goals of supporting cutting-edge research, education and workforce development, service to society, computational and observational objectives, data management, and other goals of the atmospheric science community into the future. The committee will provide guidance on the most effective approaches for different goals and on determining the appropriate balance among approaches.

At this Town Hall, members of the committee will provide an overview of the study request and the issues under consideration. They will then invite attendees to make comments to help inform the committee’s deliberations. Specifically, participants are asked to consider and comment on the following questions:

1) What are the most effective activities (e.g., research, facilities, technology development, education and workforce programs) and modes of support (e.g., individual principal investigators, university-based research centers, large centers such as NCAR) for achieving NSF’s range of goals in the atmospheric sciences?
2) Is the balance among the types of activities appropriate or should it be adjusted? Is the balance among modes of support for the atmospheric sciences effective or should it be adjusted?
3) Are there any gaps in the activities supported by the ATM and are there new mechanisms that should be considered in planning and facilitating these activities?
4) Are interdisciplinary, foundation-wide, interagency, and international activities effectively implemented and are there new mechanisms that should be considered?
5) How can NSF ensure and encourage the broadest participation and involvement of atmospheric researchers at a variety of institutions?

For further information, please contact Amanda Staudt (tel: 202-334-2995; e-mail: astaudt@nas.edu).

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Town Hall Meeting: Designing an Arctic Observing Network Tuesday, 11 January, 7:00–9:00 P.M.; Room 7B
The National Research Council’s Polar Research Board (PRB) has appointed a committee to provide guidance to the NSF’s Office of Polar Programs (OPP) on a strategy for designing a comprehensive Arctic land, atmosphere, and ocean observing network. The study committee will provide thoughts on the overarching philosophy and conceptual foundation for such an international network and, where possible, provide concrete advice to move the concept toward implementation.

At this town hall, members of the committee will provide an overview of the study request and the issues under consideration. They will then invite attendees to make comments to help inform the committee’s deliberations.

Specifically, the committee will

• Provide an overarching philosophy of design for a comprehensive Arctic observing network and identify key variables that must be monitored.
• Briefly review the purposes and extent of existing and planned global observing systems and platforms, highlighting critical spatial, temporal or disciplinary gaps of importance to the Arctic.
• Describe the infrastructure needed to create a comprehensive Arctic observing network, including advice on types, number, and the distribution of network components; where stations might be placed; and the role that remote sensing and novel technologies might play. This discussion should explore two levels: an «ideal» network and a «minimal » network to help illustrate choices that may need to be made during implementation.
• Comment on how to ensure sound data management in this type of network, using perspectives from data managers, those generating data, and those who use or might use the data.
• Recommend a strategy to ensure efficient, coordinated implementation and operation of an Arctic observing network, including methods to ensure that data products from different sensors are spatially and temporally consistent, processes that could be used to design the optimal mix of observations and test for data redundancies, and approaches that could be used to keep the network current and cost effective.

For further information, please contact Paul Cutler (e-mail: pcutler@nas.edu).

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Fourth Communications Workshop: Science and the Media—Can We Improve the Communication of Science Via the Mass Media? Tuesday, 11 January, 8:30–11:30 A.M.; Room 17B
It has been widely claimed and accepted that most Americans obtain their news largely from broadcast and print media outlets. Yet despite the fact that the best scientists and journalists share some common approaches in their endless pursuit of “the facts,” the underlying cultures of scientists and journalists are often fundamentally and meaningfully different in ways that can—and do—complicate and confound the communication and retelling of science news and information through the mass media. Institutional pressures and trends also tend to undermine the communication of science. How then can the situation be improved?

Can responsible scientists and science and environmental journalists learn to better understand each other and communicate in ways that preserve the intrinsic principles of both scientific inquiry and research and of independent and responsible journalism, as a first step toward improving the communication of science?

This session will explore the lessons learned from recent and ongoing meetings involving leading journalism and science practitioners grappling with the communications issues involving their own disciplines as well as the nexus of the two disciplines. This session will further explore the prospects for finding ways in which the media can better meet its news and information responsibilities to its audiences while being faithful to the science.

The workshop is intended to provide important insights from these experts in terms of their personal experiences and their interactions with science and journalism peers and colleagues. The workshop also seeks to probe into what journalists and scientists might be doing in coming years to work around nagging barriers to their own as well as their shared communications issues, barriers which inevitably contribute to the general public’s misunderstanding of important science-based issues. The workshop is open to all attendees at the Annual Meeting at no fee.

Those interested must register at http://www.ametsoc.org/or/reg_homepage.cfm prior to the meeting. For more information contact Stephanie Kenitzer (tel: 425-432-2192; e-mail: kenitzer@ ametsoc.org).

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