THE EARTH OBSERVER January/February 2004, Vol

rvin bse g S O ys th t r e a m E

THE EARTH OBSERVER January/February 2004, Vol. 16, No. 1

In this issue ... EDITOR’S CORNER

Meeting/Workshop Sum ma ries Michael King SORCE Science Team Holds First Meet- EOS Senior Project Scientist ing Since Launch...... 3 I’m pleased to report that the Consolidated Appropriations Bill that con- Other Items of Interest solidated funding normally allocated in 7 separate Appropriations Bills, CMORPH: High-Resolution Global including the Veterans Administration, Department of Housing and Urban Precipitation Analysis System...... 15 Development, and Independent Agencies (including NASA) for FY2004 has New USGS Product Line...... 18 been signed by the President on January 23, 2004. NASA and many depart- Kudos ...... 19 ments of the government have been operating under 7 different continuing NASA’s Improved Web-Resource on the resolutions since the start of the fi scal year on October 1, 2003. The bill World’s Changing Climate...... 24 appropriates $15.38 B for NASA for FY 2004, which is $10 M more than the International Summer School on Atmo- FY 2003 budget. The bill allocates $1.526 B for Earth science programs, not spheric and Oceanic Sciences ...... 21 including earmarks, a decrease of $26 M to the budget request. The de- Warming Oceans Could Mean More crease is due primarily to an $11 M reduction to the Global Climate Change Rainy Days in Paradise ...... 26 Research Initiative, primarily the Glory mission, and a recision of 0.59% applied against all projects. Regular Features

EOS Scientists in the News...... 20 The FY04 Earth science budget includes $86.9 M in specifi c earmarks, which Earth Science Education Program Up- includes $23 M for the EOSDIS Core System Synergy program to develop date...... 22 additional uses for EOS data, $8.5 M for an NPP data science system Science Calendars ...... 27 through ECS, and numerous other allocations to various Universities and The Earth Observer Information/ Institutes to enhance the use of EOS data and its applications. Inquiries ...... Back Cover This funding allocation continues the development of NPP, Ocean Surface Topography Mission, Landsat Data Continuity, CloudSat, CALIPSO, Orbit- ing Carbon Observatory (OCO), Aquarius, and Glory. The FY05 budget submitted by the President for consideration by Congress defers GPM two years, and Ocean Vector Winds indefi nitely, pending assessment of the impact of the loss of ADEOS II (Midori II) and the science utility of Coriolis (passive measurement approach). Future Earth Science System Pathfi nder (ESSP) mission funding is deferred one year, but the Announcement of Opportunity (AO-4) release remains targeted for FY04, selection to include

Continued on page 2 THE EARTH OBSERVER • January/February 2003 Vol. 16 No. 1 a risk reduction period. The Hydros phase as ESSP missions in January. The Changes to the Handbook will be made ramp-up is tied to future ESSP funding. Jet Propulsion Laboratory will man- periodically. age these new missions. Aquarius will The Aura satellite is now scheduled to measure global Sea Surface Salinity The Offi ce of Earth Science at NASA launch between June 17 and 20. This (SSS), OCO will generate and release Headquarters recently released the new mission is the last of the fi rst series of precise global maps of carbon dioxide Earth Science Enterprise Strategy docu-

EOS satellites, and is aimed at study- (CO2) in the Earth’s atmosphere, and ment. It can be found at earth.nasa.gov/ ing the Earth’s ozone, air quality and Hydros will provide the fi rst global science/index.html. It’s companion climate. This mission is designed view of the Earth’s changing soil mois- document, ‘Understanding Earth exclusively to conduct research on the ture and surface freeze/thaw condi- System Change: NASA’s Earth Sci- composition, chemistry, and dynamics tions, enabling new scientifi c studies of ence Enterprise Research Strategy for of the Earth’s upper and lower atmo- global change and atmospheric predict- 2000-2010’ is located at earth.nasa.gov/ sphere, employing multiple instru- ability, and making new hydrologic visions/researchstrat. You will also fi nd ments on a single spacecraft. It will applications possible. links to the ‘Earth Science Enterprise carry NASA instruments, MLS and Applications Strategy,’ ‘Earth Science TES, along with HIRDLS, a joint UK/ The EOS Data Products Handbook, Enterprise Technology Strategy,’ and US instrument, and OMI, an instru- Volume 1, has been made a “living” ‘Inspire the Next Generation of Earth ment provided by the Netherlands and document on the web. This recently Explorers: NASA Plan for Earth Science Finland. Best wishes to the Aura Team revised document contains data prod- Education’ at that same URL. for a successful launch. uct descriptions for Terra, TRMM, and the Data Assimilation System, and can Aquarius, OCO and Hydros were be found at eos.nasa.gov/eos_homepage/ offi cially selected for the formulation for_scientists/data_products/vol1.php.

This striking image shows a clear view of the Cape Verde Islands in the eastern Atlantic as a massive wall of Saharan Desert dust is fast approaching from the east. In this scene, the Cape Verde Islands sit in the middle of a large area of sunglint, which refers to the bright patch of water around the islands where a lot of sunlight is being refl ected directly up at the satellite. This scene was acquired on February 3, 2004, by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Terra satellite. Image courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC.

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The Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) Science Team Holds its First Meeting Since Launch

— Gary Rottman, [email protected], University of Colorado — Judith Lean, [email protected], Naval Research Laboratory — Peter Pilewskie, [email protected], NASA Ames Research Center — Robert Cahalan, [email protected], NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

The SOlar Radiation and Climate the storage of galactic cosmic rays in 1. Solar Radiation – Status of Current Experiment (SORCE) team recently tree rings and ice cores and their as- SORCE Measurements conducted its fi rst science meeting sociations with paleoclimate records 2. Solar Radiation – Long-Term Re- since the January 2003 launch. The from ocean and ice cores during past cords and Reconstructions meeting, Physical Processes Linking millennia. 3. Long-Term Solar Variations Solar Radiation and Solar Variability 4. Climate Change Processes Involv- with Global Climate Change, was In addition to presenting the latest, ing Solar Radiation in the Tropo- held December 4-6, 2003, in Sonoma, exciting SORCE irradiance measure- sphere California. Approximately 80 scientists ments, the intent of this fi rst science 5. Global Change Processes Involving gathered to focus on the understanding team meeting since launch was to Solar Radiation in the Stratosphere of the physical processes that connect survey current understanding of the 6. Future Directions in Sun-Climate the Sun’s radiation and its variability physical processes occurring on the Research to our terrestrial environment, includ- Sun and in the terrestrial environment ing the processes involved with climate that potentially facilitate Sun-climate Three keynote overview presentations and ozone responses to solar radiative linkages. Subsequent science team established the broad scientifi c context forcing, and the mechanisms that cause meetings will address focused “subset” for the meeting and exemplifi ed the solar activity and irradiance variations. topics in greater depth. SORCE aims to extensive cross-disciplinary aspect provide a forum for multidisciplinary of research in this topic. Jack Eddy The EOS SORCE mission is currently Sun-Earth studies, and this fi rst meet- (National Solar Observatory, Tucson, measuring the Sun’s total and spectral ing was an important part of establish- Arizona), widely regarded as the father irradiance with unprecedented accu- ing a dialog among researchers that we of Sun-climate research, and chair racy and spectral coverage. In addition hope will continue and grow. of a recent NASA Sun-Climate Task to securing a reliable database with Group, summarized “Current Status of which to characterize solar radiative With over 60 abstracts submitted, Sun-climate Connections and Possible forcing of climate and global change, attendees enthusiastically shared Processes.” V. Ramaswamy (NOAA, the SORCE program seeks to foster information, ideas, and opinions over Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Labo- new understanding of the origins of the two-and-one-half days of oral and ratory, Princeton, New Jersey), lead the solar variations and the physical poster presentations. Many of the pre- author of the radiative forcing chapter pathways by which the Earth’s atmo- sentations are available on the SORCE of the Intergovernmental Panel on Cli- sphere, oceans, and land respond, on website at lasp.colorado.edu/sorce/Dec03 mate Change (IPCC) Third Assessment multiple time scales. This undertaking ScienceMeeting.html. The scientifi c or- Report (TAR), reported on the current involves numerous scientifi c disciplines ganizing committee, Judith Lean from status of “Solar Variations and Global —ranging from the theory of the solar the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Climate Change,” placing the Sun’s dynamo that drives solar activity to the and Peter Pilewskie from NASA Ames role in the broader context of other dynamical ocean-atmosphere systems Research Center, arranged the meeting natural and anthropogenic climate forc- that infl uence climate; from astrophysi- into six sessions: ings. Jeffrey Hall (Lowell Observatory, cal aspects of solar-stellar synergy to Flagstaff, Arizona), convener of a recent

3 THE EARTH OBSERVER • January/February 2003 Vol. 16 No. 1 workshop on Solar-Stellar variability, Ramaswamy continued the theme of stars. Evidence for stellar Maunder summarized the fi ndings of that meet- uncertainty in current knowledge of Minima inferred from a bimodal dis- ing and “The Next Decade of Stellar solar irradiance variations. Many long- tribution of Sun-like stars a decade ago Cycles Research.” term climate-response simulations, is now shaky. The apparent reduced including those conducted for IPCC irradiance in non-cycling Sun-like stars Providing the meeting’s most memo- TAR, have utilized solar total irradi- in Maunder-type periods was a basis rable quote, Jack Eddy eloquently ance time series with long-term trends for scenarios of long-term irradiance reminded meeting attendees notably larger than the solar cycle. variations. A revised distribution of “Were God to give us, at last, the cable, Ramaswamy also pointed out that stellar activity from more than 7000 or patch-cord that links the Sun to the secular trends are poorly known even observations of solar-like stars does Climate System it would have on the solar for contemporary solar total irradiance. not reproduce the bimodal distribu- end a banana plug, and on the other, where General circulation model simulations tion (Hall & Lockwood 2004, Science, it hooks into the Earth—in ways we don’t show that although comparable solar submitted) and implies notably less yet know—a Hydra-like tangle of multiple and greenhouse gas forcings can at fi rst solar variability beyond that of the 24-pin parallel computer connectors. It is appear to invoke nominally similar cli- solar cycle. Hall echoed Ramaswamy's surely at this end of the problem where the mate responses, closer scrutiny reveals concern for the uncertainty in historical greatest challenges lie.” Eddy identifi ed differences. For example, the effects on irradiance reconstructions. Currently a number of such challenges including precipitation and evaporation differ but the valid sample of solar twins consists Earth’s greater-than-expected appar- the difference is the same. Ramaswamy of just one star. In the future, a broader ent climate sensitivity to the solar cycle pointed out that from a modeling per- set of activity proxies is needed and the (Figure 1) and asked whether internal spective solar-induced climate change sample must have expanded cover- variability modes such as the El Niño is modest, at most. Ozone might am- age of stellar brightnesses, including Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the plify the irradiance forcing, but there in a range of spectral regions, and of North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) are large disagreements because of the clusters, using automated observing might somehow be playing a role. On uncertainty of ozone profi les. stations. longer time scales, he identifi ed the crucial need for improved knowledge Jeffrey Hall addressed long-term solar Session 1 – Solar Radiation – Status of of climatically-signifi cant long-term variability from a completely different Current SORCE Measurements solar irradiance variations. perspective – the behavior of Sun-like Chair: O.R. White

Gary Rottman, SORCE Principal Inves- tigator, began this session with an overview of the SORCE mission, including wonderful observations of the historically dramatic activity that occurred in October and November, months before the meeting. The history of SORCE goes back to the original EOS selection in 1989 of the Solar Stellar Irradiance Comparison Experiment (SOLSTICE) as one of the many instruments to fl y on the two large EOS polar platforms. In response to a much later Announce- ment of Opportunity (AO) in 1997, the Total Solar Irradiance Monitor (TSIM) program was initiated, and fi nally in Figure 1: When the effects of ENSO, volcanoes, and a long-term trend are removed from the 1999 the EOS SOLSTICE and TSIM Microwave Sounding Unit global surface temperatures, the residual temperatures (lower curve) track were combined to a single mission the total solar irradiance (upper curve) (Douglass and Clader, GRL, 2002).

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Figure 2: Near the end of October, 2003, a very large active region near the center of the solar disk, the TIM designed to measure total recorded by the Big Bear Solar Observatory in white light (left image) produced historically high solar irradiance with a new level of levels of X-rays and the solar corona, recorded at 17 nm by the EIT instrument on SOHO (right image). accuracy and precision thanks in large part to the many innovations of George Lawrence—most importantly, the new phase-sensitive detection scheme. Jerry Harder provided a fi rst glimpse of the new spectral data being returned by SIM. These data are the fi rst solar irradiance data in the visible and near infrared with suffi cient precision to detect solar variability. There are intriguing new results that will constrain models of solar variations, especially in the near infrared, where it is not yet known whether faculae increase called SORCE. The primary science and data are typically communicated or decrease irradiance. The SOLSTICE objectives of SORCE are to make daily with the satellite twice per day. All on SORCE is a second generation and measurements of Total Solar Irradi- aspects of the mission exceed expecta- improved version of the instrument on ance (TSI) and spectral irradiance over tions with the spacecraft and instru- the Upper Atmosphere Research Satel- almost the entire spectral range from ments continuing to function fl awlessly. lite (UARS). Bill McClintock showed soft X-rays, through the visible and the new SOLSTICE data that will vali- into the infrared. The SORCE program The SORCE instrument scientists date and refi ne the data from UARS. is managed as a Principal Investigator provided overviews of instrument The stellar comparison technique mode mission by the Laboratory for performance and some important used by SOLSTICE is vastly improved Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) early results from the fi rst year of on SORCE, especially at the longer at the University of Colorado, Boulder. observations. Greg Kopp discussed wavelengths near 300 nm. Lastly, Tom LASP designed and developed the four scientifi c instruments, the Total Irradi- ance Monitor (TIM), the Spectral Irria- diance Monitor (SIM), the Solar Stellar Irradiance Comparison Experiment (SOLSTICE), and the XUV Photometer System (XPS), and subcontracted the highly reliable and fully redundant spacecraft bus from Orbital Sciences Corp. The NASA Project Science Of- fi ce is at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and continues to provide over- sight to the mission.

SORCE was launched on January 25, 2003, aboard a Pegasus XL rocket into a low Earth orbit (LEO) with altitude near 600 km and inclination of 40°. The Mission Operations Center and Science Operations Center are both at LASP on the Boulder Campus, and commands Figure 3: TIM measurements of TSI in October 2003. The extremely large sunspot groups gave rise to one of the largest dips in TSI ever recorded.

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Woods talked about the soft X-rays and from space and some of the most were very preliminary, but they were EUV observed by the XPS a sibling of a intense solar fl ares (Figure 2). also very intriguing and are indicative similar instrument operating on Woods' of the wealth of new insight that will be Solar Extreme ultraviolet Experiment The total solar irradiance variations forthcoming in our understanding of (SEE) on the Thermosphere Ionosphere during this particular time period the Sun and of the Earth’s response to Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics are illustrated by the TSI observa- its changing radiative power. (TIMED) spacecraft. tions shown in Figure 3. It was indeed fortuitous that the SORCE was fully All science data are processed, Just one month before this Science operational at this time and that the analyzed, validated, and distributed Team Meeting the Sun provided some instruments happened to be in ideal through LASP’s Mission and Science exceptionally intense solar activ- confi gurations to provide optimal fl are Operations Center in Boulder, Colo- ity—the largest sunspots ever observed observations. The results presented rado. Processed data are being distrib-

Figure 4: In the top panel are the total irradiance observations made by multiple spacecraft since 1978. From these observations are constructed two different composite records — the ACRIM composite, in the middle panel, has a signifi cant irradiance increase between successive solar minima in 1986 and 1996, whereas the PMOD composite, in the lowest panel, does not.

6 THE EARTH OBSERVER • January/February 2003 Vol. 16, No. 1 uted to the science community through (ERBE) record and also with indepen- 5). At most other times, the ACRIM and the GSFC DAAC (Distributed Active dent predictions by proxy models. In PMOD composite track quite closely. Archive Center). For additional infor- contrast, the ACRIM composite total In a subsequent presentation “The mation on obtaining SORCE data from irradiance time series makes no adjust- Construction of a Long-Term Total Solar the DAAC and reading the SORCE ments to published data but assumes Irradiance Record and Its Uncertainties,” HDF data fi les, seelasp.colorado.edu/ that ERBS/ERBE, rather than Nimbus Steven Dewitte described a different sorce/data_access.html. 7/ERB, suffered instrumental drifts approach of scaling individual irradi- during 1989-1992. Between successive ance data sets to fi ve point measure- Session 2 – Long-Term Records and minima the PMOD composite has no ments made with higher-accuracy by Reconstructions signifi cant trend whereas the ACRIM radiometers on the Space Shuttle. This Chair: O.R. White composite has a signifi cant 0.04 % per approach yields a composite record decade trend. that has detectable differences between Attendees at the SORCE meeting solar minima (but smaller than in the debated vigorously the evidence for Claus Fröhlich described in detail the ACRIM composite) of the order of secular change in the contemporary ir- complicated process of constructing a 0.2 W/m-2 per decade, but with large radiance database, a controversial topic composite irradiance record in his talk uncertainties (95% uncertainty: ± 0.35 featured in a recent Earth Observatory “Total Solar Irradiance Variability From W/m-2). Of all the total irradiance data feature—earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/ 1978 to Present.” In particular, he identi- sets, only the ERBS, which extends VariableSun/. fi ed the crucial importance of Nimbus from 1984 to the present, covers two 7 data in the gap between ACRIM I and solar minima. Robert Lee described The issue is whether—or not—total ACRIM II observations. This gap oc- the ERBS dataset “1984 – 2003, Earth irradiance observations when com- curred from 1989 to 1992, near the end Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) / Earth bined in a composite record have a of the Nimbus 7 mission, when signifi - Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) TSI long-term upward trend, lacking in the cant drifts are thought to have occurred Measurements.” Due to very low solar Physicalisch-Meteorologisches Obser- in the dataset. It is the signifi cant irradi- exposure the ERBS radiometer is be- vatorium Davos (PMOD) composite ance increase of ~0.5 W/m-2 from 1989 lieved to have been remarkably stable in Figure 4 but evident in the Active to 1992 that is the source of the upward during its mission. The ERBS dataset Cavity Radiometer irradiance Moni- trend in the ACRIM composite (Figure does not show evidence for a signifi - tor (ACRIM) composite. Combining multiple satellite data sets presents problems of cross calibration and tracking of instrument sensitivities at different mission phases. The particular diffi culty is bridging the 1989 – 1991 gap between ACRIM I and ACRIM II observations.

The composite total irradiance record in wide use, and the basis for historical reconstructions (lowest panel, Figure 4), is constructed by fi rst making ad- justments for drifts in the Hickey-Frie- den (HF) radiometer on the Nimbus 7 spacecraft used during 1989-1992. The resultant composite is in good agreement with the long-term Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS)/ Earth Radiation Budget Experiment Figure 5: Differences between the PMOD and ACRIM composite total irradiance records occur primarily in 1989-1992. 0.05% per these 3 years (only), not per decade.

7 THE EARTH OBSERVER • January/February 2003 Vol. 16 No. 1 cant upward irradiance trend between is needed for reliable climate change magnetic features that are sources of solar cycle minima. Furthermore, the attribution and detection. But the total irradiance variability. Simulations of ERBS data are in good agreement with irradiance database exists only for 25 dynamo evolution are an important irradiance variability models of the years. So this knowledge must come key for future scenario studies of sunspot and facular infl uences. The indirectly, from proxies of solar activity plausible irradiance changes. Dikpati primary advocate of secular change in such as cosmogenic isotopes (in tree described comparisons of her dynamo the contemporary irradiance record, rings and ice cores) and geomagnetic model with solar observations in recent Richard Willson, discussed the “AC- activity, and from improved under- cycles. Since a sub-surface dynamo ac- RIM Composite Total Solar Irradiance standing of the Sun itself—how its tion drives the solar activity cycle, a re- Time Series.” This time series combines internal dynamo drives surface activity, duction—or abeyance—of the dynamo ACRIM I and ACRIM II data sets using and how irradiance responds. Session are implicated during the anomalously the Nimbus 7 observations to fi ll the 3 addressed physical processes of solar inactive seventeenth century Maunder gap between them, but without making variability. Minimum. any corrections for instrumental drifts. Rather, Wilson’s thesis is that ERBS Philip Goode described how statisti- Yi-Ming Wang discussed “The Sun’s sensitivity declined while the Nimbus cally decomposing patterns in solar Large-Scale Magnetic Field and its Long- 7 sensitivity remained stable from 1989 surface brightness can identify modes Term Variations” including scenarios for to 1992. The session ended with Robert of variability that evolve with solar magnetic fi eld distributions consistent Lee’s recognition that an external team, activity. Based on the correspondence with the available sunspot data during possibly composed of NIST calibration between irradiance and the modes the Maunder Minimum period. A por- experts, may be needed to assess the available at solar minimum, he sug- tion of the total magnetic fl ux, the open radiometric evidence for real secular gested in his talk “How Dim Can the Sun fl ux, extends from the Sun into the change versus instrumental drifts in Be?” that current solar minimum condi- heliosphere and envelops the Earth. It the total irradiance data sets, especially tions may represent the lowest irradi- is the open, rather than total magnetic those from Nimbus 7. ance. Mausumi Dikpati provided an fl ux from the Sun that controls condi- illuminating tutorial of recent develop- tions in the heliosphere near the Earth Session 3 – Long-Term Solar Varia- ments in modeling “The Solar Dynamo” and hence in the penetration of galactic tions which add meridional circulations to cosmic rays that produce cosmogenic Chair: Hugh Hudson the actions of turbulence (alpha effect) isotopes. But the very small modula- and differential rotation (omega effect). tion of open fl ux expected during the As V. Ramaswamy articulated in Together, these dynamical motions Maunder Minimum is inconsistent his Keynote address, knowledge of cycle magnetic fl ux in the solar convec- with the persistence of 11-year cycles long-term solar irradiance variation tion zone (Figure 6), producing surface in 10Be throughout this period. Another important proxy of long-term solar activity is geomagnetic activity, recorded in ground-based magnetometers since the late 1880s. Like 10Be the widely used aa index shows a steady increase from 1900 to 1950. And like the cosmogenic isotopes, geomagnetic activity refl ects the magnetic conditions in the heliosphere whose variations perturb Earth’s own magnetic fi eld which registers in the ground-based instruments. In his talk “Long-term Variations in IMF, Solar Wind and EUV Irradiance Inferred From Geomagnetic Activity” Leif Figure 6: Schematic of the dynamical motions on the Sun that a fl ux-transport dynamo model Svalgaard described the possibility of simulates.

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Figure 7: This radiation balance picture shows how incoming solar energy is distributed among parts of the Earth's atmosphere and surface. (Jeff Kiehl and Kevin Trenberth, NCAR)

instrumental drifts in certain mag- Improving our understanding of the stability and accuracy of CERES netometers that may account for the connection between solar radiation and measurements compared to previous overall upward trend in geomagnetic climate processes in the troposphere radiation budget data sets were critical indices in the beginning of the 20th is a critical element of the SORCE in quantifying climate sensitivity to century. This adds yet another contro- mission, considering that changes that cloud type. versy involving the determination of occur in the troposphere are directly long-term trends in solar and terrestrial sensed by the surface biosphere. The Steve Platnick gave another view of data sets. Following on Jeffrey Hall’s balance between incoming solar radia- Earth from space in “An Overview of keynote address, Wes Lockwood gave tion, measured by SORCE, and outgo- Solar Refl ectance Remote Sensing Methods an “Update on the apparent discrepancy ing solar and infrared radiation (Figure for Earth Science Applications.” Platnick between cycle timescale irradiance variabil- 7) helps determine the most tangible of explained how our knowledge of the ity of the Sun and solar analog stars having climate parameters, temperature. Norm spectral distribution of solar irradiance similar magnetic activity levels.” Loeb provided insight into the Earth’s at the top of the atmosphere affects the contribution to the energy balance accuracy of space-based retrievals of Session 4 –Climate Change Processes equation in his talk, “Infl uence of Clouds crucial parameters needed for climate Involving Solar Radiation in the and Aerosols on the Earth’s Radiation Bud- monitoring. For example, the range of Troposphere get Using Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant values in the literature for solar irradi- Chair: Peter Pilewskie Energy System (CERES) Measurements.” ance at 3.7 µm band (used for cloud He emphasized how the improved particle size retrievals) was shown to

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Figure 8: MODIS Terra granule, coastal Chile/Peru (18 July 2001, 1530 UTC).

40 -1.0

20 -1.5

0 -2.0

Ice Clouds

3.7 �m retrieved re �re (Thekaekara) (KABGP - Thekaekara) propagate into appreciable error in to solving the climate puzzle. This Greenhouse Gas Forcing in the Late 20th retrieved size when using MODIS data. motivated Caspar Ammann’s paper on Century,” early twentieth century solar This is illustrated in Figure 8, which “Fingerprints of Solar Irradiance Changes forcing was contrasted with late twen- shows retrieved cloud particle effective During the Last Millennium: Impact of tieth century greenhouse gas warm- radius from the MODIS 3.7 µm band Different Background Trends on the Detec- ing. The difference in climate response (left image) using exoatmospheric ir- tion in Transient Climate Simulations.” between the two periods was attributed radiance from Thekaekara et al. (1974). The contribution of solar variability to to the relative spatial heterogeneity of When another published value for net climate variability was estimated by solar forcing (compared with green- the exoatmospheric irradiance in the extracting solar signals in multi-century house gas forcing) leading to amplifi ca- 3.7 µm band was used (Kondratyev Global Climate Model simulations with tion of the temperature gradient-driven et al., 1965), the ensuing differences in various ranges of solar forcing and Hadley and Walker circulations. Sultan retrieved effective radii (right image) comparing them with proxy climate Hameed presented “Atmospheric were between 1-2 µm. reconstructions. Centers of Action as Bridges Between Solar Activity Variations and Regional In the age of awareness of climate Solar infl uence on large-scale atmo- Climate Change” in which he described response to increasing greenhouse spheric dynamics was the central the concept of centers of action in the gas concentrations and anthropogenic theme of several other papers in this atmospheric system. Sultan pointed out aerosol particles, separating the con- session. In Jerry Meehl’s talk, “Coupled that one such center, the Aleutian Low, tribution of solar variability from net Ocean-Atmosphere Response to Solar Forc- was likely responsible for the persistent climate variability is a critical element ing in the Early 20th Century Compared to rain at that time of the year in Sonoma.

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Figure 9: The trends in total ozone concentrations since 1960 and in the future, are estimated in the GSFC model to arise in part from the solar activity cycle, which produces 11- year variations superimposed on long-term trends arising from changes in chlorofl uorocarbons and other atmospheric gasses.

A new reconstruction of the western US drought now extends back to 800 AD and this has provided an opportunity for a much longer evaluation of solar and lunar tidal forcing to be made than was previously possible.

Session 5—Global Change Processes Involving Solar Radiation in the Stratosphere Chair: Marvin Geller

The stratosphere plays an important He attributed correlations between used a solar UV irradiance extrapola- role in global change for a number of solar activity and the intensity and geo- tion to derive the NAM index and to reasons. It shields the biosphere from graphic location of large-scale circula- infer temperature anomalies during the harmful solar UV radiation, which tions to changes in regional climate and Maunder Minimum. stratospheric ozone absorbs. At the ocean dynamics. upper boundary of the troposphere, The fi nal talks in this session were stratospheric variations are implicated In his paper, “Evidence for Sun-Climate devoted to solar infl uences on cloud in climate change for example by Connections on Multi-Centennial to Mil- cover and drought. Bob Cess presented altering the North Atlantic Oscillation. lennial Timescales” Gerard Bond main- “Climate Change During 1985-1999: Changes in chlorofl uorocarbon and tains that changes in northern hemi- Cloud Interactions Determined From Satel- greenhouse gas concentrations, volca- spheric circulatory patterns due to solar lite Measurements“ in which he showed nic aerosols and solar UV irradiance all variability caused southward shifts of evidence for a decadal variability in the infl uence ozone and temperature in the drift ice. Bond used evidence from deep top-of-atmosphere tropical radiative stratosphere, but in different ways, and sea cores in the North Atlantic to sug- energy budget and suggested that the with different strengths compared with gest that recurring southward shifts of changes were related to an observed their respective troposphere infl uences. drift ice were infl uenced by variations reduction in cloud cover. However, he Solar activity cycle modulation of the in solar output through the entire Ho- concluded that the cause was by no stratosphere is now well established. locene. Joan Feynman presented “Solar means obvious and might be the result Infl uences on Surface Air Temperature of natural periodic variability act- Richard Stolarski tutored the meeting During the Maunder Minimum“ where ing over decadal time scales. Edward on current understanding of “Ultravio- she explained that change in ultraviolet Cook’s paper on “Solar Forcing and the let Radiation and Stratospheric Ozone.” radiation was the mechanism respon- Western US Bi-Decadal Drought Rhythm: He discussed the extant long-term sible for variability in the troposphere, An Analysis Back to AD 800“ presented ozone record, and understanding of its as determined by the Northern An- evidence of a bi-decadal drought variations, including during the solar nular Mode (NAM). Feynman showed rhythm related to forcing by the Hale cycle and projected in the future (Fig- a correlation between NAM index and solar magnetic cycle (22 year period) ure 9). David Rind described “Mecha- solar activity over the past 50 years and and lunar tidal cycle (18.6 year period). nisms of Solar Infl uence on the Troposphere

11 THE EARTH OBSERVER • January/February 2003 Vol. 16 No. 1 via the Stratosphere” apparent in the derstood when sorted not by latitude atmospheric waves. From correlative Goddard Institute for Space Studies but by three separate meteorological and regression analyses of data from (GISS) Middle Atmosphere General regimes, defi ned by “fronts.” Move- the National Centers for Environmental Circulation Model, which includes ments of the fronts appear to track Prediction (NCEP), Hood showed a responsive ozone chemistry. Strato- solar activity, and imply changes in “Thermal Response of the Tropopause Re- spheric changes induced by solar and weather patterns. Marvin Geller took gion to Short-Term Solar Ultraviolet Varia- greenhouse gas infl uences are felt at time out from chairing this session tions.” The temperature in the tropical lower tropospheric levels via dynami- to discuss “Solar-Induced Changes in lower stratosphere and upper tropo- cal motions that affect, for example, Ozone.” The contemporary record of sphere responds signifi cantly to 27-day the phase of the NAO and intensity of ozone observations saw major volcanic solar forcing with maximum amplitude the Hadley cell. But as Ramaswamy’s eruptions whose effects on ozone are near the 100 hPa level (Figure 10). keynote speech had noted, model superimposed on solar cycle changes. Alexander Ruzmaikin described a representations of ozone can differ Model-data comparisons can help sepa- simple model of solar UV variability signifi cantly. Empirical studies of ozone rate the two processes. Both Al Powell infl uence on the planetary wave-zonal variability and solar variability are and Lon Hood addressed processes in mean fl ow interaction. In this model, therefore crucial for illuminating actual the lower stratosphere and troposphere there are two major stable equilibrium processes. induced by changes in solar UV radia- states, possibly corresponding to two tion. Powell presented “Ozone Heating states of Northern Annual Mode, and After a brief Meteorology 101 intro- Impacts on the Lower Atmosphere Hemi- one unstable state. External infl uences duction, Robert Hudson described spheric Wave Pattern as a Mechanism for including solar variability, as well as an exciting new analysis approach for Climate Change.” From analysis of data internal process such as the Quasi-bien- interpreting trends in the long-term near 200 mb, Powell showed how solar nial Oscillation (QBO), infl uence the ozone dataset. In his talk “Deduction of UV irradiance changes can alter ozone positions and occupation frequencies of Climate Variability From the Total Ozone absorption and heating which affects the two states. Record, 1965-2000” he showed how the stability of the lower atmosphere ozone concentrations are better un- and alters the energy distribution in Session 6—Future Directions in Sun- Climate Research Chair: Gary Rottman

At the conclusion of the meeting it was appropriate to look forward to future observations and research and to future meetings. There is considerable excite- ment about the data sets and programs now in place, providing unsurpassed temporal and spectral coverage of solar irradiance at a time of simultane- ous and extensive Earth observations. Many of the observing programs and data sets explored during the conference will continue. The SORCE spacecraft and instruments are performing well, and the major limiting factor will likely be availability of resources from the various funding agencies. SORCE is expected to continue for another four years, and hopefully, many more Figure 10: The response of the lower stratosphere to solar variations during the sun's 27-day rotation, beyond that. UARS still continues derived from empirical associations

12 THE EARTH OBSERVER • January/February 2003 Vol. 16, No. 1 to make UV observations from two a major 5-year international research NOAA, National Physical Data Center, instruments, SOLSTICE and the Solar program starting in January 1, 2004 Boulder, Colorado. Ultraviolet Spectral Irradiance moni- and operating under the auspices of tor (SUSIM). The Variability of Solar the Scientifi c Committee on Solar-Ter- “First Total Solar Irradiance Model Irradiance and Gravity Oscillations restrial Physics (SCOSTEP), which based on PSPT Data,” by Angie Cook- (VIRGO) TSI devices, the Differential Geller chairs. CAWSES is divided into son, California State University, San and Absolute Radiometer (DIARAD) four Themes, the Solar Infl uence on Fernando Observatory, Northridge. and PMON, continue to take data and Climate ; Space Weather: Science and their host spacecraft, the Solar and Applications; Atmospheric Coupling “On the Infl uence of Solar Variability Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), also Processes; and Climatology of the on Ion-Mediated Nucleation in the continues robust operations. ACRIM- Sun-Earth System. More details on Atmosphere,” by Raffaella D’Auria, SAT is also expected to continue for CAWSES can be found on the website: University of California, Los Angeles. several years. The biggest liability www.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/SCOSTEP/ probably concerns the longest TSI data scostep.html. Stan Solomon described “Modeling Solar Irradiance with the set from the ERBS instrument, and the Whole Atmosphere Community PSPT Solar Disk Observations and although the instrument continues to Climate Model (WACCM) presently RISE Solar Spectrum Synthesis,” by return data, funds for the data process- being developed by NCAR. The model Sean Davis, LASP, University of Colo- ing and analysis are threatened. now extends from the surface to 140 rado, Boulder. km and will soon be extended through In the future we look forward to several the thermosphere and ionosphere to “Current and Future Solar Irradiance missions. Gerard Thuillier described 500 km. The WACCM may be im- Measurements from SBUV/2 Instru- the PICARD Mission being developed proved signifi cantly by the inclusion of ments,” by Matt DeLand, Science Sys- by Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales the new SORCE spectral data, especial- tems and Applications, Inc., Lanham, (CNES) in France. This small spacecraft ly longward of 300 nm. Tom Bogdan Maryland. is scheduled to be launched in 2008 gave a brief and provocative summary and will carry three instruments to titled, “The Best of Times, The Worst of “Comparisons of FUV Solar Irradiance measure total and spectral irradiance, Times.” This affectionate comment on Measurements by SORCE, TIMED- to detect changes in solar diameter the health and intellectual well-being SEE, and UARS,” by Frank Eparvier, and the shape of the solar limb, and to of studies of solar variability and of LASP, University of Colorado, Boulder. observe solar oscillations in order to global climate change, concluded the probe the solar interior. Gary Rottman fi rst SORCE Science Team meeting on a “Solar UV Center-to-Limb Variation of had earlier reported on the fact that the light note. Active Regions,” by Linton Floyd, In- TIM and SIM will be fl own as part of terferometrics Inc. and Naval Research the NPOESS program with launches Plans for the second SORCE Science Laboratory, Washington, DC. after 2013. Inevitably there will be a Team meeting are already underway. gap between SORCE and the National The topic of the meeting is expected “Physical Synthesis of the Solar Radi- Polar-Orbiting Operational Environ- to be decadal variability in the Sun ance, a Tool for Understanding Spectral mental Satellite System (NPOESS) and and climate. Everyone is welcome! If Irradiance,” by Juan Fontenla, LASP, NASA may partially fi ll this gap, but you are interested, we look forward University of Colorado, Boulder. only with a TIM to provide TSI obser- to seeing you there. Please mark your vations. Presently there are no plans calendar for the last week in October “Carbon I, Solar Activity and Secular for spectral irradiance observations be- and stay tuned to the SORCE website: Change?,” by Peter Fox, High Altitude tween the time of SORCE and NPOESS, lasp.colorado.edu/sorce/meetings.html. Observatory, NCAR, Boulder, Colo- other that those on PICARD. rado. Poster Sessions Marv Geller gave a brief overview “Dissimilarity in the Evolution of of the Climate and Weather of the “New Look for the Online Solar Da- Solar EUV and Solar Radio Emission Sun-Earth System (CAWSES). This is tabases at NGDC,” by Helen Coffey, (2800 MHZ) During 1999-2002,” by

13 THE EARTH OBSERVER • January/February 2003 Vol. 16 No. 1

Rajaram Kane, Instituto Nacional de fornia State University, San Fernando search, High Altitude Observatory, Pesquisas Espacias, Sao Jose dos Cam- Observatory, Northridge. Boulder, Colorado; Hugh Hudson, pos, Brazil. University of California, Berkeley; “Phase Space Reconstruction and Pre- Marvin Geller, Stony Brook Uni- “Details of the SORCE/TIM On-Orbit dictability of Spectral Solar Irradiance versity, New York. Calibrations,” by Greg Kopp, LASP, From SOLSTICE,” by Guoyong Wen, • Bay Area Environmental Research University of Colorado, Boulder. NASA/GSFC, Climate and Radiation Institute, Sonoma, California. Branch, Greenbelt, Maryland. • Vanessa George who was the major “The Sun as Observed by SORCE organizing force and expedited SOLSTICE,” by William McClintock, every detail of the meeting. Her LASP, University of Colorado, Boulder. Acknowledgements efforts assured our success.

“A Model of Solar Spectral Irradi- The authors are pleased to acknowl- For additional information on the ance Between 200 and 400 nm,” by Jeff edge the following individuals for their SORCE Mission, see the SORCE web- Morrill, Naval Research Laboratory, contributions to the SORCE mission site at lasp.colorado.edu/sorce/ for the Washington, DC. and this Science Meeting. latest news and updates.

“SORCE Science Data Processing • SORCE Team Members: Jerry Hard- The 2004 SORCE Science Meeting is set and Availability,” by Chris Pankratz, er, Greg Kopp, George Lawrence, for October 27-29 in New Hampshire. LASP, University of Colorado, Boulder. Bill McClintock, Tom Woods. All Additional information can be are at the LASP, University of found at lasp.colorado.edu/sorce/ “Total Solar Irradiance Measurements: Colorado. 2004ScienceMeeting.html Results and Future Requirements,” by • Session Chairs: O.R. White, Na- Judit Pap, University of Maryland, tional Center for Atmospheric Re- Baltimore County, Maryland.

“Historical Reconstruction of Solar Activity,” by Dora Preminger, Cali- fornia State University, San Fernando Observatory, Northridge.

“Pre-Launch and On-Orbit Prism Transmission Calibrations for SIM on SORCE,” by Byron Smiley, LASP, University of Colorado, Boulder.

“Measuring In-Flight Degradation of SORCE SOLSTICE,” by Marty Snow, LASP, University of Colorado, Boulder.

“The Solar Spectral Irradiance From 200 to 2400 nm as Measured During the ATLAS and EURECA Missions,” by Gerard Thuillier, Service d’Aeronomie du CNRS, France. True to its name, Iceland is shown here covered in a white blanket of ice and snow. Low layers of clouds fl oat over the Greenland Sea (left) and the Atlantic Ocean (bottom). Iceland’s southern, “Solar Feature Identifi cation on PSPT low-lying coastlines are greyish, while the rest of the island remains pristine white. This image was Images,” by Stephen Walton, Cali- acquired on January 28, 2004, by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Aqua satellite. Image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC.

14 THE EARTH OBSERVER • January/February 2003 Vol. 16, No. 1

CMORPH: A New High-resolution Global Precipitation Analysis System

— Robert J. Joyce, RS Information Systems, McLean, VA — John E. Janowiak, Climate Prediction Center/NWS/NOAA — Phillip A. Arkin, ESSIC/University of Maryland — Pingping Xie, Climate Prediction Center/NWS/NOAA

A new high-resolution global pre- ior of microwave-derived precipitation a time-weighting interpolation between cipitation analysis technique dubbed estimates in which IR data are used microwave-derived features that have “CMORPH” (CPC MORPHed precipi- to estimate rainfall in locations and been propagated forward in time from tation) has been developed at NOAA’s instances where microwave data are the previous microwave observation Climate Prediction Center (CPC) for not available. and those that have been propagated the real-time monitoring of global backward in time from the following precipitation. CMORPH provides pre- CMORPH is a considerably differ- microwave scan. We refer to this latter cipitation estimates on a 0.25° lat/lon ent method that uses precipitation step as “morphing” of the features. grid from 60°N-60°S with a temporal estimates that have been derived resolution of 30 minutes. Analyses are from low orbiter satellite microwave To date, the CMORPH technique uses available dating back to December 1, observations exclusively, and whose precipitation estimates that have been 2002, and are updated routinely. Plans features are transported via spatial derived from seven separate instru- have been made to extend these analy- advection information that is obtained ments: the Special Sensor Microwave ses back to early 1998. entirely from geostationary satellite IR Imager (SSM/I) instruments aboard data. Note that this technique is not a the three Department of Defense The motivation for developing such an precipitation estimation algorithm but meteorological satellites, the Advanced analysis system stems from the well- a means to combine estimates from Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU-B) known fact that passive microwave existing algorithms. Therefore, this aboard three NOAA polar orbiters, and (MW) observations yield more direct method is extremely fl exible, permit- the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) information about precipitation than ting precipitation estimates from any aboard the Tropical Rainfall Measuring is available from IR data. Yet, because satellite source to be incorporated. Mission (TRMM) spacecraft. We soon platforms that house these instru- In effect, IR data are used as a means hope to incorporate precipitation esti- ments are relegated to polar orbits, to transport the microwave-derived mates from the Advanced Microwave the MW-derived estimates have poor precipitation features during periods Sounding Radiometer-EOS (AMSR-E) spatial and temporal sampling charac- when microwave data are not avail- instrument aboard Aqua. The algo- teristics. Conversely, while the IR data able at a location. Advection vector rithms that produce the precipitation provide relatively poor estimates of matrices are produced by computing estimates used by CMORPH were precipitation, they provide extremely spatial lag correlations on successive developed by scientists at NOAA and good spatial and temporal sampling. images of geostationary satellite IR and NASA . Given these facts, the natural course are then used to propagate the micro- of action is to attempt to combine the wave-derived precipitation estimates. To demonstrate the time continuity of data from these disparate sensors to This process governs only the move- the half-hourly CMORPH estimates, take advantage of the strengths that ment of the precipitation features. At a we present in Figure 1 a comparison each has to offer. To this end, a number given location, the shape and intensity among precipitation estimates from of techniques have been developed in of the precipitation features in the actual passive microwave information which the IR data are manipulated in a intervening hour periods between (top row), CMORPH estimates (middle statistical fashion to mimic the behav- microwave scans are determined from row) and radar (bottom row) for a

15 THE EARTH OBSERVER • January/February 2003 Vol. 16 No. 1 A comparison among precipitation A Figure 1: Figure estimates from actual passive microwave information (top row), CMORPH estimates (middle row) and radar (bottom for a squall line on December 18, 2002.

16 THE EARTH OBSERVER • January/February 2003 Vol. 16, No. 1 squall line on December 18, 2002. Note More information about this method- and rain gauges can be obtained that the “blank” maps in the top row ology, the availability of the analyses, from: www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/ indicate that no passive microwave in- and daily comparisons with radar janowiak/cmorph.html formation was available at those times, which means that the CMORPH esti- 2003 Comparison with Gauge Analyses over U.S. mates that correspond to those times (statistics on daily data computed over 15 day periods) were generated by using the IR data to Spatial Correlation translate and to morph the precipita- 0.9 tion features. The correspondence of 0.8 the location of the precipitation features 0.7 at these times of missing microwave 0.6 data with the locations in the radar 0.5 data suggest that CMORPH is a viable 0.4 0.3 technique. CMORPH 0.2 Merged Microwave Only Radar The results of a comparison of the 0.1 CMORPH precipitation with high-reso- 0.0 April May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec lution reference rain gauge analyses and radar estimates over the continental U.S. during April-December Heidke Skill Score 0.9 2003 are shown in Figure 2. The fi gure 0.8 indicates that CMORPH (black line) 0.7 performs consistently better than an 0.6 analysis in which microwave-derived 0.5 estimates alone (gray line) are used, i.e., 0.4 IR data are not used. It also indicates 0.3 that the CMORPH estimates generally CMORPH 0.2 Merged Microwave Only perform about as well as radar (light Radar 0.1 gray line). This good agreement with 0.0 April May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec validation data suggests the potential for CMORPH to provide reasonably accurate precipitation measurements over Bias Score areas of the globe where gauges and 1.6 radars are sparse or non-existent, such 1.4 as over oceans and over many meteoro- 1.2 logically important land areas. Further- 1.0 more, the temporal and spatial scales 0.8 of these estimates make them suitable 0.6 for use in a variety of applications in CMORPH the hydrologic, climate, and modeling 0.4 Merged Microwave Only Radar communities. Initial studies indicate 0.2 that the accuracy of the estimates pro- 0.0 April May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec duced by this method can be improved Figure 2: Statistics generated from a comparison of CMORPH (black line), NOAA/NWS Stage-II dramatically with more sampling from radar estimates (light gray line), and microwave-only estimates (gray line) using a high-resolution MW instruments and thus will benefi t daily rain-gauge analysis over the continental U.S. as the benchmark. Statistics were computed on daily data for 15-day periods. greatly from the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission, which is scheduled for launch in 2008.

17 THE EARTH OBSERVER • January/February 2003 Vol. 16 No. 1

USGS Announces New Product Line

—John Dwyer, [email protected], U.S. Geological Survey

A technique to estimate radiometric instrument failed May 31, 2003. pixels. The USGS is continuing to values in Landsat 7 data gaps has been research other methods of providing selected, and the resulting new prod- In the planned products, the gap pixels better gap pixel estimates/merged data ucts will be available to customers in are replaced with data from a previ- products and will continue to provide June 2004. ously acquired SLC-on scene that is information resulting from this work as registered and histogram matched it becomes available. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to the SLC-off image. The histogram Landsat 7 Project at the Earth Resource matching technique is a localized linear A sample product, with a comparison Observation System (EROS) Data transform performed in a moving win- with the degraded data, further infor- Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota has dow throughout the missing pixels. mation and regular updates on the been taking steps to increase the utility planned product release can be found of the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus Also, in March 2004 the current ETM+ at landsat7.usgs.gov/slc_enhancements/. (ETM+) data that includes non-func- SLC-off product will be available to the tional scan-line corrector (SLC) arti- public with a user-selectable amount facts. The SLC on the Landsat 7 ETM+ of interpolation to replace missing gap

The locals call it Dâures—the burning mountain, but it may be better known as the Brandberg Massif. Its volcanism has long since stilled, but the granite core left behind apparently glows red in the light of the setting sun. The formation is a remnant of a long period of tumultuous volcanic and geologic activity on Earth during which the southern super-continent of Gondwana was splitting apart. This image was acquired by Landsat 7’s Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus (ETM+) sensor. The image was provided by the USGS EROS Data Center Satellite Systems Branch as part of the Earth as Art II image series.

18 THE EARTH OBSERVER • January/February 2003 Vol. 16, No. 1

Kudos

The American Meteorological Society bestowed awards on the following ESE/EOS colleagues at its annual meeting held January 12-15 in Seattle.

Fellows

The honor of Fellow is given to an individual for recognition of outstanding contributions to the atmospheric or related oceanic or hydrologic sciences, or their applications, during a substantial period of years. Only two tenths of one percent of membership are approved as Fellows each year. In addition, winners of the AMS prestigious Rossby, Charney, Suomi, Sverdrup, Stommel, Brooks, and Abbe Awards are elected as Fellow. Following are ESE/EOS colleagues elected.

Robert F. Adler, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Robert M. Atlas, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Christopher S. Bretherton, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington

Michael H. Freilich, Oregon State University

Richard B. Rood, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Carl-Gustaf Rossby Research Medal

This is the highest honor that the Society can bestow upon an atmospheric scientist. The award is presented annu- ally for outstanding contributions to the understanding of the structure or behavior of the atmosphere. The medal is named in honor of Carl-Gustaf Rossby, widely known in the meteorological community for his contributions to the basic understanding of the dynamics and thermodynamics of the atmosphere. The following ESE/EOS colleague was elected:

Peter J. Webster, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences and Civil & Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technol- ogy “for enduring contributions to understanding the general circulation of the tropical atmosphere-ocean system, through insightful research and exemplary scientifi c leadership.”

Verner E. Suomi Award

The Verner E. Suomi Award is given to individuals in recognition of highly signifi cant technological achievement in the atmospheric or related oceanic and hydrologic sciences. The following ESE/EOS colleague was elected:

Michael H. Freilich, Oregon State University “for pioneering the development and scientifi c application of satellite scatterometry as an essential oceanographic tool.”

Professor George H. Born, Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, and a member of the Jason-1 Science Team, has been elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering “for contributions to satellite orbit determination and for applications of satellites to geophysics and oceanography.” The Earth Observer staff and the entire scientifi c community wishes to congratulate Professor Born on this outstanding accom- plishment.

19 THE EARTH OBSERVER • January/February 2003 Vol. 16 No. 1

from Steve LaDochy (California State University-LA) and Bill Patzert (NASA JPL).

Giant Satellite Keeps Tabs on Volca- noes, Jan. 27; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; John LaBrecque (Manager, NASA’s program on solid Earth and natural hazards) talks about ASTER’s role in studying volcanoes.

Using Hot Towers to Identify Inten- sifying Hurricanes, Jan. 12; Associated Press, Discovery Canada, Environment Coming CA Storms, Feb. 19; KCAL & to be responsible for killing ozone in News Service, Dallas Morning News, EC KABC TV (Channels 9 & 2 in LA) inter- the stratosphere Planet (Italian translation), and many viewed Bill Patzert (NASA JPL) about more; TRMM data shows that a hur- Drought Sneaks Up On Water Supply, coming storms and how they could ricane is twice as likely to intensify if a Various dates, Feb. 2004; Associated give Southern California some relief hot tower is seen in its eyewall, accord- Press, CNN, Contra Costa Times, Cox from the 6 year drought. ing to NASA’s Owen Kelley and John Cable News, KABC TV and Radio (790 Stout (both NASA GSFC). Research Patzert Appointed to the Educational am in LA), KFWB (980 am radio in LA), was inspired by Joanne Simpson’s Board of the Metropolitan Water Dis- Metro Networks, San Diego Union-Tri- (NASA GSFC) hurricane studies that trict (MWD) of Southern California, bune, San Jose Mercury News, CA , Santa began in the 1950s. Feb. 17 2004; MWD of Southern Califor- Barbara News-Press, Sarasota Herald- nia press release; Bill Patzert (NASA Tribune, FL, South Coast Beacon (Santa Satellite Surface Wind Data Helps JPL) will help guide the development Barbara, CA); Bill Patzert (NASA JPL) Improve 2-5 Day Weather Forecasts, of “The Center for Water Education” was interviewed about the California Jan. 19; Space Daily; Bob Atlas (NASA and “The Western Center for Archaeol- drought in various articles. GSFC) discusses how QuikSCAT data ogy and Paleontology.” is providing meteorologists with more NASA Satellites Help Improve Ocean accurate data on surface winds over the “Warm Florida” Earth & Sky Radio Condition Forecasts, Jan. 29; Rednova, global oceans. Series, Feb. 14; Earth & Sky Radio; Bill Spacefl ightNow, and others; Yi Chao Patzert (NASA JPL) contributed to this (NASA JPL) discussed a prototype NASA Supports Atmospheric Sci- radio series asking what exactly makes three-dimensional, three-day ocean ence Research at Hampton University, the Sunshine State so warm? condition forecast created with the Jan. 19; The Virginian-Pilot; William assistance of NASA satellite data, Grose (NASA LaRC/National Institute Two NASA Satellites Aid Weather computer models and on-site ocean of Aerospace), Patrick McCormick Forecasts, Feb.9; Palm Beach Post; Gary measurements. (Hampton University), and James Jedlovec (NASA MSFC) discusses how Russell (Hampton University) speak NASA satellites are providing greater Pacifi c Dictates Droughts and Drench- about the research partnership between detail that helps forecasters make better ings, Jan. 29; British Columbia (Canada) NASA LaRC and Hampton University. predictions Portal, Innovations Report (Germany) ScienceDaily and more; The cooler and From Neighborhoods to Globe, NASA Ozone-Eater Molecule Caught in Ac- drier conditions in Southern Califor- Looks at Land, Jan. 14; DadaAt (Aus- tion, Feb. 6; Discovery.com; Paul New- nia over the last few years appear to tria); Innovations Report (Germany); man (NASA GSFC) and Ross Sala- be a direct result of a long-term ocean Christa Peters-Lidard’s (NASA GSFC) witch (NASA JPL) discuss discovery of pattern known as the Pacifi c Decadal research on NASA’s Land Info concern- the CI-O-O-CI molecule, long believed Oscillation, according to research ing the effect that cities and other local

20 THE EARTH OBSERVER • January/February 2003 Vol. 16, No. 1 land surfaces might have on regional International Summer School on Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and global land and atmospheric Observing Systems for Atmospheric Composition processes. September 20-24, 2004 Forest Fires Fuel Climate Change L’Aquila Italy Variations, Jan. 5; ASCRIBE newswire, Environment News Service, UPI; Guido Topics van der Werf (NASA GSFC) and James • The need for observing systems of atmospheric composition Randerson (UC-Irvine) were quoted • The concept of a sensor web in various articles on how forest fi res • Sensor web components: Satellites, intensive fi eld campaigns (chemistry, may play a more signifi cant role in the microphysics, and transparent process studies), ground-based monitoring build-up of greenhouse gases than was networks previously thought. Other researchers • Handling data from the Sensor Web on the study included G. James Col- latz and Louis Giglio (NASA GSFC), Lecturers Include Prasad S. Kasibhatla and Avelino F. P. K. Bhartia, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, USA Arellano Jr. (Duke University), Seth W. H. Brune, Pennsylvania State University, USA Olsen (California Institute of Technol- K. L. Demerjian, University at Albany, USA ogy) and Eric S. Kasischke (Univ. D. J. Jacob, Harvard University, USA Maryland, College Park) P. Newman, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, USA K. Reichard, Pennsylvania State University, USA NASA Scientists Studying ‘Perfect V. Rizi, University of L’Aquila, Italy Storm’ Incidents, Dec. 21; Newport M. Schoeberl, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, USA News Daily Press; Bill Smith, Sr., A. Thompson, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, USA (LaRC) and John Murray (NASA A. Wahner, Institute for Atmospheric Chemistry, Julich, Germany LaRC) discuss their work in a fi eld experiment designed to improve weather Directors of the School forecasts. William H. Brune, Director Mark Schoeberl and Andreas Wahner, Co-Directors Weathering the Forecast, Jan. 8; Santa Barbara South Coast Beacon; Sally Cap- Local Organizer Committee pon interviewed Bill Patzert (NASA Guido Visconti, [email protected] JPL) reports on why forecasters “can’t Piero di Carlo, [email protected] seem to get it right.” Registration Fee NASA Satellites Improve Response to The registration fee is fi xed at 600 euro (Students 400 euro) including: atten- Global Agricultural Change , Jan. 20; dance to lectures, lecture notes, coffee breaks, social dinner and excursion. Brightsurf.com, Sciencedaily, Spaceref Ed ; For those registering before May 30, 2004 the fee will be reduced to 450 euro Sheffner (NASA HQ) is featured in this (full) and 300 euro (students). story about how NASA’s Earth satellite observing systems are helping the U.S. Contact Department of Agriculture Foreign ISSAOS 2004-OBSERVING SYSTEMS FOR ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION Agricultural Service improve the accu- c/o Dipartmento de Fisca - Universitá degli Studi di L’Aquila - 67010 Cop- racy and timeliness of information they pito (L’Aquila), Italy provide about important crops around Phone: +39 0862 433118/433075 the world. Fax: +39 0862 433033/433089 E-mail: [email protected] Website: cetemps.aquila.infn.it/issaos/issaos2004.html

21 THE EARTH OBSERVER • January/February 2003 Vol. 16 No. 1

Earth Science Enterprise Education Program Update

—Ming-Ying Wei, [email protected], NASA Headquarters —Diane Schweizer, [email protected], NASA Headquarters —Theresa Schwerin, [email protected], Institute for Global Environmental Strategies

Paula Coble joined the NASA HQ Earth for Earth science education over the managers who are tasked with E/PO Science Education Team on Jan. 5, 2004, next fi ve years. It describes Earth Sci- program design and with providing as Program Scientist. She joins Ming ence Enterprise (ESE) goals and objec- meaningful ways for scientists and Ying Wei and Diane Schweizer, and tives for education within the context of engineers to contribute to E/PO efforts, will be taking the lead role in program Agency goals, objectives, and outcomes and educators interested in gaining management of the GLOBE Program for education and presents an approach perspective about working with scien- and also will be working on cyberin- for achieving them. The draft NASA tists and engineers in E/PO. frastructure and information technol- ESE education plan is available online ogy issues. She has been challenged to at earth.nasa.gov/education/. To celebrate the workshop’s 10th an- improve the fl ow of data and informa- niversary, SSI will also be hosting a spe- tion from NASA observatories to the NASA Earth Explorers Series — Tom cial symposium on Thursday, April 29. education community. Nolan’s Excellent Adventure The symposium will feature SSI Work- shop Alumni success stories and expe- Coble has been heavily involved in The latest feature in NASA’s Earth riences in educational settings and will science education since 1996, when Explorers series spotlights NASA Jet provide focused time for discussion she started Project Oceanography, a Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) engineer about hot topics in space and Earth sci- satellite-televised program for middle Tom Nolan. Nolan is currently op- ence education. It may be added onto school science students that reaches erations engineer for the Multi-angle the workshop experience or attended over 2,000,000 students in 43 states Imaging Radiometer (MISR), an instru- on its own. The workshop is spon- and 17 foreign countries. Program ment onboard the Terra satellite, but sored by NSF, with support from the schedules, archived videos, and writ- his path to that position was anything NASA Offi ce of Space Science, Western ten instructional materials for teachers but typical. See www.nasa.gov/audience/ Region Broker/Facilitator. For more can be found at: www.marine.usf.edu/ foreducators for this Earth Explorer’s information, visit halvas.spacescience.org/ pjocean. More recently, she served as fascinating story. registration/k12spring2004/1.asp the Director of the Florida Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence Space Science Institute Education DLESE Announces Annual Meeting, (COSEE), one of seven new regional Workshop for Scientists, Engineers, Madison, Wisconsin, July 11-13, 2004 centers funded by the National Science and E/PO Managers, Boulder, Colo- Foundation to enhance science educa- rado, April 25-28 2004 The Digital Library for Earth System tion and promote the infusion of ocean Education (DLESE) annual meeting science research knowledge into the This Space Science Institute (SSI) work- will be held at the University of Wis- public sector. shop offers participants a learning ex- consin in Madison, WI from July 11-13, perience that supports the design and 2004. An optional skills workshop is Draft NASA ESE Education Plan implementation of effective Education scheduled for July 10th. The broad Available and Public Outreach (E/PO) programs. theme for the meeting is “DLESE: A The workshop is targeted towards Teaching and Learning Tool.” Provide Inspire the Next Generation of Earth those who work in any sphere of space DLESE with your feedback on the sub- Explorers: NASA’s plan for Earth Science or Earth science, including scientists jects and focus areas that most interest Education describes NASA’s direction or engineers interested in K-14 E/PO, you by fi lling out the preliminary call

22 THE EARTH OBSERVER • January/February 2003 Vol. 16, No. 1 for interest found at: www.dlese.org/ ing visual cloud observations and sun GLOBE is a worldwide network of annualmtg/2004/CallIntro.html. These photometer data collection through K-12 students who, under the guidance ideas and comments will greatly as- the GLOBE project website. Accepted of trained teachers, make a core set of sist the planning committee as they participants will receive both a stipend environmental observations. prepare a meeting program that has and travel expenses. Support will be the widest possible appeal and great- provided to the participants to develop See: www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/ est impact. For more information and present at regional workshops in 5-8/features/F_Globe_Program_ visit www.dlese.org/annualmtg/2004 or their local school systems. Sunshine.html to fi nd out how a group contact David Steer, Planning Commit- of kids from the Edmund Burke School tee Chair; Phone: 330-972-2099; Email: For an application and more infor- in Washington, D.C., helped NASA [email protected] mation, click on “OUTREACH” at scientists assess the accuracy of satellite www-calipso.larc.nasa.gov/ . Additional aerosol measurements. Educator Workshop — NASA Sat- mission information can be found at: ellites Study Earth’s Atmosphere: cloudsat.atmos.colostate.edu and eos- Online versions of the monthly news- CALIPSO, CloudSat, and Aura work- aura.gsfc.nasa.gov letters can be found at earth.nasa.gov/ ing with the GLOBE Project — July education 12-22, 2004, Fort Collins, Colorado NASAEarth Explorer Series — The GLOBE Program: Science In The This event is currently scheduled for Sunshine July 12-22, 2004 in Fort Collins Colo- rado. This workshop primarily targets The latest article in NASA’s Earth middle school educators who will work Explorers series features a team of with the CALIPSO, CloudSat, and Aura students that traveled to Croatia for missions to involve students in report- an international GLOBE conference

Inhabited since medieval times, the city of Berlin grew up out of settlements along the Spree River in a region of Europe long known as “the Mark of Brandenburg.” From its fi rst recorded settlements in 1237, Berlin has grown into the capital and biggest city of Germany. It has a population of about 3.5 million and extends over 889 square kilometers. The Spree River runs horizontally through the center part of the scene. To the left of center, on the south side of the Spree, is the city’s Tiergarten, a large park in central Berlin. The park and gardens are an oasis of green amid the city’s dense urban development, which appears gray in the image. At upper right, a patchwork of fi elds is visible.

Berlin was the capital of Prussia until 1945 and the capital of Germany between 1871 and 1945 and again since the reunifi cation of Germany on October 3, 1990. Between 1949 and 1990, it was divided into East Berlin, the capital of the German Democratic Republic, and West Berlin. The city was divided by the Berlin Wall (white line on image) until November 9, 1989.

This ASTER image covers an area of 22.5 by 20.2 km, and was acquired August 22, 2002. Image courtesy NASA/GSFC/MITI/ERSDAC/ JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team.

23 THE EARTH OBSERVER • January/February 2003 Vol. 16 No. 1

NASA’s Improved Web-Resource on the World’s Changing Climate

—Rob Gutro, [email protected], Goddard Space Flight Center

Earth Observatory Feature Story: earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NasaNews/2004/2004030116590.html

Students, scientists, teachers, reporters face, Oceans, Paleoclimate, Snow and and may then, in turn, host individual, and the scientifi cally curious can locate Ice, Solid Earth, Spectral/Engineering customized subsets of the database any kind of Earth science data much and Sun-Earth Interactions. through “portals” through which they easier and quicker than ever before, can display their own contribution. using NASA’s Global Change Master Users can search over 15,000 data sets Directory (GCMD). The redesigned and services and link to more than over Reporters and others interested in up- website, a directory of Earth science 76,000 resources within the descriptions coming recent climate change confer- data and services was launched on The individual data set descriptions ences can fi nd up to 1,000 entries under March 1 to provide easier access to data were contributed by more than 1,300 the “Calendar” tab. Under the “What’s and services. data centers, government agencies, New” tab, there are new Earth science universities, research institutions, and and climate change research stories and Internet users can access the di- private researchers around the world. the latest GCMD data set descriptions. rectory at globalchange.nasa.gov or gcmd.nasa.gov. The re-launched website For scientists and others who want to Students and teachers will also benefi t is easier to navigate, with 9 tabs run- add or modify GCMD datasets, they from the “Learning Center” that can ning atop the home page, including: can do so under the “Authoring” tab by be found under the “Community” tab. Home, Data Sets; Data Services; Portals; using the new “docBUILDER” web- Clicking on “FAQ: Frequently Asked Authoring; What’s New; Community; based tools. Under the “Data Services” Questions” at the bottom of the homep- Calendar; and Links. tab are available services from analysis age, one can see answers to questions and visualization tools to education such as “Where can I fi nd information The GCMD, updated daily, provides and environmental advisories. about the ozone hole and ozone deple- Earth science data sets and services tion?” Finally, the “Links” tab acts as relevant to global change research. The “Portals” tab is the most important a web-based search engine for easy The GCMD’s 13 data set topics, found to specifi c groups of data users. “Per- access to over 2,500 Earth science web under the “Data Sets” tab, provide haps the greatest contribution of the resources. summaries of the data sets and specifi c GCMD to the public has been the abil- information such as data over time and ity to create customized subsets of the For those who use the directory often, location, a citation for the creator of the directory that can be displayed, in turn, there is also a search box icon that database, and direct links to data and by special interest groups,”said Lola permits direct access to the directory services. Olsen, Directory Project Manager at through a simple download to a user’s NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center website. Users can also subscribe to an Available dataset topics range from tiny in Greenbelt, Md. “These groups save email notifi cation on postings of new airborne particles (aerosols) to the con- major development and maintenance datasets for “Earth Science Topics” and tinental-sized ozone hole to global sea costs by re-using the directory capabili- “Geographic Locations” by clicking on surface temperatures. The GCMD top- ties.” For example, member countries “Subscribe” on the left tool bar. ics include: Agriculture, Atmosphere, of the Joint Committee on Antarctic Biosphere, Climate Indicators, Human Data Management (JCADM) contribute The directory content is shared and Dimensions, Hydrosphere, Land Sur- directory entries using the GCMD tools available as part of NASA’s contribu-

24 THE EARTH OBSERVER • January/February 2003 Vol. 16, No. 1 tion to the Committee on Earth Obser- Questions can be directed to Lola Ol- Directory, please visit on the Internet: vation Satellites’ (CEOS) International sen, GCMD Project Manager, Code 902, globalchange.nasa.gov or gcmd.nasa.gov. Directory Network (IDN). The content NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, is also made available to the National Greenbelt, Md. 20771 Phone: 301-614- For more information, please visit on Spatial Data Infrastructure’s (NSDI) 5361 E-mail: [email protected]. the Internet: www.gsfc.nasa.gov/topstory/ Federal Geographic Data Committee’s 2004/0301gcmd.html. (FDGC) Clearinghouse. To access the Global Change Master

Mushrooms of smoke billow up from burning vegetation in the Amazon and spread across a wide region of Mato Grosso state in Brazil in this Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image captured by the Aqua satellite on August 11, 2002. To the north, puffs of cumulus clouds hang above the forest. According to a new study by NASA scientists, the absence of clouds where smoke is present isn’t a coincidence; analysis of data captured by Aqua MODIS in August through October 2002 revealed that smoke from biomass burning inhibits cloud formation in the tropics. Image by Jesse Allen & Robert Simmon, based on data provided by the MODIS Science Team.

25 THE EARTH OBSERVER • January/February 2003 Vol. 16 No. 1

Warming Oceans Could Mean More Rainy Days in Paradise

—Mike Bettwy, [email protected], Earth Science News Team, Goddard Space Flight Center

NASA Portal Feature Story: www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/environment/Tropical_Rain.html

Don’t look for more sunny days while the droplets collide, they form rain- hazards using the unique vantage point vacationing in paradise! A recent study drops, which grow large and heavy of space. TRMM was launched in Nov. of tropical oceans that used satellites enough to fall out as warm rain. The 1997 and is a joint mission with the including NASA’s Tropical Rainfall researchers discovered that for every National Space Development Agency Measuring Mission (TRMM), found degree rise in sea surface temperature, of Japan (NASDA). that rain in the tropics will become a cloud produces as much as 10% more Clouds from Space more frequent as ocean temperatures light-to-moderate rainfall. This image over Southern Brazil, taken rise. Cold rains are associated with brief, from the space shuttle, shows a mixture of cold and warm clouds. Warm clouds are found near A ‘Wetter’ Water Cycle heavy downpours. Here, strong vertical the bottom of the image. The tops of such clouds winds carry larger raindrops high into are generally found below 3.1 miles (5 km). Cold The Earth’s pattern of evaporation clouds with a more ragged, bumpy appearance, the atmosphere, where they freeze and and precipitation, known as the water typically rise above 6.2 miles (10 km) and cover continue to grow. This process is driven the top and left portions of the image. These cycle, will intensify due to warming mostly by the speed of the winds and clouds are capable of producing very heavy rain temperatures, according to William Lau and thunderstorms. Credit: NASA less on sea surface temperature. When and Huey-Tzu Jenny Wu of NASA’s water vapor condenses it releases heat, Goddard Space Flight Center. warming the lower atmosphere, as The rate that moisture in a cloud is observed during warm rain. But, this converted into rainfall is known as warming also makes the air lighter precipitation effi ciency. This study and rise faster, creating strong vertical found that when sea surface tempera- winds that produce more cold rain. tures warm, the precipitation effi ciency The study found warm rains account NOTE: for light rains dramatically increases. for about 30% of the total global rainfall Compared to actual observations from Once The Earth Observer is pro- and 72% of the total rain over tropical the TRMM satellite, computer models duced and sent to the printer, a oceans, pointing to the major role of used in weather prediction repeatedly PDF version is placed on-line warm rains in the water cycle. underestimated this effi ciency. at eos.gsfc.nasa.gov/earth_ Additional research is needed to better observer.php. Approximately “We believe this is a scenario where in understand the relationship between two weeks later, the printed copy is a warmer climate there will be more warming sea surface temperatures and received from the printer, labeled and rain. And more warm rain will be as- increased warm-rain precipitation, and sent to everyone on our mailing list. sociated with a more vigorous water to determine how cold rain processes If you would prefer the pdf version cycle and extreme weather patterns,” might be impacted. only, please email Steve Graham at ste Lau said. [email protected], and NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise is Warm vs. Cold Rain we will remove you from the mailing dedicated to understanding the Earth list. We will then send an email to Warm rain is created when water drop- as an integrated system and applying you each time a pdf version is placed lets form around airborne particles, Earth System Science to improve pre- on the web site. such as dust, and produce clouds. As diction of climate, weather and natural

26 THE EARTH OBSERVER • January/February 2003 Vol. 16, No. 1

France. URL: www.copernicus.org/COSPAR/ COSPAR.html August 1-6

Stratospheric Processes and their Role in Climate (SPARC) 3rd General Assembly, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. URL: sparc.seos.uvic.ca August 1-6

The Ecological Society of America 89th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR. URL: www.esa.org/portland/ August 16-26

The European Space Agency's (ESA) 2nd ENVISAT Summer School on Earth System Monitoring & Modeling, Frascati, Italy. URL: envisat.esa.int/envschool/ September 4-9

The 8th Scientifi c Conference of the International Global Atmospheric Chemistry Project (IGAC), Christchurch, New Zealand. URL: www.igaconference2004.co.nz September 13-17

SPIE’s Sensors, Systems, and Next Generation Satellites X (RSO3), Maspalomos, Gran Canaria, Spain. Contact May 2-7 Steven Neeck, [email protected]. URL: EOS Science Calendar spie.org/info/ers 2004 Gordon Research Conference, Biogenic Hydrocarbons and the Atmosphere, September 20-24 August 17-19 Il Ciocco, Barga, Italy. URL: www.grc.org International Geoscience and Remote MODIS Vegetation Workshop II, University of May 23-28 Sensing Symposium (IGARRS), Anchorage, Montana, Contact: Steve running, (406) 243- Alaska. URL: www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/grss/ American Society for Photogrammetry 6311, [email protected] igarss.html and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) October 27-29 Annual Conference, Denver, CO. URL: October 13-16 www.asprs.org/denver2004 SORCE Science Team Meeting, Meredith, Surface Ocean Lower Atmosphere Study New Hampshire URL: lasp.colorado.edu/ June 16-24 (SOLAS) 2004 Open Science Conference, sorce/2004ScienceMeeting.html Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canaca. URL: 8th Biennial HITRAN Conference, www.uea.ac.uk/eng/solas/ss04.html Cambridge, MA. URL:cfa-www.hanuand.edu/ Global Change Calendar HITRAN November 8-12

July 12-23 SPIE’s Fourth International Asia-Pacifi c March 22-23 Environmental Remote Sensing Symposium, International Society for Photogrammetry Honolulu, Hawaii. Abstracts due April 26, Seventeenth Annual Towson University and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), Istanbul, 2004. URL: spie.org/conferences/calls/04/ GIS Conference, Towson University, Turkey. URL: www.isprs2004-istanbul.com Baltimore, MD. Contact: Jay Morgan, ae/ Email: [email protected], URL: July 18-25 cgis.towson.edu/tugis2004 35th COSPAR Scientifi c Assembly, Paris,

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