CIMSS-NOAA Weekly Report
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ASPB AND CIMSS WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING MARCH 14, 2003

IN THE PRESS:

Arctic Trends in the Press: The Wisconsin State Journal, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and United Press International (http://upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20030312-054138-9566r) carried articles on the recent trends in Arctic surface, cloud, and radiative properties reported in the journal Science by X. Wang (Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies, CIMSS) and J. Key.  Science News will have a short article in an upcoming issue. (J. Key, E/RA2, 608-263-2605)

ITEMS FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE OFFICE DIRECTOR, ORA:

Paper on Arctic Climate Trends Published: A paper titled "Recent Trends in Arctic Surface, Cloud, and Radiation Properties from Space" was published in the March 14 issue of Science.  The paper is co-authored by X. Wang (Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies, CIMSS) and J. Key.  It discusses trends in the Arctic surface temperature, surface albedo, cloud amount, and cloud forcing over an 18-year period based on data from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR), and how changes in cloud cover may be damping the Arctic warming trend. (J. Key, E/RA2, 608-263-2605)

ITEMS FOR THE DIVISION CHIEF, ARAD:

MODIS Data Remapped for ABI Compression Studies: Several scenes of MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) 0.64 um data were made available to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Lincoln Lab (MIT/LL) (E. Leonard) for use in the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) visible bands compression studies. The scenes represent various environmental or metrological situations (ice, smoke, fog, clouds). These data were re-mapped, sub-sected and stored in 16-bit unsigned integer Hierarchical Data Format (hdf). Others bands may the added, if needed.  Sample images are available at: http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/abi/vis_compression3.html
(F. Sun, CIMSS, 608-262-7889, T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291)

Presentation on Weather Forecasting: R. Aune provided a lecture titled: "Why is it so difficult to predict the Weather?" for Cub Scout Den 4, Pack 420 of Glen Stephens Elementary School in Madison Wisconsin. The lecture demonstrated the forecasting procedure as defined by V. Bjerknes in 1911: "Observe, Analyze, Prognosticate", by using the July 18, 1996 Oakfield, Wisconsin tornado case. Participants were asked to analyze weather observations from numerous observing systems throughout the day and make an educated guess as to what is going to happen. The need for a variety of accurate observations and the important role of weather satellites was emphasized. (R. Aune, E/RA2, 608-262-1071)

Space Place Talk on Uses of GOES: T. Schmit presented a public seminar at the UW Space Place: T. Schmit presented at the University of Wisconsin Space Place an overview of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) uses. The Space Place is an education center open to the public that specializes in astronomy and space science (http://www.sal.wisc.edu/spaceplace/spaceplace/index.html). The title of the talk was "Going for Knowledge: GOES Geosynchronus Satellites Survey the Earth". A web page of general interest space links: http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/links/space_links.html. (T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291)

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