Bulletin American Meteorological Society Miller, L. Jay, 1972: Dual-Doppler radar observations of Snider, J. B., 1972: Ground-based sensing of temperature circulation in snow conditions. Proc. 15th Radar Meteor. profiles from angular and multi-spectral emission measure- Conf., Amer. Meteor. Soc. ments. J. Appl. Meteor11, 958-967. Owens, J. C., 1969: Optical Doppler measurement of micro- scale wind velocity. Proc. IEEE, 57, 530-536. Strauch, R. G., V. E. Derr, and R. E. Cupp, 1971: Atmo- Richter, J. H., 1969: High resolution tropospheric radar spheric temperature measurement using Raman lidar. sounding. Radio Sci., 4, 1261-1268. Appl Opt., 10, 2665-1669. Salzman, J. A., W. J. Masica, and T. A. Coney, 1971: Deter- V. E. Derr, and R. E. Cupp, 1972: Atmospheric water mination of gas temperatures from laser-Raman scattering. vapor meaesurement using Raman lidar. Remote Sensing NASA TN D-6336. of Environment (in press). Schotland, R. M., 1969: Some aspects of remote atmospheric sensing by laser radar. Rept. of Remote Atrnos. Probing Wyngaard, J. E., Y. Izumi, and S. A. Collins, Jr., 1971: Be- Panel, Committee on Atrnos. Sci., Nat'l Acad, of Sci-Natl havior of the refractive-index-structure parameter near the Res. Council, 2, 179-200. ground. J. Opt. Soc. Amer., 61, 1646-1650.
news and notes
Lightning suppression by seeding with two chaff dispensers and field mills to measure electric field strength. Flying below cloud level, the NOAA scientists During a six-week long experiment, scientists from the waited until their instruments registered a field greater than National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration attempted 30,000 volts per meter, a magnitude at which corona dis- to suppress lightning by seeding thunderstorms with fine charge will occur, When this happens the chaff dispensers aluminized fibers over a 200 mis area of northeastern Colo- are activated and the threadlike fibers are carried into the rado. The experiment, which was performed during the clouds by updrafts. Potential use for the technique of summer, represents the resumption of a 1965-66 lightning lightning suppression lies in the area of forest fire reduction. suppression study performed near Flagstaff, Ariz., by NOAA's Although some researchers contend that lightning and the Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry Laboratory, Boulder, fires it causes are necessary to maintain an ecological balance, Colo. the capability for suppressing lightning may nevertheless APCL's Dr. Heinz Kasemir, who again directed the light- provide foresters with the opportunity to defer forest fires ning suppression study, expected accurate results as a product from periods of extreme hazard to periods when fires can of the development of a ground network that recorded the be controlled more easily. A total suppression of lightning, strength of the field and the location of each lightning according to Alan R. Taylor of the Northern Forest Fire stroke within a 50-mi radius of the seeding. The object Laboratory, would result in 70% fewer forest fires. of the experiment was to prevent the storm's electric field from reaching lightning strength using the phenomenon of NACOA reviewing Agnes warnings corona discharge. By introducing an electrically conductive Review and evaluation of the performance of the nation's pointed object into a strong electrical field, such as is found flood forecasting and warning program during the east in a thunderstorm, scientists hoped to induce a negative and coast flood disaster of June 1972, tropical storm Agnes, is positive pole. The ions then escape on the pointed pole of being performed by the National Advisory Committee on the same charge, thereby increasing the electrical conduc- Oceans and Atmosphere (NACOA) (see BULLETIN, 52, 1127). tivity of the atmosphere; this effect is frequently visible as NOAA Administrator Dr. Robert M. White asked Dr. a faint glow, and is termed the corona effect. Scientists were William A. Nierenberg, Chairman of NACOA, to undertake hopeful that the corona effect would make the air more the review in the wake of what is being called the worst conductive, thus allowing the electric charge to continuously natural disaster in the history of the country. bleed away, obviating the strong field build-up. Preliminary estimates of the damage caused by Agnes Using this principal NOAA scientists drop chaff, alumi- were about $2 billion. Because of the extent and severity nized nylon fibers 10 cm long, in the region of the storm's of the disaster, Dr. White called for an outside evaluation electrical field, thereby increasing atmospheric conductivity, of the entire forecasting-warning-dissemination system. which in turn should neutralize the storm's electric field and NACOA will determine how the system performed and suppress lightning. how it can be improved. As thunderstorms developed or move into the test area, Kasemir and his coworkers boarded a B-26 aircraft equipped (More news and notes on page 970)
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Unauthenticated | Downloaded 10/05/21 11:47 AM UTC Vol. 53, No. 10,, October 1972 4) How should the information contained in a credible means of describing the uncertainty inherent in fore- interval forecast be expressed when the forecast is casts of other meteorological variables. The quantitative disseminated to potential users (including the expression of this uncertainty could be of particular general public)? For example, should the median, importance in forecasts relating to severe weather phe- representing a point forecast, be included as well nomena such as hurricanes and tornadoes. as the end points of the credible interval? 10 5) What kind of program of public education should References be undertaken with regard to credible interval tem- Abrams, E., 1971: Problems in the communication of rou- tine weather information to the public. University Park, perature forecasts? In view of the fact that consid- Pennsylvania State University, Department of Meteorol- erable evidence exists that the meaning of pre- ogy, M.S. Thesis, 126 pp. cipitation probability forecasts is not clear to the Alpert, M., and H. Raiffa, 1969: A progress report on the general public (see, for example, Abrams, 1971, training of probability assessors. Cambridge, Mass., Har- and Bickert, 1967), the need for a continuing pro- vard University, unpublished manuscript, 31 pp. Bickert, C. von E., 1967: A study of the understanding and gram of public education is evident. However, the use of probability of precipitation forecasts in two major nature and content of such a program remains to cities. Denver, Colo., University of Denver, Denver Re- be determined. search Institute, Report, 106 pp. 6) What measures of "goodness" are required for Edwards, W., H. Lindman, and L. J. Savage, 1963: Bayesian statistical inference for psychological research. Psychol. credible interval temperature forecasts? Specifically, Rev., 70, 193-242. what measures are appropriate with regard to the Julian, P. R., and A. H. Murphy, 1972: Probability and sta- formulation or assessment of such forecasts in order tistics in meteorology: A review of some recent develop- to discourage hedging and what measures are suit- ments. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 53, 957-965. able for determining or evaluating the "accuracy" Murphy, A. H., 1972: Probability forecasting in meteorology: A review of recent developments. Boulder, Colo., National and "value" of such forecasts? Center for Atmospheric Research, unpublished manuscript, 20 pp. In view of the potential value of credible interval tem- , and R. L. Winkler, 1970: Scoring rules in probability perature forecasts, the experiments and studies re- assessment and evaluation. Acta Psychol, 34, 273-286. quired to answer these questions should be undertaken Peterson, C. R., and L. R. Beach, 1967: Man as an intuitive as soon as possible. statistician. Psychol. Bull., 68, 29-46. Finally, the credible interval concept also provides a Raiffa, H., 1968: Decision Analysis: Introductory Lectures on Choices under Uncertainty. Reading, Mass., Addison- io The inclusion of both the median and the end points Wesley, 332 pp. of the credible interval in the temperature forecast would Stael von Holstein, C.-A. S., 1971: The effect of learning on correspond to the present practice of including both a cate- the assessment of subjective probability distributions. gorical statement and a probability in a forecast of precipi- Org. Beh. Hum. Perf., 6, 304-315. tation occurrence. Note that the median in a temperature Winkler, R. L., 1967: The assessment of prior distributions forecast assumes particular importance when the interval is in Bayesian analysis. J. Amer. Statis. Assoc., 62, 776-800. asymmetric about the median (see the dialogue between the , and A. H. Murphy, 1968: "Good" probability assessors. experimenter and the forecaster in Section 2). /. Appl. Meteor., 7, 751-758.
(Continued from news and notes, page 949) Cold water eddy no. 2 tagged was placed in the center of the eddy, the second halfway between the center and the circulation's outer edge. A cold water eddy which broke through the Gulf Stream Eddy No. 2 is the second cold water eddy to be studied by from the North Atlantic and is headed south has been tagged NOAA investigators; the first was discovered in April 1971, so that it can be identified during investigations as it moves and traced as far as 120 mi off Cape Kennedy, Fla., in southward. Scientists from the Commerce Department's Na- April 1972 before presumably being absorbed into the tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration aboard the northward-flowing Gulf Stream (see BULLETIN, 53, 544). Dr. NO A A Ship Mt. Mitchell dropped two identifying markers Alan E. Strong, the oceanographer in charge of the study into the eddy, which will later be searched for by other for NOAA's National Environmental Satellite Service, noted ships in an attempt to trace the route of the eddy. that the two eddies under study this year differ markedly When first located the massive body of water was moving from the feAV other Gulf Stream eddies which have been southward at a rate of about 2 mi per day. Each marker studied, in that they have been moving in a comparatively dropped into the eddy consisted of a high-visibility orange- straight line down the Atlantic coast. Other eddies have painted 55-gallon oil drum filled with polystyrene foam, been observed moving out to sea. In Eddy No. 2, the surface which was attached by 100 ft of wire rope to another oil water is about 65F, about 8F cooler than the surrounding drum punctured with holes. The second oil drum was ex- sea. Because the second eddy is moving about twice as fast pected to act as a drag to help prevent the surface drum as Eddy No. 1, it was expected to be off Cape Kennedy at from floating away. Investigators were hopeful that the the end of the summer. Scientists hoped to determine counterclockwise motion of the eddy would help keep the whether it reenters the Gulf Stream when it reaches Cape markers within its 220-mi circumference. The first marker Kennedy, as no previous eddy has been observed to do. (More news and notes on page 987)
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Unauthenticated | Downloaded 10/05/21 11:47 AM UTC Bulletin American Meteorological Society profession of what a scientist should be and should try to Noting his pejorative references to "the spirit of cozy to- accomplish. The American Meteorological Society is the getherness between military and civilian agencies," "incinerat- world's most wealthy and influential meteorological organiza- ing a village," and "this is what a good part of the national tion; it is not a branch of the U. S. Government, and it [I infer he means U.S.] meteorological effort has been all has many foreign members. I feel that the AMS should and about," one can only assume that Dr. Vergeiner chose to could try to set a higher standard for our profession than miss my point and that he interprets this as an opportunity unquestioning "service" to any well-paying cause, construc- to allege political motivation and intrigue where, in fact, tive or destructive. The American Association for the Ad- none exists. I am more disturbed, however, by his oversight vancement of Science (AAAS) can do it, why not the AMS? of my mention of the benefits accruing to the larger national A mere "refurbishment" of our image will not do.i I per- and world community from many Air Force Weather Service sonally have been lucky enough to be part of the American programs, past and present: centralization of analysis and scientific community for a number of years, an experience forecasting in the 1940s, severe weather prediction beginning for which I am deeply grateful. I appreciate the value of in 1948 with Fawbush's and Miller's work, application of scientific cooperation and exchange, but the symbiosis in- computers, aircraft reconnaissance of hurricanes and ty- voked by Gen. Best cannot be the basis for a truly rational phoons, and so on. and humane scientific community. We cannot escape our As someone has said, "Politics is exciting, but it's bad human and social responsibilities by defining them out of science." I agree with Dr. Vergeiner that "we cannot escape our professional code of ethics. But that is precisely what our our human and social responsibilities," as individuals. Sci- Society has managed to do all along. entist or not, each man must respond to his own conscience. But to suggest that a professional, scientific society adopt Reply political positions attuned to the views of one or more of its members seems to me an attack on the free will and William H. Best, Jr., Brigadier-General, USAF, thought which is the sine qua non of science. It was, among Headquarters Air Weather Service, Scott Air Force other things, this insistence on science's conforming to politics Base, III 62225 that the free world resisted in the past, and at great cost in Not being expert 011 political theater 1 am at somewhat blood and treasure. Had this resistance not been successful, of a loss on how to respond to the editor's request for a the country of Dr. Vergeiner's affiliation would likely not be reply to Dr. Vergeiner's letter. free today. My remarks to the Washington, D.C., Chapter of the AMS And finally, I question the desirability and usefulness of in October 1971 addressed the need for healthy symbiotic airing political theater in the correspondence pages of the BULLETIN. IS the Society prepared to respond to a suggestion, relationships among U.S. Federal agencies tasked with en- for example, that the Global Atmospheric Research Program vironmental service to the nation. My point was that ad- be shunned because certain participating nations have, in the versary relationships between such agencies are wasteful of opinion of a Society member, undemocratic governments? our finite resources. Rather, the national interest is better Or how will the Society react to a proposal to not hold served by well-planned and coordinated action which makes meetings in certain cities because, in the opinion of a optimum use of in-being resources and talent. member, those locations are politically repugnant? We have 1 See Sen. Gordon Allott's remarks in Bull. Amer. Meteor. neither a black nor a woman 011 the Society's Council. May Soc., 52, 250. we expect a letter to the editor on this matter?
(Continued from news and notes, page 970) Experimental deep sea buoy stationed in data from the Gulf of Alaska every three hours, or as Gulf of Alaska needed, to receiving stations in San Francisco and Miami to A 100-ton experimental ocean buoy was stationed in the be relayed to NOAA's National Meteorological Center in Gulf of Alaska approximately 185 n mi southeast of Kodiak Suitland, Md. The U.S. Coast Guard will provide communi- Island and about 385 n mi south of Anchorage by the Com- cation services, plus necessary maintenance support for the merce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad- buoy at sea. When the winter sets in, however, the buoy will ministration in late August. The buoy was designed to with- be on its own. stand 150-kt hurricane winds, 60-ft waves, 10-kt currents, and The buoy program is being conducted under the direction two years 011 station without servicing; its stationing in the of NOAA's National Ocean Survey at its National Data Buoy Gulf of Alaska will provide an on-site test of its ability to Center at NASA's Mississippi Test Facility in Bay St. Louis. do so. The center is headed by James W. Winchester. The purpose of the buoy program is to test means of EB-03 is one of six experimental buoys designed by effectively acquiring environmental data in marine areas General Dynamics, San Diego, Calif., and fabricated by previously covered only by satellites and occasional ships. Daco Industries in Biloxi, Miss. The meteorological and A network of automatic buoys stationed in oceans, coastal oceanographic sensors on the buoys are being developed by waters, estuaries, and large lakes is one means of gathering Westinghouse Electric Corp., Annapolis, Md. The sensors such information consistently. will measure oceanic and atmospheric data, including wind The buoy, designated EB-03, is one of a series being speed and direction, rainfall, air temperature and pressure, stationed in the oceans to explore the feasibility of a dewpoint, water temperature, current speed and direction, national system of buoys. FB-03 will furnish environmental! and salt content. (More news and notes 011 page 996)
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The following are meeting reports received at AMS Headquarters on or before 15 August 1972.
City College of New York (Student) committee was unanimously selected by members present. With the taking down of our weather tower from the roof The following officers were elected: President, Lt. Col. Cooke of Edwin M. Shepard Hall, the CCNY Chapter closed its H. Leutwyler, 20th Weather Squadron, USAF; Vice President, 23-year history in the building. In September the Chapter Dr. Ken Suda, Japan Meteorological Agency; Secretary, Dr. moves into large quarters in the new Science Hall. Kiyotoshi Tsuchiya, Japan Meteorological Agency; and During the spring semester there were twe guest speakers. Treasurer, Capt. Yasuyuki Harano, Weather Group, JASDF. Prof. Jerome Spar of New York University spoke about After the election, Maj. Cotton introduced the speakers of "Numerical Weather Prediction." His talk was focused on the evening, Dr. Masao Hanzawa, JMA, and Maj. Motozo the history of, as well as the derivation of selected formulas Suda, JASDF. Interesting technical presentations were made in numerical weather prediction. Mr. Nathan Reiss, who by Dr. Hanzawa on "Buoy Project of JMA" and by Maj. Suda teaches part-time at Rutgers University, while finishing his on "Thunderstorm Forecasts in the Hokuriku Area in doctoral research at NYU, spoke on "Laser Sounding of the Winter." The meeting was adjourned at 2040 hours.—Toshio Atmosphere," a method which will eventually be used to seek Ide, Secy. out areas of pollution. North Carolina State University (student) Dr. Bob Harris, of radio station WOR, selected four of our At the April meeting the North Carolina State University members to participate in reporting their local weather con- Student Chapter was addressed by Dr. Earl G. Droessler, ditions over the air.—John Richards, Secy. Administrative Dean for Research, NCSU. Dr. Droessler spoke on present and future employment opportunities in Greater Tokyo meteorology. His familiarity with private firms as well as The Greater Tokyo Branch of the American Meteorological government organizations acquainted our groups with the Society held its final meeting of the 1971-1972 season in the varied employment possibilities in the field. Conference Room of the Japan Meteorological Agency, Tokyo, On 20 April a special meeting was held which featured Japan, on 10 May 1972. Prior to the meeting many members Dr. Harold Crutcher, Science Advisor to the Director of the had a tour through JMA's Electronic Computation Center, National Climatic Center at Asheville, N.C. He spoke on the Automatic Data Editing and Switching System (ADESS), and activities of the NCC. Fuji Weather Radar. During April, Chapter members also visited the Environ- The meeting was called to order by the Chapter Vice mental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, where President, Maj. Austin G. Cotton at 1830 hours. He intro- they heard an address by the President of the World Me- duced the guest speaker, Dr. Fred W. Decker, Professor, teorological Organization, M. F. Taha of the Arab Republic Oregon State University. Dr. Decker presented a most in- of Egypt. The Chapter also took a field trip to the National formative and interesting slide-illustrated lecture on "Air Meteorological Center at Suitland, Md. Pollution." He discussed characteristics of polluted air in No regular meeting was held during May because of the relation to the atmospheric vertical structure. end of semester examinations. At the June meeting the Following Dr. Decker's presentation, Maj. Cotton intro- Chapter planned its first annual picnic, which was subse- duced the candidates for the chapter officers selected by the quently held successfully, in spite of the rain on 10 June.— nomination committee. The slate of officers selected by the John B. Schwenck, Secy.
(Continued from news and notes, page 987) versity, Blacksburg, Va.; Dr. Anna Jane Harrison, Professoi of Chemistry, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass.; National Science Board nominees Dr. Hubert Heffner, Professor of Applied Physics, Stanford President Richard M. Nixon has nominated 8 people to University, Stanford, Calif.; Dr. William H. Meckling, Dean serve on the National Science Board, the policy-making body College of Business Administration, University of Rochester, of the National Science Foundation, for six-year terms. Rochesters, N.Y.; Dr. William A. Nierenberg, Director, The Board consists of 24 members appointed by the Presi- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, Calif.; Dr. dent, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, Russell D. O'Neal, Executive Vice President, Aerospace, and of the Director of NSF, ex officio. Bendix Corporation, Southfield, Mich.; and Dr. Joseph M. Nominated for the six-year terms are: Dr. Wesley G. Reynolds, Professor of Physics and Vice President for In- Campbell, Director, Hoover Institution on War, Revolution struction in Research, Louisiana State University, Baton and Peace, Stanford, Calif.; Dr. T. Marshall Hahn, Jr., Rouge, La. President, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Uni- (More news and notes on page 1001)
996 Vol 53, No. 10, October 1972
Unauthenticated | Downloaded 10/05/21 11:47 AM UTC Bulletin American Meteorological Society stationed at Helena, Mont., Seattle, Wash., Great Falls, Mont., about our corporation members and Las Vegas, Nev., prior to joining the ARL in 1956. The Alden Electronic and Impulse Recording Equipment James K. Tyrell, Leading Fire-Weather Forecaster at Med- Company, Inc., has announced the development of a Weath- ford, Oreg., for the past 10 years, is now Meteorologist in eradar Fax Recorder, the Alden 1100, which receives in real Charge at the Salem, Oreg., Weather Service Office. He has time 10.5 X 10.5 inch weather radar recordings of local or also served at Sheridan, Wyo.; Alamosa, Colo.; Washington, regional weather conditions for areas up to 250 miles in D.C.; Lander, Wyo.; and Kansas City, Mo. diameter.
(Continued from news and notes, page 996) to Dr. Fletcher are two Air Force Decorations for Exceptional Civilian Service, one presented in 1962 and the second on Top level AWS staff changes the occasion of his retirement, the 1968 Losey Award of the The new Chief of Staff of the Air American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the Force's Headquarters Air Weather Ser- Charles Franklin Brooks Award of the AMS in 1970. vice, Scott AFB, 111., is Col. Edwin E. In another top level retirement, the Carmell,* former Deputy Chief of AWS Washington Office has lost its Staff for Operations. The former Chief. James V. Bassett who had been Deputy Assistant for Weather and Chief since 1958, retired in June. He Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs had held his position as Washington and Reseources for the Headquarters Office Chief since AWS Headquarters of the U.S. Air Force, has been with moved from Andrews AFB, Md., to the Air Weather Service since 1948. Scott AFB, 111., in 1958. During the From 1957-62 he was Officer in Charge course of his 34-year weather career, of TAF in Rhein/Main Germany, and from 1962-66, Chief Mr. Bassett served with all three of of the Department of Weather Training at Chanute AFB, the major U.S. weather agencies. He 111. In 1966 he became Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs joined the Weather Bureau in 1938 as an Observer at and Resources for the AWS. Col. Carmell holds the B.S. Chadron, Nebr., working part-time during his college years. from Montana State College, and also attended the Uni- When he graduated from Nebraska State College in 1940, versity of Chicago, the University of Maryland, and the Mr. Bassett attended the California Institute of Technology, University of Illinois. studying meteorology. Before graduating he was commis- The new Chief of Staff succeeds sioned in the U.S. Naval Reserve, and entered active duty Col. Douglas E. Purdy, who had held on graduation. In late 1943 he was assigned to the Secretariat the position since March 1971. Col. of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he served as Secretary of Purdy retired in August after holding the Joint Meteorological Committee and U.S. Secretary to Air Force positions as Commander of the Combined Meteorological Committee. Mr. Bassett joined Scott AFB's 7th Weather Wing from the AWS in 1946, serving successively as Coordinator for 1967-70; as faculty member of the Air Committee Activities, Assistant Director of Plans, and as University at Maxwell AFB, Ala., Chief of the Washington Office for the past 14 years. from 1968-62; as Acting Assistant for Col. Leonard E. Zapinski, former Deputy Chief of Staff Weather, Deputy Chief of Staff for for Technical Plans, replaces Col. Carmell as DCS for Opera- Programs and Requirements in the tions. When Col. Ralph J. Steele, former DCS for Systems, Pentagon in 1962; and in 1963 becoming Deputy Assistant retired in June, he was replaced by Col. Herbert A. Million, for Weather, while remaining DCS for Programs and Re- previously Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Systems. Col. quirements. Col. Purdy holds the B.S. in military science William H. Shivar retired from his position as DCS for from the University of Omaha (1953), and also attended Personnel, and was succeeded by Col. Isaac S. Israel. Col. the University of Wisconsin and New York University. Elwyn A. Moseley followed Col. Louis J. Neyland as Com- Robert D. Fletcher, Chief Scientist mander of the 4th Weather Wing in July, and Col. James H. for the AWS for the past 19 years, Gillard became Commander of the 3rd Weather Wing, suc- retired after 39 years federal service ceeding Col. Leroy P. Brunner. recently. The former AMS President When Col. Robert F. MacKenzie retired from his position spent 22 years with the AWS, serving as Vice Commander of the 6th Weather Wing at Andrews as technical consultant, Director of AFB, Md., in July, he was succeeded by Col. Hyko Gayikian, Scientific Service, and finally as Chief former Operations Officer for the 3rd Weather Wing. Col. Scientist. He holds the bachelors and Gayikian was replaced by Col. Newton R. Galligar who was masters degrees in mechanical engi- Operations Officer for Air Force Global Weather Central at neering and a masters in meteorology Offutt AFB. Col. John C. Ball, Deputy Inspector General for from the California Institute of Tech- AWS, succeeds Col. Gallingar. The new Director of Aerospace nology. In 1941 he received the Ph.D. in meteorology from Requirements at Scott AFB is Col. William D. Brockmeyer, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the following who replaces Col. William E. Smurro, new 20th Weather year joined the U.S. Weather Bureau as Supervising Fore- Squadron Commander. caster for Southern California. Dr. Fletcher went to Wash- Seventh Weather Squadron Commander, Col. James M. ington in 1944 to represent the Bureau in air pollution and Priest, left AWS in August to become Chief of the Comp- meteorological radar matters. Among the honors accorded troller Division of the 804th Combat Support Group, Grand Forks AFB, N.D. * AMS members are in italics. (More news and notes on page 1010) 1001
Unauthenticated | Downloaded 10/05/21 11:47 AM UTC Vol. 53, No. 10, October 1972 (Continued from news and notes, page 1001) gram at Siple Station. Earth-orbiting satellites, particularly ESSA-8 and Nimbus-4, are used to a large extent for wea- Continuing meteorology on the ice ther observations in Antarctica, for there is only one station On 8 October the U.S. Navy in support of the National on the ice for every 17 in the U.S. Satellite bulletins are Science Foundation's U.S. Antarctic Research Program issued periodically for the area by the U.S. Naval Fleet (USARP) officially opened the continent of Antarctic for the 1972-73 summer season. The continent has been the scene Weather Facility, Suitland, Md. Information obtained by of international research since the International Geophysical ITOS-D with its nighttime observation capability is expected Year, 1 July 1957-31 December 1958. U.S. activities on the to be useful. Forecasts for aviation, field parties, and afloat antarctic ice are supported logistically the U.S. Navy's Opera- units are routinely prepared at McMurdo station. tion Deep Freeze, as of 1 September 1972 headed by Capt. On-going programs in Antarctica include those on aurora/ Alfred N. Fowler, now Commander of U.S. Navy Task Force 43, the support unit for Deep Freeze. airglow; ionospheric sounding; basic climatology; solar radia- The U.S. Naval Support Force Antarctica is joined by tion; atmospheric turbidity measurements; atmospheric po- members of the U.S. Army, the U. S. Coast Guard, and the tential gradient measurements; as well as synoptic weather U.S. Air Force to make up Task Force 43. Together these observations. Several specific programs scheduled for the groups provide the logistic support necessary to carrying out 1972-73 season are of interest. research on the ice. Headquarters for Operation Deep Freeze were moved to Davisville, R.I., from Washington, D.C., in Headed by Dr. Ronald G. Pinnick, the University of September, thereby centralizing all Deep Freeze activities. Wyoming's project for measurement of submicron particulate With a ratio of approximately 10 military personnel to each matter in the antarctic stratosphere will be performed at of the 250 or so U.S. scientists transported to Antarctica each McMurdo and South Pole stations. The researchers will in- summer season, the Task Force supports scientific research on the coldest, driest, windiest, and most inhospitable place vestigate the variation in density of dust particles in the on earth. polar atmosphere using balloon launches from each station. The frozen desert of Antarctic receives only about 2 inches The balloons will take measurements both during ascent and of precipitation annually at the inland South Pole, only descent. Results are expected to provide needed data on about 23 inches at the coastal station Palmer. Katabatic baseline values for particulate concentration over polar winds, average temperatures of —60F, and six months of mostly night add up to a climate fit only for penguins. The regions. famous antarctic blizzard is caused mainly by blowing snow. Ernest Gladney will head the continuation of the Uni- Because this continent where the ice age still prevails in- versity of Maryland's study on trace metals and halogens in fluences worldwide climate, operational and experimental the antarctic atmosphere at South Pole station. The atmo- meteorological programs have been on-going since IGY. Solar radiation studies, upper atmosphere studies, as well as spheric particulate matter investigation examines the con- general meteorological observations are among the aspects of centration of the trace metals aluminum, copper, iron, man- climate to which researchers in the Antarctic are attuned. ganese, nickel, lead, and vanadium, and the halogens At the present time meteorological activities in the Ant- bromine, chlorine, and iodine, in the antarctic atmosphere. arctic are restricted primarily to operational needs and are In the Stanford Research Institute's polar auroral radar maintained mainly by Navy meteorologists and support system program, researchers headed by James C. Hodges will crews. During the austral summer the Navy maintains four attempt, among other goals, to locate the auroral poles. meteorological officers and 32 aerographers mates on the ice, many of them at Mc- Geophysical observations are also of continuing interest at Murdo, the central U.S. wea- McMurdo station, where three investigators during the cur- ther station in the Antarctic. rent season will evaluate and maintain the Unmanned Geo- Smaller wintering-over crews physical Observatory at McMurdo. remain on the continent dur- Year-round sites for multidisciplinary magnetospheric and ing the austral winter. Mc- Murdo Station is equipped ionospheric investigations concentrating on the plasmapause with full forecasting facili- will be maintained at Siple station (75° 55'S, 83° 55'W) and ties, while five other stations its geomagnetic conjugate, Roberval, Quebec, Canada (48° around the 5^ million mi2 30'N, 72°, 14'W). The Stanford University experiment on area have smaller crews. A magnetospheric research in Antarctica is headed by John P. small Navy unit at Christ- church, New Zealand, pro- Katsufrakis. By comparing manmade whistlers in Antarctica vides weather briefings for with natural whistlers at Roberval, investigators will study all flights leaving New Zea- magnetospheric asymmetries. Data from other antarctic sta- land for the ice. AG1 W. H. Murphy tions and from satellites will be used to investigate longi- launches a weather balloon Routine weather opera- tudinal effects, while study of VLF whistlers as well as other over Hallett Station, Ant- tions, such as balloon sound- techniques using VLF will investigate coupling of the mag- arctica. (U.S. Navy photo- ings, are carried on through- graph by PHI Gerald D. out Antarctica and there is netosphere and ionosphere and the position and dynamics Womeldorff) a surface observation pro- of the plasmapause.
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Unauthenticated | Downloaded 10/05/21 11:47 AM UTC Bulletin American Meteorological Society
Wegener Medal 1971 reached by investigators is that the tornado's wind velocity The Association of the Ger- is best estimated at a maximum speed of 275 mph rather man Meteorological Societies than the 500-600 mph speeds believed to exist five or six granted the Alfred Wegener years ago. The Lubbock tornado, investigators believe, Medal to Prof. Dr. Karl- reached a maximum wind velocity of 200 mph. Another con- Heinz Hinkelmann for his clusion reached by the Texas Tech team is that the tornado outstanding contributions to caused extensive damage to many buildings because of a numerical weather forecast- weak link in the structural system of a given building, ing. Prof. Dr. Hinkelmann, which gave way, leading to the failure of other parts of the Director of Deutscher Wet- building in a domino effect. terdienst, Offenbach, Ger- In many instances researchers found that the walls of a many, since 1966, is a special- closet, bathroom, or other small room in a private residence, ist in dynamic meteorology. were still standing even though the roof and most of the other walls had been blown away. The engineering team The Wegener Medal was presented to him at the joint also discovered that about 80% of the broken windows were meeting of the German meteorologists and physicists which caused by objects carried by the wind rather than by the was held at Essen, 28 September 1971. pressure of the wind alone. The most damaging wind-carried object was found to be flying gravel from roofs finished by Storm damage data gravel on tar. In May 1970 a tornado swept through downtown Lubbock, Mr. Minor and Dr. Mehta are now combining the data Tex., causing severe damage to buildings in its path. A from the Lubbock tornado and that from hurricane Celia research team of Texas Tech University civil engineers, which struck in August 1970 with results of wind tunnel and supported by the National Science Foundation, reached the other experiments to develop mathematical models that will scene before bulldozers to gather data that would be lost help structural engineers predict how much strength a once the debris was cleaned up. From these data the team building will need to withstand severe winds. The researchers has drawn some conclusions which offer clues to reducing expect that their completed model will simulate a windstorm the damage caused by tornados and hurricanes. in its direction, turbulence, and speed, and its impact on a The team, headed by Dr. Kishor C. Mehta and Mr. Joseph building, including oscillation and vibration. They hope to E. Minor, has received a second NSF grant of $61,000 to use simulate wind conditions of tornadoes as well as random the collected data to develop theories for predicting the wind gusts and test their effects on the technical character- effects of severe wind on structures. Among the conclusions istics of buildings as they vibrate and come to rest.
Accurate, separate This pyrgeometer is intended for unidi- rectional operation in the measurement, measurement of terrestrial separately, of incoming or outgoing ter- restrial radiation as distinct from net long-wave ^ radiation long-wave flux. Radiation emitted by the (temperature-compensated) therm- opile detector in its corresponding orientation is automatically compen- sated by battery voltage, precisely controlled by a thermistor.
The terrestrial long-wave radiation is separated from solar short-wave radi- Eppley ation in daytime. This is accomplished Precision through replacement of the glass hemi- Infrared sphere system of the basic pyrano- Radiometer (Pyrgeometer) meter by a KRS-5 hemisphere (also removable) with a weather protective Some instrument characteristics: coating on its outer surface. On the inner surface there is a vacuum- Sensitivity 5 mv per cal cm-2 min-1 (approx) deposited interference filter. The com- Impedance 400 ohms posite transmission of the pyrgeometer Temperature dependence ±0.5 per cent, —20 to -f 40° C (nominal) window is about 4-50 ^m. Linearity ±1 per cent, 0—1 cal cm-2 min-1 Response time 2 seconds For complete details, write Dept. AMS 9 The Eppley Laboratory, Inc. Also available from Eppley: Pyranometers, Pyrheliometers, Pyrgeometers, Absolute Radiometer, Ultraviolet Photometer, llluminometer, Pollution Scientific Instruments Sunphotometer, Submarine Radiometers, Shadow Band Stand, Solar Tracker Newport, R. I. 02840 U.S.A.
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Ecology action notes According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Ad- ministrator William D. Ruckelshaus, a ranking member of According to a recent report in the APCE Digest (Air pol- the U.S. delegation at the United Nations Conference on lution Control District, Los Angeles, Calif., July 1972, Vol. the Human Environment, that conference achieved signifi- II, No. 7) photochemical smog concentration in the Los cant results for cooperative world action for constructive Angeles Basin area is on a downward trend. Data gathered environmental reform. Ruckelshaus informed the "EPA Citi- by the APCD indicate that the first five months of 1972 zens' Bulletin" that the conference, held in Stockholm, show that the downward trend in photochemical smog con- Sweden, in June, represented a new era or international centrations occurring in recent years is continuing in 1972. collaboration. Air monitoring is being performed to gather data on in- At the conference, agreement was reached on 106 recom- stantaneous maximum levels of ozone. Data to date showed mendations and machinery was approved by which the UN that in 1972 an ozone concentration of 0.25 ppm was equalled can make itself more useful in the improvement of the or exceeded on only 13 days at one of more continuous world's environment. As noted in the "EPA Citizens' Bul- monitoring stations in the Basin area. In 1965 and 1966 as letin," three of the outstanding accomplishments included, many as 27 and 29 days respectively reached the 0.25 ppm first, agreement on a Declaration of the Human Environment to preserve and enhance the environment, which will be level. The 0.35 ppm level, set as the School and Health Smog submitted to the UN General Assembly for ratification in Warning level for ozone, had been reached only once during the fall. The declaration stated that nations should not the May-June period, compared with as many as 9 for the damage the environments of other nations, they should safe- same period of 1965. guard resources, and policies should be adopted which would According to Robert L. Chass, Air Pollution Control prevent population levels from having adverse effect on Officer, the lowering of photochemical smog is attributable environment or development. The Conference also recom- to both the effectiveness of the APCD stationary source con- mended the creation of a UN Environmental Unit to co- trols and to the further controls now being required for ordinate worldwide efforts to combat pollution and to motor vehicle emissions. Chass believes that if emission con- implement other recommendations of the conference. Dele- trols for automobiles had equalled those exercised by the gates also agreed on the establishment of a $100 million APCD for industry, the photochemical smog level would voluntary fund, as proposed by President Nixon, for use have already been reduced significantly farther than it has. by the new unit over the next five years to stimulate global # # # environmental improvements.
GLOSSARY OF M ETEOROLOGY
edited by PRICE: $15.00 RALPH E. HUSCHKE (638 pages) The most extensive compilation of the atmospheric sciences' terminology in existence.
The GLOSSARY OF METEOROLOGY contains 7347 entries defining 7200 words and phrases stem- ming from meteorology, hydrology, oceanography, geomagnetism, and astrophysics. It has received universal acclaim as being one of the most significant reference works in its field. Every definition is understandable by the non- presented in the first sentence or two, the scientist yet sufficiently technical to satisfy reader will find the Glossary more than ade- professional requirements. Working scientists, quate. For the professional, all technical in- students, and those laymen with just an in- formation including pertinent mathematics is terest in the atmosphere will find the Glossary included. For a technical library, the volume to be a valuable reference. is an invaluable reference to a broad segment of current technical terminology related to Whether for acquaintanceship with an un- atmospheric physics and research in the space familiar term or for the "basic definition environment. AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, 45 BEACON ST., BOSTON, MASS. 02108
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