Seminar on Solar Radiation Physical Modeling
May 25, 2005
The Climate & Radiation Branch, Earth-Sun Exploration Division, invited Dr. Juan Fontenla from LASP/University of Colorado to present a seminar on May 4, 2005 entitled ÒSolar Radiation Physical Modeling". Dr. Fontenla described the basic structures in the solar atmosphere, and how the spectral solar irradiance from the UV to the IR for different features on the Sun is modeled. He also compared the modeled spectral solar irradiance to the observations from the Spectral Irradiance Monitor (SIM) instrument on the SORCE satellite, and presented new results from the SIM data. Full Story

Task Force Meeting on Hemispheric Transport of Air Pollution
May 25, 2005
While local and regional emissions sources are the main cause of air pollution problems worldwide, there is increasing evidence that many air pollutants are transported on a hemispheric or global scale. Observations and model predictions show the potential for intercontinental transport of several different pollutant species including tropospheric aerosols, known to the air quality community as particulate matter. In the northern hemisphere, these flows may be important for understanding air pollution problems in population centers and impacts on remote areas. Full Story

Visit to Earth Science Institutions in East Africa
May 18, 2005
Michael King (EOS Senior Project Scientist, Code 610) and Charles Gatebe (UMBC/JCET Research Scientist, Code 613.2) traveled to Africa in late February and early March, along with Brent Holben (Aeronet Project Scientist, Code 614.4), to discuss existing and future remote sensing collaborations.

In Kenya, the trip included visits to the University of Nairobi, UNEP/Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Kenya Meteorological Department, Kenya Wildlife Service, and the Broglio Space Centre (BSC). BSC is operated by University of Rome/Italian Space Agency and used by NASA and ESA for orbit insertion and tracking support; they are operating an X-band receiver and acquiring Terra/MODIS and Aqua direct broadcast data. Full Story

Short-term climate prediction with atmospheric models
May 9, 2005
Dr. Jagadish Shukla, president of the Institute of Global Environment and Society (IGES), recently spoke at the Goddard Scientific Colloquium on the past accomplishments and future challenges of climate prediction. Full Story

US-Korea Joint Project on Climate Prediction and Its Application to Society (CliPAS)
May 4, 2005
The first meeting of the US-Korea joint project on Climate Prediction and its Application to Society (CliPAS 1) will be held May 5-6, 2005, in Calverton, Maryland. CliPAS is one of the major projects supported by the APEC Climate Center (APCC) which is recently established and endorsed by the APEC Science and Technology Ministerial meeting. APCC will be opened officially during the APEC Summit Meeting to be held in Bussan, Korea, November 2005. The United States has been actively participating since the initial phase of the APEC Climate Network(APCN, the predecessor of APCC). Full Story

CENR/IWGEO Public Engagement Workshop
May 3, 2005
May 9-10: First public review of "CENR/IWGEO 2005 Strategic Plan for the U.S. Integrated Earth Observation System". Full Story