President Bush Visits NOAA
President Bush announced a new global climate change initiative during an
address at the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) Science Center on February 14. Prior to his address,
President Bush toured several exhibits that provided an overview of NOAA's
climate monitoring and research activities. The President was accompanied by
Commerce Secretary Don Evans, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, EPA
Administrator Christie Todd Whitman, the Under Secretary of Commerce for
Oceans and Atmosphere--retired Navy VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, and other
high-ranking government officials.
One of six NOAA exhibits was dedicated to the contribution that the National
Climatic Data Center makes in enhancing our understanding of the Earth's
climate. Tom Karl, Director of the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC),
presented President Bush with a brief look at the role that NCDC plays in
providing continuing assessments of extremes and trends in US and global
climate. His discussion included NCDC's development of a blended data set of
satellite and surface observations as well as long-term US and global
temperatures. Also included in his presentation were maps from NCDC's
Climate
Atlas and a look at a new climate index developed at NCDC that uses seasonal
temperatures to better explain the demand for residential energy in the U.S.
Tom Karl concluded with NCDC's analysis of Billion-Dollar weather and climate
disasters in the U.S. Photos taken and images included in Tom Karl's presentation to
President
Bush are available below.
