NEWSLETTER TWIN CITIES CHAPTER AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY October, 2004 Vol. 26 No. 2

Note the date of the meeting is Tuesday, October 19

The October meeting of the Twin Cities Chapter of the AMS will be at 7 PM Tuesday, October 19th, at St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud in the Math and Sciences Center. Specific directions to the meeting and information on carpooling can be found on page 5. AMS chapter members, interested acquaintances and potential members are invited to attend.

Student Research Presentations and Tour of the Meteorology Department of St. Cloud State University. Host: Greg Nastrom

SCSU offers a four-year B. S. degree program in meteorology, the only such program in the state. Greg Nastrom, chairman of the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department and others in the department will give us an update on the status of the meteorology program (enrollments, staffing, facilities, student opportunities, student success stories, etc.), followed by 15-20 minute research presentations by 2 of their seniors. The department has a weather lab which is used for forecasting and they also have their own WSR-74C 5-cm radar. The program began about 16 years ago and they now have about 100 students, of whom 35 are Juniors and Seniors. According to Greg, about 25% of their graduates find jobs in the National Weather Service, 30% in private weather companies such as Meteorlogix and 30% go on to graduate schools.

Over the years, their students have given outstanding presentations at our meetings. The two scheduled presentations are

Jeff Buck; "Study of a well defined thunderstorm: mesoanalysis of 28, July 2002 convective outbreak"

Kristen George; "Microbial CO2 flux in the organic and mineral soil: comparing species composition and stand age” (this was her summer project as part of a Research Experience for Undergraduates completed at the University of Michigan Biological Station)

Comments from our Chapter President Rich Naistat Last month’s meeting featured a fine talk by Bill Togstad on near-storm environment for F2 and greater tornadoes. As a service to those of you who could not attend, Bill’s presentation (without audio) is available at http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mpx/soo/ams/msp_au~1.pdf One of the topics discussed at the last meeting was ways to increase membership and attendance at our meetings. One possibility for increasing our visibility is to co-sponsor (or partially co-sponsor) the 10th Annual Northern Plains Convective Workshop to be held at the University of St. Thomas March 21-23, 2005. The 9th Annual Northern Plains Convective Workshop, held in Sioux Falls, was sponsored by both the local National Weather Service WFO and the local AMS chapter.

Here’s a very tentative schedule for the Workshop, along with possible chapter involvement:

Monday, March 21st Noon - 5 PM. Registration and possibly presentations. AMS chapter assists (staffs) registration area. 5 PM -7 PM. Registration continues. Attendees are on their own for dinner. 7 PM - 10 PM. Spotter video. Open to the public? Perhaps this is a chance for our chapter to reach out to the larger meteorological community.

Tuesday, March 22nd Noon - 5 PM. Presentations. May be restricted to registered attendees. 5 PM -7 PM. Catered dinner available on-site at your expense. 7 PM -10 PM. Featured presentation or workshop by Jon Davies, noted storm researcher.

Wednesday, March 23rd 9 AM - Noon. More presentations and closing remarks.

Does the local chapter fit into this? Please let me know at [email protected]

Message from Secretary/Treasurer Chris Bovitz As Rich mentioned, we discussed at the September meeting the need to increase membership of our chapter and attendance of the meetings. This something I feel is important for our group. There are a lot of people out there who have more than a passing interest in weather and meteorology. We need to find them and let them know we're here and they're welcome to join us. I propose the creation of a membership committee, comprised of at least four people whose tasks would include, among other thing: • Thinking of ways to increase membership • Thinking of ways to increase meeting attendance • Revamping the web site • Planning and coordinating these efforts • Enlisting the help of the other chapter members with these efforts • Anything else which would help to increase our presence in the Twin Cities • Report their efforts monthly to the rest of the chapter

To get you started, here are some ideas that have been brought up: • A presence at the State Fair and county fairs • A themed-presence at Renaissance festivals ("If ye oxen tail be swinging, the weather be windy") • A booth at local boating, camping, and outdoors shows • Door prizes at meetings • Piggy-back with the NWS at events, such as Federal Government day at the Mall of America • A “slide show” social night during the summer where members show their favorite weather-related videotapes or slides

The committee members would make the plans and coordinate with those who need to be coordinated with and enlist the help of our members. I would like to think that this could be less drudgery and more fun. The more fun and enthusiasm you can bring, the better it will be for everyone. Since we’ll be in St. Cloud in October, let's get together at the November meeting. We can either get things going via e-mail, or start things after the regular meeting. If you are interested, drop me a line at [email protected] or [email protected]. Let's make it our goal to be the weather group in the Twin Cities. If you're into weather, this is the place to be.

2

‘REACH FOR THE SKY AND COLLECT STAMPS!’ WITH CLOUDSCAPES DURING NATIONAL STAMP COLLECTING MONTH

Collaboration with The Weather Channel, American Meteorological Society and National Weather Service

The cloud types shown on the stamp pane are: Cirrus radiatus, Cirrostratus fibratus, Cirrocumulus undulatus, Cumulonimbus mammatus, Cumulonimbus incus, Altocumulus stratiformis, Altostratus translucidus, Altocumulus undulatus, Altocumulus castellanus, Altocumulus lenticularis, Stratocumulus undulatus, Stratus opacus, Cumulus humilis, Cumulus congestus and Cumulonimbus with tornado.

WASHINGTON – The world’s most popular hobby will rise to greater heights when the U.S. Postal Service issues the 37-cent Cloudscapes commemorative postage stamps, postal cards and philatelic collectables on Oct. 4, during the launch of National Stamp Collecting Month. This year’s theme, “Reach for the Sky and Collect Stamps!” includes an alliance with The Weather Channel, the American Meteorological Society and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service to educate stamp collectors about atmospheric sciences. "With these spectacular images, we've captured the wonder of nature and the power of the world's weather to shape our lives and our land," said William Johnstone, Secretary, Board of Governors, U.S. Postal Service. "These cloudscapes are beautiful reminders of our ties to the larger environment we live in — an environment of air and water that sustains us all." The Cloudscapes stamp sheet includes 15 stamps based on photographs of nine cloud formations and are arranged on the stamp pane according to altitude. Information about each cloud is on the back of the pane

3

behind the stamp. A booklet of twenty 23-cent Cloudscape stamped postal-card booklets of the 15 stamp designs also will be issued. The Weather Channel (weather.com), the American Meteorological Society (AMS) (ametsoc.org) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service (weather.gov) will include the Cloudscapes stamps to promote atmospheric sciences. Many of the nation’s television meteorologists, as AMS members, will highlight the stamps during their televised October forecasting segments, and incorporate the Cloudscapes stamps into their community outreach initiatives. The Cloudscapes stamps also will be included in the National Weather Service’s outreach programs.

KEITH L. SEITTER NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY Dr. Keith L. Seitter has been named Executive Director of the American Meteorological Society (AMS), the nation’s leading professional society for those involved in the atmospheric and related sciences. As Executive Director, Seitter is responsible for the daily operations of the Society, which has more than 11,000 members around the world. Seitter is replacing Dr. Ronald D. McPherson, who served as Executive Director since October of 1998. A native of Marion, Ohio, Seitter has served as served as deputy executive director of the Society since 1999 and has been on the AMS staff for more than a decade. He first joined the AMS in the early 1990s as assistant to the executive director, serving in the role of leading the Society’s publications department. Seitter began his new position on Sept. 15. As Executive Director, Seitter oversees all aspects of the AMS including the publication of nine peer- reviewed scientific journals; the administration of more than 25 scholarships and fellowships to support students pursuing careers in the atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences; the Society’s broad educational initiatives that train thousands of teachers each year in the atmospheric science curriculum; and the organization of more than a dozen scientific conferences each year. The AMS also administers two professional certification programs, the Radio and Television Seal of Approval and the Certified Consulting Meteorologist programs, and many other programs. Before joining the AMS, Seitter was on the faculty at the University of Lowell, now University of Massachusetts at Lowell. He earned his undergraduate degree in meteorology at the Pennsylvania State University and a doctorate in geophysical sciences at the University of Chicago. Seitter had a postdoctoral appointment at the Air Force Geophysical Laboratory at Hanscom Air Force Base before moving to the University of Lowell.

Editor’s notes – Kurt Scholz Several members at the last meeting expressed an interest in carpooling to the meeting in St. Cloud. Here’s the plan if you either want a ride or are willing to drive: We will meet in the parking lot at the Cub food store in Maple Grove just northwest of the junction of I494 and I694. It is located at 8150 Wedgewood Lane just off the Weaver Lake Road exit from I94. From this exit, go past three stop lights and take another right. This will get you to the Pharmacy end of Cub where we’ll meet. You should get there around 5:45 pm and plan on leaving from Cub at 6 pm. We can decide there who is willing to drive, and who wants to ride. 4

If you haven’t already done so, please submit your annual dues to our secretary-treasurer Chris Bovitz at the next meeting or mail your annual dues to him at the address on page 6. Dues remain at $12 for regular members and $6 for student members. Be sure to fill out the member registration form on page 6 and submit your forecast contest entries by October 31. Winners will receive an $18 gift certificate.

Below is the schedule for future meetings. Please let us know if you have some ideas. November 16, 2004 - Meeting at Chanhassen WFO, Steve Buan December 14, 2003 – Media tour (tentative) January 18, 2005 – Chanhassen WFO February 22, 2005 - University of St. Thomas (tentative): A storm spotter talk March 22, 2005 - University of St. Thomas: 9th Annual Northern Plains Convective Workshop April 19, 2005 – Chanhassen WFO: Rich Naistat overview of Advanced Warning Operations Course May 17, 2005 – annual picnic at Lake Susan

AMS on the WWW The address for the Twin Cities Chapter of the AMS is: http://byte.stthomas.edu/www/math_http/weather/tcametsoc.html. Please send any comments, suggestions, changes of address, misspellings, etc. to Kurt Scholz, [email protected].

Reminder: The October meeting will be held at 7pm, on Tuesday, October 19th. The meeting will take place at SCSU in the Math and Science Center.

Directions: In order to reach the SCSU campus, follow I-94 to the first exit for St. Cloud (County Road 75), follow Co. Rd. 75 about 2 miles until you reach a traffic light, turn right at this light and follow Clearwater Road about 2 miles (Clearwater road turns into 9th Avenue South), turn right at 8th Street, follow 8th Street about 4 blocks onto the SCSU campus, the Math-Science building is the one on the right hand side of 8th with a skyway crossing 8th St. and with stairwells that look like silos and with a greenhouse attached to it on the south end. Parking is free at night. Enter any door of the Math- Science building and go to the southwest corner of the basement.

St. Cloud State University Campus. The Math and Science Center is located at about 5B on the map.

5

Please fill out this form and mail it in with your annual Chapter dues, whether or not you are entering the forecast contest. This information is used for Chapter purposes only, and only your name will be listed on the Chapter web site.

Name______Daytime phone ______

Address______

City______State______Zip code______

E-mail address______If you prefer to be notified via e-mail when the newsletter is posted on our website, rather than having us mail you a paper copy of the newsletter, check here______. We would like your e-mail address in any case.

Suggestion for an AMS meeting topic ______******************************************************************************* Forecast contest entry: TOTAL DECEMBER 2004 SNOWFALL (INCHES AND TENTHS) AT THE CHANHASSEN NWS OFFICE______

LOW TEMPERATURE (F) ON JANUARY 1, 2005______

Tiebreaker: NUMBER OF DAYS WITH A HIGH OF 22 DEGREES (F) OR HIGHER DURING JANUARY, 2005______All temperature readings will be from MSP. Your contest entry and your 2004-2005 dues must be received by October 31, 2004 for you to be eligible to win. ******************************************************************************* Dues are $12 per year for regular membership, $6 per year for student membership. Make checks payable to Twin Cities AMS, and mail to: Chris Bovitz 20716 Hurley Avenue Lakeville, MN 55044

Twin Cities Chapter AMS c/o Kurt Scholz 3233 Snelling Ave. North Arden Hills MN 55112-3644

6