a study of "the airflow and mass field over and around mountain complexes under various synoptic conditions" (webmaster@ldeo.columbia.edu, 1994)

"The role of the Society as a scientific and professional organization serving the atmospheric and related sciences, which was established so well in the first few decades of the Society's history, has continued to the present. The AMS now publishes seven well-respected scientific journals and an abstract journal, in addition to the Bulletin, and sponsors and organizes over a dozen scientific conferences each year. It has published almost 50 monographs in its continuing series, as well as many other books and educational materials of all types. The AMS administers two professional certification programs, the Radio and Television Seal of Approval and the Certified Consulting Meteorologist (CCM) programs, and also offers an array of undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships to support students pursuing careers in the atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences" (AMS, 1995).

"AOML is one of the Environmental Research Laboratories of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a part of the US Department of Commerce (DOC). AOML is located in Miami, Florida" (webmaster@aoml.noaa.gov, 1998). It consists of 4 research divisions: Hurricane Research, Physical Oceanography, Ocean Chemistry, and Ocean Acoustics.

"The objective of this project is to develop new capabilities involving special attributes of infrared Doppler lidar for simultaneous measurement of cloud geometrical, microphysical, and radiative properties" (cbarnes@etl.noaa.gov, 1998)

a study "designed to provide improved dynamical, radiative, and microphysical models and an improved understanding of the impact of aerosols, cloud microphysics, and chemistry on large-scale cloud properties" (Wittmeyer, 1998)

"The Aviation Weather Center (AWC), located in Kansas City, Mo., enhances aviation safety by issuing accurate warnings, forecasts and analyses of hazardous weather for aviation interests" (webawc@awc.kc.noaa.gov, 1995)

an experiment designed to study the interactions between the boundary layer and the watershed (Gallon, 1997).

"The project yielded important new information about the absorption of solar radiation by clouds and the relative roles of cirrus cloud radiative effects and surface evaporation in limiting maximum sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific" (webmanager@fiji.ucsd.edu, 1997)

"The Environmental Research Laboratories (ERL) of NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) are headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland. The mission of ERL is to conduct an integrated program of fundamental research, technology development, and services to improve understanding of the Earth and its oceans and inland waters, the lower and upper atmosphere, and the space environment. A major thrust of ERL's research is to develop the scientific understanding to improve NOAA environmental services to the public. These services provide the basis for making informed decisions and policies regarding the environment" (Bassett, Britt and Paul Quicker, 1998).

The goal of GARP was "to understand the predictability of the atmosphere and extend the time range of daily weather forecasts to over two weeks" (AMS, 1997).

"The purpose of the GATE experiment was to understand the tropical atmosphere and its role in the global circulation of the atmosphere" (AMS, 1997)

"The overall goal of GCIP is to improve climate models by bridging the gap between small scales appropriate for modeling discrete processes over land and large scales practical for modeling the global climate system. The primary objectives of GCIP are to determine the variability of the Earth's hydrological cycle and energy exchange budget over a continental-scale; to develop and validate techniques for coupling atmospheric and surface hydrological processes in climate models; and to provide a basis for translating the effects of future climate change to impacts on regional water resources" (Leese, 1998).

"initiated in 1988 by the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) to observe and model the hydrologic cycle and energy fluxes in the atmosphere, at the land surface, and in the upper oceans. GEWEX is an integrated program of research, observations, and science activities ultimately leading to the prediction of global and regional climate change" (gewex@cais.com, 1998).

Funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, GPS consists of 24 satellites and a system of tracking stations around the world. GPS was originally designed to be used for military purposes, but is now used in many civil applications as well. (Dana, 1998)

"This NASA field center is a major U.S. laboratory for developing and operating unmanned scientific spacecraft" (Ahalt, 1998)

The goal of the ISCCP is "to collect and analyze satellite radiance measurements to infer the global distribution of clouds, their properties, and their diurnal, seasonal, and interannual variations. The resulting datasets and analysis products are being used to improve understanding and modeling of the role of clouds in climate, with the primary focus being the elucidation of the effects of clouds on the radiation balance" (Karow, 1998).

The ITCZ is "the transition between the northeast and southeast trades [which] usually takes place within a very narrow belt located several degrees north of the equator" (Wallace and Hobbs, 1977).

The objective of the JOSS is "to provide scientific, technical, and administrative support services to the research community for the purpose of planning, organizing, and implementing research programs and associated field projects worldwide" (webmaster@joss.ucar.edu, 1998).

"the goal of MAP is to investigate the influence of orography on mesocale weather events on a smaller scale than ALPEX" (Henson, 1994)

"The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) provides... members [of UCAR]... with tools such as aircraft and radar to observe the atmosphere and with the technology and assistance to interpret and use these observations, including supercomputer access, computer models, and user support. NCAR and university scientists work together on research topics in atmospheric chemistry, climate, cloud physics and storms, weather hazards to aviation, and interactions between the sun and earth. In all of these areas, scientists are looking closely at the role of humans, in both creating and responding to weather and climate. When new research tools emerge that may have a broader use in society, UCAR makes them commercially available. NCAR is operated by UCAR under sponsorship of the National Science Foundation" (webmaster@ucar.edu, 1997).

"NCEP [a part of NOAA's National Weather Service] is comprised of nine centers. Each center has a specific responsibility for a portion of the NCEP products and services suite, yet they all work together toward the common goals of saving lives, protecting property, and creating economic opportunity. Seven of the centers provide direct products to users, while two of the centers provide essential support through developing and running complex computer models of the atmosphere" (NCEP User Support Services Branch, 1998).

"The National Hurricane Center (NHC) [a part of NOAA] maintains a continuous watch on tropical cyclones over the Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and the Eastern Pacific from 15 May through November 30. The Center prepares and distributes hurricane watches and warnings for the general public, and also prepares and distributes marine and military advisories for other users. During the "off-season" NHC provides training for U.S. emergency managers and representatives from many other countries that are affected by tropical cyclones. NHC also conducts applied research to evaluate and improve hurricane forecasting techniques, and is involved in public awareness programs" (Maher, Brian and Jack Beven, 1998).

"NOAA's mission is to describe and predict changes in the Earth's environment and to conserve and manage wisely the Nation's coastal and marine resources" (The NOAA Home Page Design and Construction Company, 1998).

TOGA COARE was "designed to provide an understanding of the role of the warm pool regions of the tropics in the mean and transient state of the tropical ocean-atmosphere system" (dbowman@ncdc.noaa.gov, 1996).

"the first mission dedicated to measuring tropical and subtropical rainfall all through microwave and visible infrared sensors, including the first spaceborne rain radar" (Education Division of NASA, 1993).

"The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) is a consortium of over 60 university members, plus an increasing number of academic and international affiliates and corporate members. The UCAR mission is to support, enhance, and extend the capabilities of the university community, nationally and internationally, to understand the behavior of the atmosphere and related systems and the global environment; and to foster the transfer of knowledge for the betterment of life on earth" (webmaster@ucar.edu, 1997).