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News

The news provided in this section highlights program activities, achievements, and opportunities of interest to the ARM community and general public. Additional news for the ARM Climate Research Facility (ACRF) may be found at Operations Updates and recent ARM science results may be found at Research Highlights.

Current Stories

07/23/2008 - Second Version of Long-Term Climate Modeling Best Estimate Data Released

With major improvements in the cloud fraction, cloud liquid water path (LWP), precipitable water vapor (PWV), and surface radiative fluxes, a new version of the "Climate Modeling Best Estimate" (CMBE) is now available from the ARM Climate Research Facility (ACRF) Archive. This data set, specifically tailored for use in evaluating global climate models, includes long-term best estimates from 11 selected ACRF measurements and now encompasses data from the ACRF sites in Barrow, Alaska; Nauru Island; Manus Island, Papua New Guinea; and Darwin, Australia; and the Southern Great Plains (SGP) site in Lamont, Oklahoma.

Recent improvements to input datastreams for the CMBE—Microwave Radiometer (MWR) Retrievals (MWRRET) Principal Investigator Data Product and Data Quality Assessment for ARM Radiation Data (QCRAD) Value-Added Product (VAP)—were used in this revision. As a result, LWP and PWV data from the SGP site were reprocessed using the MWRRET data, which resulted in considerable changes in these fields. The surface radiative fluxes at the Manus Island and Darwin sites were revised using the QCRAD data. In addition, a new quality control flag indicates whether the best estimate of cloud fraction is determined by both Millimeter Wavelength Cloud Radar (MMCR) and Micropulse Lidar (MPL) or just one of the instruments.

For a complete summary of all the changes in version 2, see the CMBE web page. To access these data, log in to the Data Archive. (Go here to request an account.)

07/15/2008 - Extract This! Enhanced Visualization Tool Available at the Data Archive

Like many scientific organizations, the ACRF Data Archive stores and distributes atmospheric data from the ACRF sites in Network common data form, or NetCDF. This file format applies names or attributes to the various layers of data for efficient identification and processing. Then, using an interactive web-based tool called NCVweb, users can plot the data sets for easy viewing. In June, the Data Archive rolled out an enhancement to the NCVweb tool that allows users to extract a subset of fields from a data stream to create custom NetCDF files. The new data extraction capability also performs a number of visualization functions that would be time-consuming or difficult for users to do themselves, especially users new to ARM-formatted files. To read more, see the July 15 edition of the ACRF Operations Update.

07/01/2008 - New Report Details One-of-a-Kind Data Quality Assurance Approach

Very few long-running (10+ years) field based measurement programs have the diversity of instruments and data types that the ARM Climate Research Facility (ACRF) does. This month, the ACRF data team published a report that goes beyond the narrow definition of data quality assurance by describing its end-to-end approach to data quality, which has evolved since 1992. Titled Quality Assurance of ARM Program Climate Research Facility Data, the document includes a comprehensive overview of the scope and complexity of the ACRF infrastructure and describes in detail all of the components needed to manage data availability, usability, and accessibility at this scale—key components on which ACRF performance is measured. In sharing this information with the climate research community, ACRF is providing the report as a sort of "conceptual model" for those who may want to attempt a similar feat in other locations or with other observational themes.

"The uniqueness of the ACRF is its diversity of measurements and sites combined with longevity," said Randy Peppler, ACRF Data Quality Assurance Manager. "While some organizations have one or the other, no other program can take credit for both attributes at a similar scale."

Most research programs strive for useable, large-scale data collections, but few have succeeded on such a grand scale. The ACRF has implemented the systems needed to accomplish this capability—very important for maintaining a climate-scale [decades] collection of field observations. Organizations planning on fielding automated environmental and climate data collection sites could find information in the report valuable. The technical report is available on the ARM website under Technical Reports.

06/30/2008 - Interagency Effort Will Help Dial In Carbon Profiles

Beginning in June, the ACRF is supporting an offsite field campaign in Iowa that will obtain a variety of carbon dioxide (CO2) measurements to evaluate the accuracy, precision, and utility of CO2 profiles measured by a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL). To obtain the atmospheric CO2 measurements, the science team will deploy an ACRF balloon-borne sounding system alongside a ground-based NASA CO2 DIAL, a CO2 monitoring tower sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and a temporary mesoscale network of tower-based CO2 sensors supported by the Department of Energy (DOE). The test will evaluate the potential of the new DIAL CO2 technology for future experiments, potentially including space-based measurements. To read more, see the June 30 edition of the ACRF Operations Update.

06/30/2008 - ACRF Science Liaison Chairs Climate Symposium at International Conference

With a theme of "Integrating Science and Sustainability," the Air and Waste Management Association (A&WMA) 101st Annual Conference and Exhibition was held on June 24-27 in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Sylvia Edgerton, ACRF Science Liaison, attended the meeting and chaired the 2008 Critical Review symposium, where a panel of experts debated the finding and conclusions presented by the featured speaker, Michael MacCracken of The Climate Institute. The full Critical Review paper was published in the June issue of the Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, A&WMA's flagship publication of peer-reviewed research. Dr. Edgerton has served as Chair of the Editorial Review Board of the journal for the last two years. To read more, see the June 30 edition of the ACRF Operations Update.

06/30/2008 - Mobile Facility Anchors Multi-site Aerosol Study in China

In its most complex ARM Mobile Facility (AMF) deployment to date, the ACRF is coordinating operations and data collection at four different sites for the Aerosol Indirect Effects Study in China. Anchored by the AMF in Shouxian, the campaign also includes a supplemental facility at Lake Taihu and an ancillary facility that will operate in series at two sites to the north. Needless to say, the campaign logistics kept the AMF operations team on their toes, culminating with opening ceremonies last month at the Shouxian and Lake Taihu sites. Attended by several Chinese dignitaries, media, and science team representatives, the ceremonies marked the official start of data collection by the AMF in Shouxian on May 16. To read more, see the June 15 edition of the ACRF Operations Update.

06/30/2008 - Staying in Synch

Accurate time stamps on data collected at the ACRF sites are very important for confidence in using the measurements for research. At the dispersed facilities across the ACRF Southern Great Plains site, making sure all the instruments and their associated data logging systems are on the same clock is no easy task. Due to their remote locations, many of these field facilities still rely on dialup Internet connections and are susceptible to frequent power outages. After uncovering a minor but pervasive offset in time records, SGP site operations staff quickly diagnosed the problem and set about implementing a solution. New synchronization software installed throughout the site will ensure that future automatic clock resets account for any "drift" between the instrument hardware and data collection systems, keeping SGP site data in synch. To read more, see the June 15 edition of the ACRF Operations Update.

05/22/2008 - Mark Ivey Discusses Arctic Climate Research for Earth Week Interview

As part of a series of interviews to highlight Earth Day in April, KRQE in Albuquerque, New Mexico interviewed Mark Ivey about climate change research in the Arctic. In this video (in Flash) , Mark, Site Manager for the ACRF North Slope of Alaska locale, chats with the reporter about climate models, sea ice, and the significance of research and climate change in the Arctic.

05/22/2008 - ACRF Staff Changes to Make Note of

Martin Stuefer Joins North Slope Team to Help Ensure Data Delivery. Please extend a warm welcome to Dr. Martin Stuefer, the newest member of the ARCF North Slope of Alaska (NSA) site operations team. As the Rapid Response Team Manager for the Barrow and Atqasuk sites, Martin works with NSA operators and mentors to ensure flawless data acquisition and flow.

Martin lives in Fairbanks, Alaska, where he is an atmospheric science research associate at the Geophysical Institute and the Arctic Region Supercomputing Center at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. His research focus is on modeling of wildfire smoke dispersion and aircraft contrail formation in the atmosphere and on atmospheric response of glaciers.

Martin grew up in Tyrol, Austria, and received his masters and doctorate degree in natural science from the Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics at the University of Innsbruck. He is still a visiting professor at Innsbruck, returning about once a year. He enjoys flying his two-seat bush plane, a 1947 Piper Cub, every chance he gets. Welcome to the team, Martin!

ARM Education and Outreach Welcomes Ed Lorusso. Ed Lorusso replaced Andrea Maestas as the ARM Education and Outreach Manager at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Ed joined the ACRF team in March after working in several groups at LANL, including Central Training, Multimedia, and Information Management. He earned his Ph.D. in English from the University of New Mexico (UNM) and has taught literature and writing at UNM, University of Maine, and Trinidad State Junior College in Colorado. Ed looks forward to continuing the ongoing education and outreach activities and working with the various communities that host ACRF sites.

ACRF Data Quality Office Says, "Hello, Justin Monroe!" and "Goodbye, Karen Sonntag." This spring, Justin Monroe joined the ARM Data Quality Office as Karen Sonntag prepared for her new position at the Bureau of Meteorology in Melbourne, Australia. Karen has accepted a 2-year appointment to work with local Australian governments on their forecasting needs. While Karen will be missed here at the ARM Program, we wish her much success in this exciting opportunity!

Prior to joining the team as a research associate, Justin worked for the Data Quality Office on an hourly basis developing software to process surface-observing data for ARM and researching optimal site spacing for surface-observation stations. Other research activities include participating in the ACRF Cloud and Land Surface Interaction Campaign (CLASIC), visiting NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Prediction Environmental Modeling Center, and volunteering to judge the Oklahoma Mesonet/ARM Science Fair. Justin earned an M.S. in meteorology at the University of Oklahoma and has been affiliated with the Oklahoma Mesonet. Please join us in welcoming Justin!

05/15/2008 - Cloud Radars on the Screen at Southern Great Plains Site

With the flip of a switch, a mysterious cirrus dilemma turned from serious to solved recently, as the millimeter wavelength cloud radar (MMCR) passed inspection at the ACRF Southern Great Plains (SGP) site in February. In addition, concerns about data from the ARM Mobile Facility (AMF)'s W-band ARM Cloud Radar (WACR) were alleviated through an intercomparison with the SGP WACR in March. Both radar issues turned out to be minor, but solving them was critical to ensuring the quality of data obtained by the radars in past field campaigns and into the future. To read more, see the May 15 edition of the ACRF Operations Update.

05/15/2008 - North Slope of Alaska Site Hosts Guest Instruments for Arctic Aerosol Study

In addition to airborne measurements obtained at the North Slope of Alaska for the Indirect and Semi-direct Aerosol Campaign (ISDAC) in April, the ACRF site in Barrow also hosted several guest instruments throughout the campaign. Measurements from these additional instruments will provide important supplementary data to the continuous data collected at Barrow for investigating the role of aerosol physics and chemistry in regulating cloud microphysical properties in the Arctic. To read more, see the May 15 edition of the ACRF Operations Update.

05/15/2008 - National User Facility Organization Meets to Discuss Progress and Ideas

In late April, the ACRF Technical Director attended an annual meeting of the National User Facility Organization. Comprised of representatives from Department of Energy (DOE) national user facilities, the purpose of this group is to promote and encourage discussions among user facility administrators, their management, and their user organization representatives by communicating current and future needs, concerns, and trends. To read more, see the May 15 edition of the ACRF Operations Update.

05/08/2008 - Cover Combines Images from Arctic Field Campaign

An image collage representing the Mixed-Phase Arctic Cloud Experiment graces the cover of the latest report from the U.S. Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee. The report, Arctic Observing Network (AON): Toward a U.S. Contribution to Pan-Arctic Observing, pinpoints where and how different Federal agencies are collecting environmental data as part of the implementation of the Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH). This study aims to understand the rapidly changing Arctic, improve predictive capability, and identify appropriate adaptive responses to change. Contributions from the ARM Climate Research Facility's North Slope of Alaska sites are included in the report.

The new report sets forth a plan to continue the AON in cooperation with local, State of Alaska, and international groups. For more information, see the report on the National Science Foundation website.

04/31/2008 - Arctic Aerosol Study Flies By

Ending its mission with a final flight on April 30, 2008, the Indirect and Semi-Direct Aerosol Campaign (ISDAC) flew a total of 103 research hours, completing 27 science flights primarily in the region around the ACRF North Slope of Alaska site in Barrow. These flights included several golden cases where both cloud and aerosol measurements were obtained above, within, and below mixed-phase cloud layers. In addition, the campaign successfully demonstrated first-time airborne deployments of key instruments for measuring aerosol properties. All of the campaign's primary objectives were met, plus some secondary objectives, to help answer the team's science questions related to Arctic cloud and aerosol interactions. To read more, see the April 30 edition of the ACRF Operations Update.

04/31/2008 - Team Scouts Graciosa Island for 2009 Mobile Facility Deployment Site

Indications from a scouting trip by the ARM Mobile Facility (AMF) science and operations management team are that an excellent site for the 2009 deployment may have been found. From April 8 through April 16, the team traveled to Graciosa Island in the Azores to scout sites for the Clouds, Aerosol, and Precipitation in the Marine Boundary Layer (CLAP-MBL) field campaign. To read more, see the April 30 edition of the ACRF Operations Update.

04/31/2008 - ACRF Outreach Materials Chosen for Earth Day Display in Washington DC

Earth Day is officially honored each year on April 22, however, many groups sponsor activities throughout the entire month of April. At DOE Headquarters in Washington DC, two ACRF posters were selected to join a poster display representing programs from numerous DOE offices. The display was featured in the Forrestal Building's ground-level and first floor lobby areas throughout the week of April 21. The posters were then displayed at DOE Headquarters' Germantown facility during the week of April 28. To read more, see the April 30 edition of the ACRF Operations Update.

04/23/2008 - FY 2009 ARM Science Solicitation Announced

DOE's Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER) is now accepting applications to develop innovative methods for observational data analysis and utilize the resulting knowledge from such analyses to improve cloud parameterizations. The intent is to improve the modeling of cloud properties and processes and their impact on the atmospheric radiation balance. Selected research would be part of the ARM Program in BER's Climate Change Research Division.

Potential applicants are required to submit a two-page pre-application describing the research objectives and methods of accomplishment. Preapplications are due by 4:30 p.m. EST, May 21, 2008, and should be sent to Dr. Kiran Alapaty by email, kiran.alapaty@science.doe.gov. Please include "Lead PI name -- Preapplication -- DE-PS02-08ER08-23" in the subject line of the email. Formal applications are due by 8:00 p.m. EST, July 21, 2008. All applications must be submitted using Grants.gov for consideration.

The complete Funding Opportunity Announcement including instructions for both the pre-application and the complete formal application can be found on the DOE Industry Interactive Procurement System. A summary of the announcement can also be found on the DOE Office of Science Grants and Contracts website.

04/15/2008 - CLASIC Discussed at Workshop in Oklahoma

In June 2007, ACRF led the multi-agency Cloud and Land Surface Interaction Campaign (CLASIC) conducted at the ACRF Southern Great Plains site. With scientists beginning to analyze the data, the Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies at the University of Oklahoma hosted a workshop on March 26-27 for participants of CLASIC and others interested in the data collected. The purpose of the workshop, chaired by CLASIC principal investigator Mark Miller, was to discuss the availability and quality of data collected during CLASIC, review initial results, and coordinate follow up research efforts. To read more, see the April 15 edition of the ACRF Operations Update.

03/31/2008 - Interagency Land Use Agreement Signed for North Slope of Alaska

After more than a year of discussions and negotiations, the ACRF has renewed its land use agreement with interagency partners to continue operations at its North Slope of Alaska site at Barrow. Signed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the new agreement extends for 10 more years, with a provision for operations up to 40 years, contingent on an extension of the NOAA/USGS land use withdrawal agreement. The commitment of all parties to this agreement strengthens each organization's position in the Arctic research community. To read more, see the March 31 edition of the ACRF Operations Update.

03/31/2008 - 2008 ARM Science Team Meeting Sails Off into the Sunset

Set against panoramic river views in Norfolk, Virginia, the Eighteenth Annual ARM Science Team Meeting on March 10-14 brought together 270 ARM researchers, ACRF infrastructure members, and leading scientists from 10 countries around the world, including China; Japan; Australia; Niger, Africa; France; and Germany. The meeting provided ample opportunities to review progress on climate research, organize field campaigns, and plan future directions for ARM research. To read more, see the March 31 edition of the ACRF Operations Update.

03/15/2008 - New Radiometer Tested for Measuring Thin Clouds

A Thin-Cloud Rotating Shadowband Radiometer (TCRSR) has completed a month of testing at the ACRF Southern Great Plains (SGP) site to assess its ability to simultaneously retrieve measurements of the size and density of cloud droplets in "thin" clouds, i.e., clouds with water content less than 100 grams per square meter. To read more, see the March 15 edition of the ACRF Operations Update.

02/29/2008 - Scout Team Scopes Out Sites for 2009 Field Campaign in Chile

In February, a four-person scout team spent two weeks in Chile conducting initial site surveys and meeting with local contacts in preparation for phase two of the Radiative Heating in Underexplored Bands Campaign, or RHUBC-II. Planned to take place on the Chajnantor plateau between August and October 2009, this offsite field campaign will use spare ARM instruments, as well as guest instruments, to retrieve infrared radiation measurements across a broad portion of in the electromagnetic spectrum, including the elusive 17-100 microns and 6.7 microns regions. To read more, see the February 29 edition of the ACRF Operations Update.

02/29/2008 - Radar Focus Group Zeroes in on Data Quality

In 2007, the ACRF established a Radar Focus Group to address strategic needs related to the use of radars as a key component of the ACRF instrument suite. Based on needs identified by this group, a smaller team of science, engineering, and data quality staff met in early February in Santa Barbara, California, to determine methods that the Data Quality (DQ) Office can use to routinely monitor operation of the user facility's current cloud radars—namely, the millimeter wavelength cloud radar (MMCR) and W-band ARM Cloud Radar (WACR). To read more, see the February 29 edition of the ACRF Operations Update.

02/29/2008 - Wildlife Challenges Lead to Wireless Solutions

As reported in late 2006, a total precipitation sensor (TPS) was installed near the ACRF North Slope of Alaska (NSA) site in Barrow, to provide measurements of boundary layer (surface to 1000-m altitude) environmental conditions. After falling victim to curious and possibly hungry lemmings and other wildlife in the area, the fiber optic cable used to transfer data from the sensor to the Great White instrument shelter was recently replaced with a wireless data acquisition system and virtual access port. To read more, see the February 29 edition of the ACRF Operations Update.

02/29/2008 - Final Preparations Underway for Arctic Aerosol Field Campaign

With just one month before the start of the Indirect and Semi-direct Aerosol Campaign (ISDAC), the ARM Aerial Vehicles Program (AVP) is finalizing the necessary contract arrangements, instrumentation integration activities, and flight planning scenarios. More than 80 scientists and logistics personnel will gather in Fairbanks, Alaska, to participate in the April campaign, which will obtain airborne and ground-based measurements of aerosol and cloud properties in the vicinity of the ACRF site in Barrow, Alaska. To read more, see the February 29 edition of the ACRF Operations Update.

Updated 02/21/2008 - Request for Small Aircraft Preproposals

Note: The request for proposals is now closed. The call for proposals for FY 2011 will open in the late fall. Preproposals are now being accepted for scientific research at the U.S. Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility (ACRF) for FY 2008-2010 projects that require the routine use of small aircraft at the Southern Great Plains (SGP) field site. DOE has previously leased a Cessna 206 for collecting aerosol and carbon cycle gas measurements in the immediate vicinity of the SGP approximately three times per week. This lease will expire soon, unless there is a successful proposal for continued use of this aircraft. Proposals should focus on scientific issues that improve understanding of the interactions between clouds and atmospheric radiative fluxes and have the potential to lead to improved climate models. The due date for preproposals is February 15, 2008.

Preproposals should be submitted online using the field campaign form at http://www.arm.gov/acrf/fc.stm. A small number of full proposals may be invited, and they will be due on April 1, 2008. For more information on ACRF field campaigns, see the planning document at http://acrf-campaign.arm.gov/fieldcampaigns/documentation/IOPprocess.pdf. To be invited to submit a full proposal, the principal investigator should demonstrate in the preproposal that research funding for their effort has already been secured or that a proposal to a funding agency has already been submitted. ACRF supports facility use and logistical considerations, but does not support research effort, travel, or per diem. The principal investigator is expected to contribute substantially to the instrument integration costs.

01/21/2008 - ACRF Kicks Off 88th American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting at WeatherFest

On January 20, staff from the ARM Climate Research Facility (ACRF) participated in the 7th Annual WeatherFest, an interactive science and weather fair for the public. WeatherFest kicks off the 88th American Meteorological Society annual meeting in New Orleans for the week. During the four-hour event, more than 300 climate change activity and coloring books and over 100 lesson plans were handed out to teachers and students. ACRF Technical Director Jim Mather educated children and their parents about clouds using a "cloud in a jar" demonstration. Formal poster sessions and presentations take place Monday through Friday.

Events

07/18/2008 - Abstracts Due 1 August 2008 for 4th Symposium on Lidar Atmospheric Applications

A symposium on lidar atmospheric applications, sponsored by the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and organized by the AMS Committee on Laser Atmospheric Studies, will be held 11-15 January 2009 as part of the 89th AMS Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. The deadline for abstracts is 1 August 2008.

Please submit your abstract electronically at http://www.ametsoc.org/meet/online_submit.html. An abstract fee of $90 (payable by credit card or purchase order) is charged at the time of submission (refundable only if abstract is not accepted). The $90 abstract fee now includes the submission of your abstract, the posting of your extended abstract, and the uploading and recording of your presentation, which will be archived on the AMS website. Authors of accepted presentations will be notified (via e-mail) in late September 2008. All extended abstracts are to be submitted electronically and will be available online via the web; instructions for formatting extended abstracts will be posted on the AMS website. All abstracts, extended abstracts, and presentations will be available on the AMS website at no cost.

For additional information please contact the program chairpersons:
Belay Demoz, Howard University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, 2355 6TH Street, NW, Washington, DC 20059 (tel: +1 202-806-6256; email: bbdemoz@howard.edu)

Jennifer Comstock, PNNL, PO Box 999 MSIN K9-24, Richland, WA 99352 (tel: +1 509-372-4244; email: jennifer.comstock@pnl.gov)

Andreas Behrendt, University of Hohenheim, Institute of Physics and Meteorology, Garbenstr. 30, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany (tel: +49 711 459 22851, email: behrendt@uni-hohenheim.de).

Preliminary programs, registration, hotel, and general information will be posted on the AMS website in late September.

07/18/2008 - Call for Papers for the 12th Annual Conference on Clean Air, Mercury, Global Warming & Renewable Energy

The largest Energy and Environment Conference (EUEC) and exposition in the United States is now accepting abstracts for technical sessions covering clean air, mercury, global warming, and renewable energy. The conference will be held 1-4 February 2009 at the Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Arizona. Preconference workshops will be on Sunday, February 1, 2009.

With over 1600 participants, 300 presentations, 150 exhibits, and 10 workshops in 2008, the EUEC provided a forum where high-ranking government officials, CEOs and senior managers of energy companies, and world-leading experts shared their work. This year’s conference expects over 2000 participants with 400 presentations. Among the organizers of this year’s conference is Robert Kane, DOE Office of Fossil Energy, and John Kinsman, Edison Electric Institute. Submit a one paragraph abstact online at http://www.euec.com/ by 31 July 2008 to participate.

The annual Energy and Environment Conference (EUEC) publishes an open-access online journal. Created to foster coherent communication between experts and the broader audience of EUEC, the Journal of EUEC seeks to promote technical information exchange and advance cooperation between industry, government, regulators, academia, and stakeholders for the protection of our environment. With contributions from authors and participants of the EUEC conference, the journal brings together important and exceptional research in the fields of global warming, renewable energy, clean air, and mercury.

07/07/2008 - ARM AVP Workshop on Advances in Airborne Instrumentation for Measuring Aerosols, Clouds, Radiation and Atmospheric State Parameters

The Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Aerial Vehicle Program (AVP) is sponsoring a 3-day workshop on aircraft instrumentation to be hosted at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, 14-16 of October 2008. The goals of the workshop are as follows:

• To identify the state-of-art measurement techniques for aerosols, clouds, radiation and atmospheric state parameters
• To determine the emerging instruments and developing technologies in these areas that can be made flight ready and reach maturation within an approximately 1-year time period
• To identify measurement needs for which there are gaps in existing airborne instruments that are needed to answer key science questions in climate science.

The DOE AVP Program expects that funding will be available for the testing and development of instruments that can be made flight ready within an approximately 1-year period in the next proposal call anticipated in January 2009. The results of this workshop will be used to help set future instrument priorities for the AVP Program.

Contributions are solicited in each of the following areas of airborne instrumentation: aerosols, clouds, radiation, and atmospheric state parameters. A session is also planned relating to existing and emerging technology for uninhabited aerospace systems (UAS), including platforms, instruments and data recording systems. Both oral and poster presentations are expected.

To obtain further information, please contact Greg McFarquhar at mcfarq@atmos.uiuc.edu. Titles and brief abstracts of proposed presentations should be submitted via email to Greg McFarquhar by 15 August 2008. Limited support may be available for attendance at the workshop if cost would preclude participation.

Logistics: A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hampton Inn, 1200 W. University Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, (217)337-1100 at a rate of $89/night under the name "Department of Atmospheric Sciences." The block of rooms will be held only until 11 September 2008. Please make reservations as early as possible as hotels often become fully booked during the school year. The meeting will be held at the Levis Faculty Center, 919 West Illinois Street, Urbana, IL 61801, which is a 5 to 10 minute walk from the Hampton Inn.

A nominal registration fee will be charged to offset cost of food (i.e., lunch and snacks) provided at the meeting. Attendees may fly into Willard Airport in Champaign that offers eight flights a day to/from Chicago, 1 to/from Dallas and 2 to/from Detroit. A taxi meets all flights to Champaign. Alternatively, attendees may fly into Indianapolis (115 miles), Chicago (135 miles) or St. Louis (185 miles) and rent a car to arrive in Champaign.

Employment Opportunities

07/15/2008 - Two Research Positions Available at Rutgers University

The Department of Environmental Sciences at Rutgers University is seeking two candidates: a Post-doctoral Research Fellow and a Research Associate. Applicants interested in either of the positions below should send their curriculum vitae, a brief statement about their research interest, and the names of three references to m.miller@envsci.rutgers.edu. The deadline for applications is 1 September 2008.

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Atmospheric Sciences. This postdoctoral research associate will conduct innovative research involving the atmospheric processes that control the spatial and temporal distribution liquid water in non- and weakly precipitating low-level, liquid phase clouds. A key element of this research will be an investigation of the relationships between cloud liquid water path, cloud coverage, and drizzle, and the larger scale environment.

The ideal candidate will have working knowledge of the representations of cloud microphysics in regional climate models, as well as some knowledge of remote sensing. The project will entail using data from surface and satellite remote sensors to examine the microphysical representations used in regional climate models. Special emphasis will be placed upon analysis of data from the Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facilities—particularly the ARM Mobile Facility—and NASA's CloudSat. A Ph.D. in the atmospheric sciences or closely related field (physics or engineering) is required.

Research Associate. In conjunction with the Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program, the Research Associate will serve as an Associate Site Scientist for the ARM Mobile Facility (AMF). The Associate AMF Site Scientist is responsible for scientific analysis of AMF data and publication of key results, active participation in the daily operation of the AMF Site Science Office, and regular interfaces with users of AMF data and the climate modeling community at large toward the overarching goal of testing and improving the parameterizations in climate models. The successful applicant will have demonstrated expertise in remote sensing and a broad knowledge of atmospheric science. A record of publication and independent research and excellent computer and data analysis skills are also required. The position requires a Ph.D. in atmospheric science or a related field and well-developed communication skills; teaching experience would be a plus. Some domestic and international travel is required.

05/29/2008 - Post-Doctoral Position in Numerical Cloud and Mesoscale Modeling

The Department of Meteorology, Pennsylvania State University has an immediate opening for a numerical modeler on an ARM-funded team examining the interactions between Arctic clouds, aerosol, and Arctic climate. A Ph.D. in atmospheric sciences, or a related field, is required. The position will be funded for one year, with possible extension of the position for up to three years, depending on the success of the candidate. The successful candidate will be expected to conduct numerical modeling studies (mesoscale and cloud-resolving) of Arctic cloud processes and to assist in the development of improved aerosol and cloud microphysical parameterizations. The successful candidate should have a working knowledge of numerical modeling and should have experience with the development of model parameterizations.

The Penn State team is currently conducting research on two ARM-funded Arctic field experiments: The Mixed-Phase Arctic Clouds Experiment (MPACE) and the Indirect and Semi-Direct Aerosol Campaign (ISDAC). The goal of this research is to: (1) Arrive at a better understanding of the physical and dynamical processes that govern mixed-phase cloud evolution in the Arctic, (2) understand the nature of aerosol-cloud interactions in the Arctic and how they differ from lower latitude cloud-aerosol interactions, and (3) develop improved parameterizations of Arctic cloud-aerosol interactions for use in mesoscale and regional climate models. Responsibilities of the successful candidate include the development of, and the execution of, model cases from these data sets; analyzing model simulations using the observed data and assisting in developing a better physical view of mixed-phase cloud processes; and assisting in the development of improved cloud-aerosol parameterizations for numerical models.

Please send application material to:

Hans Verlinde or Jerry Harrington
503 Walker Building
Dept of Meteorology
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802
email: verlinde@meteo.psu.edu or harring@meteo.psu.edu

03/25/2008 - Research Meteorologist for Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA)

The Universidad de Valparaiso in Chile invites applications for a regular, 2-year full-time post-doctoral position in Valparaiso, Chile. The incumbent will conduct research directed at improving meteorological forecast support for the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array, or ALMA, astronomical operations site. Special interest will be put in the forecast of precipitable water vapor (PWV), maintenance and ingest of text and binary data from different resources (e.g., the U.S. National Weather Service Forecast Office), improvements to the web-based weather data server, and supervising the Department's Weather Forecaster for the astronomical observatories. Annual salary is $25,000 (US dollars).

Applicants must have: a Ph.D. in Meteorology or a Ph.D. in physics/computer science with a Bachelors degree in meteorology (Ph.D. candidates may apply, but must submit evidence of Ph.D. completion upon hire); 2 years experience with mesoscale numerical weather prediction models (a plus for MM5 or WRF); knowledge of the mesoscale numerical weather prediction model; knowledge of Unix/Linux workstations and Unix/Linux programming; and the ability to work independently to make improvements to the mesoscale numerical weather prediction model and forecast products. For further information, contact Dr. Michel Cure, (michel.cure@uv.cl, www.dfa.uv.cl).

Interested applicants please send cover letter and referral source with narrative on your qualifications for the position; resume with salary history; names, phone numbers, and addresses of three supervisory references; and copy(ies) of degree(s)/transcripts/certificate(s) used to qualify for the position via email to michel.cure@uv.cl. Closing date for applications is May 15, 2008.

02/25/2008 - Postdoc Position at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Now Available for the ARM Program

The Atmospheric Science and Global Change Division at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is seeking a postdoctoral or post-masters scientist to assist with the analysis and application of measurements from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program, with an emphasis on the Tropical Western Pacific (TWP) sites. The successful candidate will join a research group that has a wide range of interests in cloud radiative forcing and feedbacks, including retrieval algorithm development, data analysis, and model development and evaluation, with an overall goal of using ARM measurements to improve the representation of clouds and radiation in climate models.

Potential research directions include development and implementation of optimal estimation cloud property retrieval algorithms, development of statistical methods to combine ground-based and satellite observations to provide spatial extension of ARM cloud and radiation measurements, and use of ARM data to evaluate cloud, radiation, and dynamics feedbacks in cloud resolving and global climate models. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute as a co-author or lead author on scientific journal articles and present work at scientific meetings.

Applicants should have a Ph.D. in atmospheric science, applied mathematics, or a related field, working knowledge of one or more programming languages such as Fortran, C, C++, Matlab, or IDL, and experience working in a Unix/Linux environment. Prior experience in developing remote sensing algorithms or use of ARM and/or satellite data sets is highly desirable. Highly qualified applicants with an M.S. in atmospheric science or a related field will be considered.

Please apply online at http://jobs.pnl.gov (ID #114647) or contact Dr. Sally McFarlane.

02/22/2008 - Stony Brook University Seeking Research Assistant Professor in Computational Atmospheric and Marine Sciences School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences

The School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) at Stony Brook University, State University of New York, has an immediate opening for a non-tenure track faculty position in computational atmospheric and marine sciences. The position is a state-supported (9-month academic year salary) position to be filled at the research assistant professor level. Review of applications will begin April 15, 2008, and will continue until the position is filled.

A Ph.D. in the atmospheric and marine sciences, or a closely related technical field such as computer science, is required as well as at least 3 years of experience in general maintenance of UNIX/Linux systems. Candidates with familiarity of comprehensive oceanographic or atmospheric models (e.g., WRF, CAM, ROMS, and SWAN) will be preferred. The applicant is expected to: (1) collaborate with SoMAS faculty in using the New York BlueGene supercomputer (or other supercomputers) and Linux clusters for modeling research projects; (2) help develop and maintain oceanographic and meteorological data sets, their transfer, storage, visualization, and dissemination for teaching and public outreach; and (3) assist and advise SoMAS faculty in Linux/UNIX computer support of Linux and Unix workstations. Conditional upon fulfilling the above responsibilities, the incumbent has the option to develop externally funded research projects in marine or atmospheric sciences, and to teach undergraduate and graduate level courses during the academic year. He or she will have the option to generate summer salary by collaborating with SoMAS faculty in various research projects.

SoMAS faculty are currently engaged in research topics covering a broad spectrum of marine and atmospheric sciences. SoMAS in collaboration with Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) utilize a 100-teraflop Blue Gene/L supercomputer at BNL, which is the centerpiece for the New York Center for Computational Sciences (NYCCS). More information about SoMAS, BNL, and the NYCCS can be found at http://www.somas.stonybrook.edu/computersearch.

Applicants should send an application letter indicating computer and research experience, curriculum vitae with publication list, and names of three references to:

Gina Gartin
Research Faculty Search Committee
School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY 11794-5000 Fax: (631) 632-6251

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Last Modified: July 23, 2008

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