Progress in Electromagnetics Research Symposium in Hangzhou China
August 31, 2005
The Progress in Electromagnetics Research Symposium (PIERS) provides an international forum for reporting progress and recent advances in electromagnetic theory and its applications. The PIERS 2005 was held in Hangzhou China August 22-26, 2005. Two members of the Climate and Radiation Branch participated in the session "Light Scattering and Radiative Transfer: Basic Research and Application." Warren Wiscombe gave an overview "Landmarks in the Development of the 3D Cloud Radiation Field since 1970" and Alexander Marshak presented a report on "Small-Scale Cloud Drop Variability and Its Impact on Radiation." Other papers in the session discussed recent theoretical and experimental advances in radiative transfer and remote sensing. Full Story

An Invited Solar Session Presentation at IAMAS Meeting in Beijing
August 29, 2005
On August 10, 2005, Robert Cahalan Head of the Climate & Radiation Branch gave an invited presentation at the International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences (IAMAS) Conference in Beijing, China. The title of the presentation was “Solar System Climate.” Dr. Cahalan talked about NASA’s Space Exploration Vision which has as a goal “the scientific investigation of the Earth, Moon, Mars and beyond with emphasis on understanding the history of the solar system, searching for evidence of habitats for life on Mars, and preparing for future human exploration.”

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Branch Members attend IAMAS Meeting in Beijing China
August 24, 2005
Six members of the Climate and Radiation Branch participated in the Scientific Assembly of the International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences (IAMAS) in Beijing, China August 2-11, 2005. Papers on solar-terrestrial influences, satellite precipitation statistics, land surface modeling, and satellite retrievals of aerosols were presented respectively by R. Cahalan, T. Bell, Menglin Jin, and G. Wen.
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Gordon Research Conference: Radiation and Climate
August 12, 2005
A Gordon Research Conference (GRC) "Radiation and Climate" was held July 24-29, 2005 in Colby College, Maine. This is the fourth GRC on atmospheric radiation and climate; the original conference "Solar Radiation and Climate" was held in 1998; Warren Wiscombe of the Climate & Radiation Branch was its first chair. This year Howard Barker Meteorological Service of Canada) chaired the meeting, the main themes of which were radiative transfer, clouds and climate. Full Story

Branch Member Selected as ARM Chief Scientist
August 9, 2005
The Department of Energy (DOE) announced the selection of Dr. Warren Wiscombe as Chief Scientist for DOE's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program. Full Story

Two papers published describing aerosol effects on cloud cover and height
August 4, 2005
Two papers published within the past two weeks describe the observed relationship between aerosol amounts and cloud properties such as cloud cover and cloud height. Using MODIS observations of millions of clouds over the Atlantic, Yoram Kaufman, Ilan Koren and their co-authors show strong relationships between increasing aerosol amounts and extending areal cloud coverage in shallow clouds, as well as invigorating deep convection. Full Story