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AMS members elected to NAS, NAE engineering research, and recognizes distinguished engineers. With the National Academy of Sciences, it examines ques- The following members of the American Meteorological So- tions of science and technology at the request of the federal ciety have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences government. Election to the Academy is the highest profes- and the National Academy of Engineering. sional distinction that can be conferred on an engineer Dr. Norman A. Phillips, Principal and honors those who have made important contributions Scientist at the National Weather Ser- to engineering theory and practice or who have demon- vice National Meteorological Center in strated unusual accomplishments in the pioneering of new Suitland, Md., has been elected a and developing fields of technology. member of the National Academy of Dr. Hess was appointed Director of ERL when NOAA was Sciences (NAS). established in 1970; for about a year before that he The NAS is a private organization had been Director of the Research Laboratories of the En- of scientists dedicated to the further- vironmental Science Services Administration, NOAA's ance of science and its use for the predecessor. Prior to joining ESSA, he was Director of Sci- general welfare. It was established in ence and Applications at the National Aeronautics and 1863 by a Congressional Act of in- Space Administration's Manned Spacecraft Center in Hous- corporation, signed by Abraham Lincoln, which calls upon ton, Tex., where he was responsible for direction of the the NAS to act as an official advisor to the federal govern- Lunar Receiving Laboratory. From 1961 to 1967, as head of ment, upon request, in any matter of science or technology. the theoretical studies division at NASA's Goddard Space Election to membership is considered to be a high honor. Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., he directed research in The 75 new members, announced on 1 May during the almost every discipline of space science. From 1954 to 1961 Academy's 113th annual meeting, were elected in recogni- he was associated with the University of California's tion of their distinguished and continuing achievements in Lawrence Radiation Laboratory (now Lawrence Livermore original research. The total membership is now 1190. Laboratory), where he directed studies of industrial uses of Dr. Phillips had been an occasional consultant to the nuclear explosions. National Meteorological Center for many years before as- Dr. Hess is the recipient of the 1965 Arthur S. Flemming suming his present position in 1974. Prior to this he was Award for outstanding federal service and of the 1969 G. head of the Department of Meteorology at the Massachusetts Edward Pendray Award from the AIAA. He holds the B.S. Institute of Technology. He had worked at MIT since 1956, in engineering from Columbia University, the M.S. in first as a Research Associate and then as Professor. From physics from Oberlin, and the Ph.D. in physics from the 1951 to 1956 he was a Meteorologist at the Institute for Ad- University of California. Dr. Hess is a Member of the AMS vanced Studies in Princeton, N.J., although he spent a and a Fellow of both the AGU and American Physical year in Sweden as Docent at the University of Stockholm. Society. Dr. Phillips has been active on national and international Dr. Ray K. Linsley, Chairman of scientific committees, including the Atmospheric Science Hydrocomp, Inc., a consulting firm Panels of the President's Science Advisory Committee and specializing in hydrologic and water the National Science Foundation, the Evaluation and Goals quality studies, and President of its Committee of the University Corporation for Atmospheric international subsidiary, has been Research, the Mid-Ocean Dynamics Experiment Scientific elected to the National Academy of Panel, and the U.S. Panel for the First GARP Global Engineering for his "leadership in hy- Experiment. drology and water resource planning Dr. Phillips received the B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. from the through teaching, research, and prac- University of Chicago. tice." He was recently elected a Councilor of the AMS and is the Following his graduation with the recipient of the Society's Meisinger Award, Editor's Award, B.S. in civil engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Insti- and the Rossby Medal. He received the Royal Meteorological tute in 1937, Linsley was employed by the Tennessee Valley Society's first Napier Shaw Award in 1956. Authority in its river forecasting section. In 1940 he joined Dr. Wilmot N. Hess, Director of the the U.S. Weather Bureau in Washington, D.C., as a hydrolo- Environmental Research Laboratories gist and was then assigned to Sacramento as a river fore- of the National Oceanic and Atmo- caster. In 1945 he was transferred back to Washington where spheric Administration, has been he eventually was named Chief Hydrologist, serving for the elected a member of the National Department of Commerce in activities of the Federal Inter- Academy of Engineering. He was hon- agency River Basin Committee and the President's Water ored for his work in applying nuclear, Policy Committee. space, and geophysical science to engi- In 1950 he resigned from the Bureau to accept a position neering, industrial, and public needs. as Associate Professor at Stanford University; he subsequently A private organization established in was promoted to full Professor and became Executive Head 1964, the Academy sponsors engineer- of the Department of Civil Engineering, a position he held ing programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages until 1969. One of his major contributions at Stanford was 718 Vol. 57, No. 6., June 1976

Unauthenticated | Downloaded 10/06/21 10:20 AM UTC Bulletin American Meteorological Society 719 the initiation of a Water Resource Management Program corded in deep-sea sediments. Known as the CLIMAP designed to prepare engineers to deal with the social, politi- project (for Climate Long-Range Investigation Mapping and cal, and economic problems of public works planning and Prediction), the study is part of the National Science Foun- management. While on sabbatical leave in 1957-58, Linsley dation's International Decade of Ocean Exploration Pro- was Fulbright Professor at the Imperial College of Science gram. One of the goals of CLIMAP is to reconstruct the and Technology in London. In 1964-65 he was Staff Assistant earth's surface at particular times in the past; these in the Office of Science and Technology, Washington, D.C., reconstructions can then be used to provide data for global and Chairman of the Committee on Water Resources Re- models of the general atmospheric circulation. search. In 1968 he was appointed by President Johnson to In the 19 March 1976 issue of Science, CLIMAP project the National Water Commission and served as Commissioner members report on an experiment to simulate global climate until the Commission completed its work in 1973. He has during an average August at a time when the continental been a consultant to several foreign governments, and since glaciers had reached their maximum extent in the last ice 1968, Academic Director for a water resources engineering age. In an article entitled "The Surface of the Ice-Age course for the Venezuelan Ministry of Public Works. In Earth," quantitative geologic evidence is used to reconstruct 1975 he retired from active teaching at Stanford to devote boundary conditions for the climate 18 000 years ago. Task his efforts to Hydrocomp. groups were organized to gather data to reconstruct the four Dr. Linsley received the D.Sc. from the University of the boundary conditions necessary to simulate the 18 000 B.P. Pacific in 1973 and is the recipient of the Collingwood Prize atmosphere: the geography of the continents; the albedo of of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and a land and ice surfaces; the extent and elevation of permanent DOC Meritorious Service Award. He is a Fellow of the AGU, ice; and the sea-surface temperature pattern of the world ASCE, and AAAS. Dr. Linsley is co-author of several books ocean. and has published in numerous technical journals. He is a The results of the reconstruction are reported as follows: consulting editor for McGraw Hill and associate editor for Water Resources Research and the Journal of Hydrology. In the Northern Hemisphere the 18,000 B.P. world differed strikingly from the present in the huge land- based ice sheets, reaching approximately 3 km in thickness, NWS eastern region director named and in a dramatic increase in the extent of pack ice and Dr. William D. Bonner has been marine-based ice sheets. In the Southern Hemisphere the named director of the National most striking contrast was the greater extent of sea ice. Weather Service Eastern Region. The On land, grasslands, steppes, and deserts spread at the appointment was announced by Dr. expense of forests. This change in vegetation, together George P. Cressman, Director of the with extensive areas of permanent ice and sandy outwash NWS. Headquartered in Garden City, plains, caused an increase in global surface albedo over N.Y., the region includes the New modern values. Sea level was lower by at least 85 m. England states, Delaware, Maryland, The 18,000 B.P. oceans were characterized by: 1) marked New Jersey, New York, North Caro- steepening of thermal gradients along polar frontal sys- lina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Caro- tems, particularly in the North Atlantic and Antarctic; lina, Virginia, and West Virginia. Dr. Bonner, who assumed ii) an equatorward displacement of polar frontal systems; his new post on 24 May, has been chief of the Data Assimila- iii) general cooling of most surface waters, with a global tion Branch of the Development Division at the NWS Na- average of —2.3°C; iv) increased cooling and upwelling tional Meteorological Center since 1972. He entered the along equatorial divergences in the Pacific and Atlantic; Weather Service in 1970 as a research meteorologist at Tech- v) low temperatures extending equatorward along the niques Development Laboratory, following five years as an western coast of Africa, Australia, and South America, indi- assistant professor in the Department of Meteorology, Univer- cating increased upwelling and advection of cool waters; sity of California at Los Angeles. Prior to that he was a and vi) nearly stable positions and temperatures of the research associate with the Satellite and Mesometeorology central gyres in the subtropical Atlantic, Pacific, and Research Project at the University of Chicago. Bonner has Indian oceans. also worked as a television weatherman for station KNBC in In the same issue of Science, CLIMAP project member Los Angeles, and was an Air Force weather forecaster from W. Lawrence Gates uses the boundary conditions of sea- 1953 to 1958. surface temperature, ice sheet topography, and surface albedo Dr. Bonner holds the B.A. from the University of Chicago, assembled by CLIMAP for 18 000 B.P. to simulate the global the B.S. in meteorology from Penn State University, and ice-age July climate with a two-level dynamical atmospheric the M.S. and Ph.D. in meteorology from the University of model. He summarizes the results as follows: Chicago. He was the recipient of a Ford Foundation fellow- ship from 1960 to 1962, and is co-author of an introductory Compared with the simulation for present July climate, text on meteorology with Morris Neiburger and James the ice age is substantially cooler and drier over the un- Edinger of UCLA. Dr. Bonner is a member of the AGU and glaciated continental areas with the maximum zonal west- the AMS. erlies in the Northern Hemisphere displaced southward in He replaces Silvio Simplicio, who retired from the post 31 the vicinity of the ice sheets. The simulated changes of December (see BULLETIN, 57, p. 465). surface air temperature agree reasonably well with the estimates available from the analysis of fossil pollen and periglacial data, and are consistent with the simulated CLIMAP studies of the ice-age earth changes of other climatic variables. These results are generally supported by independent investigations with In 1971 a multi-institutional consortium of scientists was simpler models. formed to study the history of global climate over the past million years, especially the elements of that history re- Gates noted at the end of his article that "further analysis Unauthenticated | Downloaded 10/06/21 10:20 AM UTC 720 Vol. 51, No. 6, June 1976 of both simulated and verification data is needed to establish those of Earth may help answer questions such as: 1) Why the details of ice-age climate, especially the precipitation have the other terrestrial planets taken different evolu- regimes, and to document the role of eddy fluxes in main- tionary paths than the Earth's; 2) What are the stabilizing taining the heat, momentum, and moisture balances of the and destabilizing feedback mechanisms that determine a ice-age general circulation." planet's climate; and 3) What became of the water that may have been on Venus originally? The instruments or experiments on the multiprobe and Pioneer Venus 1978 orbiter missions and the scientists responsible for the in- vestigations include the following: Large probe—neutral The National Aeronautics and Space Administration will mass spectrometer (John Hoffman, University of Texas), gas send both an orbiter and a multiprobe spacecraft to Venus chromatograph (Vance Oyama, NASA), atmosphere struc- in 1978 to conduct a detailed scientific examination of the ture (Alvin Seiff, NASA), solar flux radiometer (Martin planet's atmosphere and weather. It is hoped that the in- Tomasko, University of Arizona), infrared radiometer (Robert formation gathered will provide a better understanding of Boese, NASA), cloud particle size spectrometer (Robert Knol- basic weather processes on Earth. lenberg), nephelometer (Boris Ragent, NASA, and Jacques The orbiter will be launched in May 1978 and inserted Blamont, University of Paris); Small probes—atmosphere into Venusian orbit in December; the multiprobe spacecraft structure (Alvin Seiff), nephelometer (Boris Ragent and will be launched in August and the probes will enter the Jacques Blamont), net flux radiometer (Verner Suomi, Uni- Venusian atmosphere six days after arrival of the orbiter. versity of Wisconsin); Bus—neutral mass spectrometer (Ulf The spin-stabilized multiprobe spacecraft consists of a von Zahn, University of Bonn, West Germany), ion mass bus, a large probe, and three identical small probes, each spectrometer (Harry Taylor, NASA); Orbiter—neutral mass carrying a complement of scientific instruments. spectrometer (Hasso Niemann, NASA), ion mass spectrometer The large probe will conduct a detailed sounding of the (Harry Taylor), retarding potential analyzer (William Knud- lower atmosphere, obtaining measurements of the clouds, sen, Lockheed), electron temperature probe (Larry Brace, the atmospheric structure, and the atmospheric composition. NASA), ultraviolet spectrometer (Alan Stewart, University of Primary emphasis is on the planet's energy balance and Colorado), solar wind-plasma analyzer (John Wolfe, NASA), clouds. Wind speed will also be measured during the descent. magnetometer (Christopher Russell, University of California, The three small probes, entering at points widely sepa- Los Angeles), infrared radiometer (F. H. Taylor, JPL), cloud rated from each other, will provide information on the photopolarimeter (James Hansen, Goddard Institute of Space general circulation pattern of the lower atmosphere. Since Studies), radar altimeter (Team—Team leader, G. Counsel- the important motions are believed to be global, only a few man, MIT), electric field detector (F. L. Scarf, TRW, Inc.), observations are required. The probe bus will provide data gamma ray burst detector (W. D. Evans, Los Alamos Scientific on the Venusian upper atmosphere and ionosphere down to Laboratory). an altitude of about 120 km where it will burn up. Interdisciplinary scientists have been selected for both The orbiter mission is designed to globally map the the Multiprobe and Orbiter missions to provide assistance Venusian atmosphere by remote sensing and radio occulta- in analyses of the Venusian atmosphere. They are: Dr. Sieg- tion, and directly measure the upper atmosphere, iono- fried Bauer, NASA; Dr. Thomas Donahue, University of sphere, and the solar wind-ionosphere interaction. Thus, in Michigan; Dr. Richard Goody, Harvard University; Dr. combination with measurements made at lower altitudes by Donald Hunten, Kitt Peak National Observatory; Dr. James the large and small probes and the probe bus, Pioneer Pollack, NASA; Dr. William Spencer, NASA; Dr. Gerald Venus will provide a detailed characterization of the entire Schubert, UCLA; Dr. Harold Masursky, U.S. Geological Venusian atmosphere. Survey; Dr. G. McGill, University of Massachusetts; and In addition, the orbiter will study the planetary surface Dr. Andrew Nagy, University of Michigan. by remote sensing, utilizing radar mapping techniques. This should provide information on Venus cratering and surface The Pioneer Venus mission is managed for NASA's Office structure and an estimate of global shape. of Space Science by the Ames Research Center, Mountain The orbiter will be placed in a highly inclined elliptical View, Calif. orbit with the lowest point in Venusian mid-latitudes at about 200 km altitude. Operation in orbit should allow Severe storm and tornado research in Oklahoma investigation over at least one Venusian year (225 Earth days). An intensive field program for severe storm and tornado re- The study of weather patterns on Venus may improve search is being conducted in Oklahoma by NOAA's National understanding of the weather system on Earth, which is Severe Storms Laboratory from mid-April through mid-June complicated by many factors such as mixing of oceanic this spring, continuing a yearly series of experiments begun and continental air masses, partial cloud cover, axial tilt, in the early 1960s. and rapid planet rotation. Venus has a basic atmosphere that This year, the two powerful Doppler radars at Norman is 95% carbon dioxide, a very slow rotation, very little tilt and at Cimmaron, 41 km away, and the laboratory's digi- to its axis, and no oceans. If the effects of these variables tized weather surveillance radar at Norman have been on the atmosphere of Venus can be understood, it is joined by a third Doppler radar, the "CHILL" radar, from hoped that the impact of the numerous variables on Earth the University of Chicago and the Illinois State Water Sur- can be more clearly defined. Further insights into basic vey. This marks the first opportunity that scientists have weather processes will come not only from intensive observa- had to use three large (10 cm wavelength) Doppler radars tions of the Earth itself, but also through the current first- simultaneously in probing the internal winds of large mid- hand studies of Jupiter's fast-spinning atmosphere and Mars' continent storms. The CHILL system, which also has a 3 easily observed, largely cloudless atmosphere. cm wavelength capability, is installed near the Oklahoma Comparison of Venus' atmospheric characteristics with town of Anadarko, about 80 km to the southwest.

Unauthenticated | Downloaded 10/06/21 10:20 AM UTC Bulletin American Meteorological Society 721 Simultaneous observation by three radars will provide an Techniques project responsible for developing and operat- expression of a three-dimensional cross-section of winds ing the two NOAA Doppler radars; Kenneth E. Wilk, co- throughout the volume of a storm. In 1975, NOAA scientists ordinator of the overall sensor operation; J. T. Dooley, Dale at NSSL reported a Doppler radar signature for tornadoes— Sirmans, and Donald W. Burgess, Doppler data quality con- a distinctive signal on the Doppler radar display that indi- trol; Dr. Robert P. Davies-Jones, in charge of the Tornado cates regions of strong wind shear along the tornado funnel Intercept teams; and J. T. Lee, director of the aeronautical itself. Computer-controlled graphic terminals for both NOAA portions of the program. Doppler radars permit operators to display the radar-indi- cated wind fields in real time this year, and to refine their AWS team presents seminars to universities criteria for tornado identification. Addition of the CHILL radar improves the scientists' ability to estimate three-dimen- In an effort to provide both students and the university sional wind velocities in storms passing through the area. research community with an understanding of the tech- "Tornado Intercept" is a key element in the NOAA spring niques and problems of practicing aviation meteorologists, program. As a storm enters the general area, Intercept teams a team from the Aerospace Sciences Directorate of Head- guided by radio messages from the Norman laboratory quarters Air Weather Service presented AWS seminars on deploy toward developing storms. As the storm matures and "Trajectory/Model Output Statistics (MOS) Applications" a tornado begins to form, the interceptors move in for and "Severe Storms/Radar" to the Departments of Mete- closeup observations. Two teams from the NOAA facility orology at Saint Louis University, Texas A&M University, and two from the University of Oklahoma are involved in and the University of Utah. A total of 80 Air Force students, the continuing effort to photograph tornadoes at close range. 38 faculty and civilian students, and 14 National Weather A team from Argonne National Laboratory is attempting Service personnel attended the seminars, which were held to place an inert, nonradioactive tracer in the path of during the first three weeks of March. an intercepted tornado. Subsequent analysis of soil samples Each seminar had already been given to personnel at many taken in the wake of the storm should show how the AWS base weather stations in the continental United States, tracer was dispersed by the tornado's violent winds. as well as the Air Force Global Weather Central (AFGWC) A University of Mississippi chase group plans to place and the USAF Environmental Technical Applications Center. high-fidelity sound-recording devices ahead of the tornadoes The first, "Trajectory/Model Output Statistics Applica- in an effort to measure tornado wind speeds by analyzing tions," has already been described in the April issue of the the recorded sound of the storm. BULLETIN (BULLETIN, 57, p. 479). The MOS approach shows Hailstones will be collected in the wake of severe storms promise of being a means whereby objective forecasts can by Dr. Nancy Knight of the National Center for Atmospheric be made at the base weather station level using numerical Research. model outputs. Wind shear research will receive particular emphasis this The second seminar, "Severe Storms/Radar," advocates year in a study sponsored jointly by NOAA and the a systematic approach to forecasting using all tools (facsimile, Federal Aviation Administration. Pressure sensors installed Teletype, and radar data) available to the base weather sta- by NOAA's Wave Propagation Laboratory near an instru- tion forecaster. The organized approach allows him to mented television tower (KTVY) north of Oklahoma City assess the threat of severe convective weather and issue a detect the pressure change as a thunderstorm gust front timely, accurate warning. The seminar provides a review sweeps the area. Arrays of these sensors are also being of the qualitative characteristics of radar echoes, par- tested at airports to provide controllers real-time information ticularly those associated with severe convective weather, on thunderstorm gust fronts approaching their traffic areas. and also deals with radar echo prognosis. An Air Force Phantom jet from Eglin Air Force Base, The presentations were made by Lt. Col. E. W. Frey, Fla., is flying low-level wind shear missions, probing the SMSgt. B. M. Stanfield, and SSgt. J. A. Randolph, Jr., of nature and effects of thunderstorm-related wind shear near the Headquarters Air Weather Service Technical Services the ground, where landing and departing aircraft are most Division. vulnerable to strong, sudden changes in wind speed or The seminars were well received by all in attendance. The direction. Air Weather Service is currently preparing a "Short Range In other airborne studies, an instrumented airplane from Forecasting" seminar that may be presented in 1977 to a the University of Wyoming in Laramie is investigating en- similar audience. vironmental turbulence near the storm, and a NOAA-rented aircraft deploys chaff (which is reflected on radar) into target NESS satellite laboratory director named storms. Occasional research flights by the National Aero- Dr. Warren A. Hovis, Jr., an expert in the area of remote nautics and Space Administration are also expected in the sensing of natural phenomena from satellites, has been ap- spring program. pointed director of the Satellite Experiment Laboratory of A network of surface instruments, denser this year than NOAA's National Environmental Satellite Service (NESS). In in previous seasons, and nine rawinsonde stations provide his new post, he will be involved with expanding the capa- background meteorological data for the program. Five Army bilities of NOAA's environmental monitoring satellites in units—three from nearby Fort Sill and two from White providing information about the earth, its atmosphere, and Sands, N.M.—and four mobile units from Tinker Air Force its oceans. Base are contributing data. Dr. Hovis was previously Associate Chief for the Earth Dr. Edwin Kessler is director of the National Severe Storms Observation Systems Division at NASA's Goddard Space Laboratory. Other key personnel this year include Dr. Ron Flight Center. He has published numerous technical papers Alberty, meteorological director for the spring operation; on such subjects as atomic and molecular spectroscopy and Dr. Peter S. Ray, coordinator of the three Doppler radar op- infrared spectral measurements. He received both the A.B. erations; Dr. Richard J. Doviak, leader of the Advanced and Ph.D. in physics from Johns Hopkins University.

Unauthenticated | Downloaded 10/06/21 10:20 AM UTC 722 Vol 57, No. 6June 1976 Nitrogen fertilizer effects on ozone Crutzen said that to assess the possible impact of nitrogen The projected use of nitrogen fertilizer presents little im- fertilizer on ozone more reliably, there are many questions mediate danger of large ozone reduction, according to that need to be answered, including: where does whatever is Dr. Paul J. Crutzen of NOAA's Environmental Research put into the soil go—how much goes into the streams, how Laboratories and the National Center for Atmospheric much into the crop, how much is converted to molecular Research. Dr. Crutzen, who used a numerical model of the nitrogen and exactly how large is the yield of nitrous oxide, atmosphere to calculate the effects on the ozone layer of how much is returned immediately to the atmosphere as increased input of fixed nitrogen to the soil, reported his ammonia; are there other sources and sinks of nitrous oxide; results at the annual spring meeting of the American Geo- and what is the exact role of the oceans in the cycle? Nutrient physical Union held in Washington, D.C., in April. cycles must be better understood. Microbes in soils and ocean waters convert the fixed nitrogen in nitrogen fertilizers to nitrous oxide, which re- Ecology action notes turns to the atmosphere where its dissociation product, nitric Using a moored string of seven current meters suspended oxide, catalytically destroys ozone. In attempts to increase beneath a subsurface buoy, NOAA scientists are developing agricultural output, fertilizers rich in nitrogen are being the first detailed three-dimensional view of water circulation added to the soil. Crutzen cited a report by the Council in Puget Sound in an effort to learn why the Sound, for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) that the although bounded by large population centers, remains rela- worldwide use of industrial nitrogen fertilizers in 1974 tively pollution-free. They also hope to develop and refine amounted to 40 million tons of nitrogen. The Council pre- models to predict circulation in the Sound that could also dicts that by the year 2000, this will increase to between be applied to other deep, cold-water estuaries. 100 million and 200 million tons. The year-long current-monitoring effort is being con- Some scientists have envisioned reduction of the ozone ducted by NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory layer by as much as 30% through this increased use of as part of the Marine Ecosystems Analysis (MESA) project fertilizer, but Crutzen reported that he had found little in Puget Sound. The MESA program seeks to determine the evidence to support such fears. There are already about impact of human activities on marine life and environment. 1400 million tons of nitrogen in the form of nitrous oxide The present current meter mooring was deployed in the in the atmosphere, he pointed out, and the 40 million tons central basin of Puget Sound in 200 m of water north of fertilizer now annually spread on the soil add only about of West Point last September. It will obtain data at two-to- 2 million tons of nitrous oxide to the atmosphere. The three month intervals until September 1976. During one remaining 38 million tons of nitrogen is returned as inert month this summer, five moorings will be deployed in the molecular nitrogen. "On this basis, man would be able to Sound to study spatial variations in circulation. affect the nitrous oxide content of the atmosphere only The present current meter mooring is near the largest over a period of several hundred years," he said, adding of four sewer outfalls entering the Sound from the Greater that if the use of fertilizer increases as projected, the time Seattle area. Since measurements had been obtained from scale might be reduced to 100 years. the same area previously, some continuity was provided. Crutzen estimates that if use of nitrogen fertilizers in- Dr. Glen Cannon, the NOAA oceanographer directing the creases by about 6% annually until the year 2000 and then field studies, noted that Puget Sound is deep and that its levels off, by 2035 it will cause a decrease in ozone of circulation is complicated by rapid tidal currents, rela- somewhere between 1 and 10%. And he emphasized, these tively high tides, and changing winds. According to earlier are upper limits, based on the assumption that fixed nitrogen studies of circulation near West Point, it looks as though added to the soil is within a few years converted to nitrous the deep water in the Sound can mix itself in about a oxide and molecular nitrogen and released into the air. In month, at least in winter. This rapid mixing means that the reality, the nitrogen may remain in the soil for hundreds of Sound can handle a large amount of waste, but Cannon years, or be washed into the waters. "It does not seem likely pointed out that there must be a limit. They hope to dis- that there will be an imminent danger of serious ozone de- cover these mixing mechanisms and their limitations. pletions due to an increase in the application rate of Seasonal changes play a dominant role in the way Puget fertilizer in the soils," he concluded. Sound water moves through the deep estuary and its complex Crutzen did point out, however, that there could be long- of inter-island channels. Cannon noted that Puget Sound is term effects, stating that perhaps the main point demon- unique in the United States south of Alaska in that although strated by his studies is how little is known about the it is as deep as a fjord, a classic fjord is fed by some fresh global aspects of the nitrogen cycle. For example, oceanogra- water source near its head, whereas the Sound receives a sig- phers' estimates of how much fixed nitrogen is added to the nificant part of its fresh water near the seaward end of the oceans by natural processes differ by a factor of 1000. estuary north of Seattle. Actual measurements made by a German group have An understanding of how the Sound removes pollutants shown that a given parcel of nitrous oxide injected into the through mixing will do much to help environmental man- atmosphere stays there only about 10 years before it is agers preserve the comparatively unpolluted estuary. destroyed. But so far, the only known process by which the # # # chemical is destroyed—reaction in the stratosphere—takes 100 years, which indicates that there must be another destruc- The Environmental Protection Agency's 1975 National Water tion process, or sink, at work that has not yet been dis- Quality Inventory report to Congress concludes that sig- covered. Crutzen noted that such a sink could well be more nificant headway is being made in controlling water pollu- under man's influence than the source of nitrous oxide, and tion. The report is based on information from the Agency's that there are also significant long and short-term variations own studies and from reports provided by 47 states and in the amounts of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere that can six other jurisdictions. This year marks the first time that not be explained, implying unknown sources as well as sinks. the states have prepared water quality assessments, as re-

Unauthenticated | Downloaded 10/06/21 10:20 AM UTC Bulletin American Meteorological Society 723 quired by the 1972 Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments. The assessments describe current water quality conditions, the effects of existing water pollution control programs, and the expected costs and benefits of current METEOROLOGICAL and proposed future programs. Most of the states that were able to describe water quality INSTRUMENTATION trends reported that conditions have improved in many • Wind Speed waterways such as Lake Erie, the Detroit River, and San • Wind Direction • Temperature Diego Bay as a result of improved sewage treatment fa- • Humidity cilities, controls on industrial waste discharges, and curbs • Rainfall • Barometric of pesticides. The state reports confirm the assessment Pressure made in last year's National Water Quality Inventory, show- • Recorders ing that conditions had improved along 22 major rivers and • Controllers • Sensors waterways of the nation in those areas of pollution on • Instruments which water pollution control efforts had been focused. a) Analog Despite these improvements, the states and other juris- b) Digital dictions report that they are still confronted with many Computer Compatible — severe pollution problems: excess bacteria and low dis- Made in U.S.A. solved oxygen levels; the presence of toxic substances in- Call our Sales cluding heavy metals, industrial chemicals, and pesticides; Manager, and high concentrations of nutrients such as phosphorus and David DeGraff, nitrogen. High nutrient concentrations indicate a potential for prompt delivery for accelerated eutrophication of lakes, evidenced by exces- and reasonable sive algal and aquatic plant growth. prices, or write Copies of the Water Quality Inventory are available from: for literature on specific Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water Pro- requirements. grams, Water Quality Analysis Branch (WH-553), Wash- (214) 631-2490. ington, D.C. 20460. # # # Texas Electronics, Inc. An automatic tide recording station, installed on the Chesa- P. 0. Box 7225C • Dallas, Texas 75209 peake Bay Bridge Tunnel to improve technology involved in the measurement of tides and water levels, became opera- tional on 10 April. The station, situated on one of the most important Atlantic coastal waterways, is the result Abstracts of three years of effort by NOAA's National Ocean Survey and National Weather Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Com- Seventh International mission. Laser Radar Conference The tide recorder will automatically telemeter water levels to the National Weather Service at Norfolk Airport, pro- viding information to aid in warning the public of rising Nov. 4-7, 1975 Menlo Park, Calif. water levels from winds or heavy rains not only in the immediate area but also in the upper bay areas where This collection of 98 abstracts presented at flood waters are a chronic threat to residents of low lying the AMS Seventh International Laser Radar sections. Information transmitted to the U.S. Army Corps Conference includes the following topics: of Engineers will provide additional time to establish pre- Laser radar systems/Experimental tech- cautionary measures during flood periods. niques • Spectroscopic lidar techniques I Tidal measurements will also be used to satisfy nautical and II • Stratospheric observations • Mete- charting requirements, determine mean sea level, provide orological lidars and observations • Tropo- data for tide predictions, investigate fluctuations of sea spheric scattering studies I and II • Scatter- level and crustal movements of the earth, and provide ing studies/Multiple scattering effects • pertinent data for special estuarine studies. Scattering studies/Irregular particle shape effects • Aerosol scattering studies 158 pages $ 5 Members $10 Nonmembers Send order and remittance to: American Meteorological Society 45 Beacon St., Boston, Mass. 02108

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