---

Regional Weather

Buoy Data

Satellite Images

NOAA

---

Calendar of Events

The Washington Symphony Orchestra's tribute to the Year of the Ocean takes place on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 7:30 p.m., at DAR Constitution Hall, 1776 D Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. The free concert is being presented by the Washington Symphony Orchestra with the participation of the U.S. Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Ocean explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau will show never-before-seen video footage of the "Free Willy" Keiko story, which chronicles the whale's journey toward freedom as he was transported from the United States to a special facility in Iceland.

The tribute will open with remarks by Commerce Secretary William M. Daley. Concert highlights will include Ralph Vaughan Williams' Sea Symphony, music from the film "Free Willy," and a sea chantey sing-along.

The concert is intended to reach out to area children and help them learn more about the importance of the ocean to their lives. Many hundreds of children from D.C. schools will be bused to the concert in addition to children who will attend with parents. Children and adults will be asked to sign the Ocean Ambassador Pledge. The pledge is designed to motivate individuals to take action – from picking up trash on the beach to never pouring pollutants down the drain -- to help save the ocean for future generations.

The tribute will also be broadcast live over the Internet. This is a first for a Washington, D.C., symphony orchestra, according to the American Symphony Orchestra League. Tune in on the Internet at: http://wsodc.org/wsoocean.html

For more information contact Madelyn Appelbaum at (202) 482-4858.

(Click here for pdf version of this announcement)

This three-day symposium and celebration will gather together many of the leading individuals who have contributed to the past fifty years of ocean discovery, including scientists, engineers, administrators, policymakers, and interested observers. Over the past five decades, NSF has sponsored much of the groundbreaking research that has helped us better understand the ocean and appreciate its importance to the nation and the world.

The symposium will be chaired by Dr. John Steele of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and will feature presentations on landmark discoveries in ocean sciences, the institutions that have made these achievements possible, and a glimpse into the future of the field. Former NSF personnel and individuals connected with oceanographic research nationwide will share their experiences and present their views about NSF’s ocean history and the future of ocean sciences. Featured speakers will include Dr. Robert Ballard, Dr. Richard Barber, Dr. John Farrington, Dr. John Knauss, Dr. Marcia McNutt, and Dr. Walter Munk.

All interested individuals are encouraged to participate in this event.

When: October 28-30, 1998

Where: The historic National Academy of Sciences Building on the Mall in Washington, DC.

Registration: See registration form on the symposium Web site or contact the individuals listed below for more information. The registration fee ($75 in advance, $25 for students) includes a copy of a book to be based on the symposium, continental breakfasts and lunches, and evening receptions at the National Academy of Sciences and the National Science Foundation.

For more information, contact
Ann Carlisle or Ed Urban at the Ocean Studies Board (202-334-2714, acarlisl@nas.edu) or check the Web site at http://www2.nas.edu/osb/2326.html.

---

Smithsonian Forum — The Ocean: Earth's Last Frontier
October 6 - November 10, 1998
To order tickets call (202) 357-3030.
Click here for more information.

In Collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Tuesday, October 6 - November 10, 8 p.m.

El Niño, hydrothermal vents, coral reefs, kelp forests, whale migration, undersea volcanoes, tsunamis - many amazing phenomena are found in the world's oceans. Whether we realize it or not, what goes on in the ocean affects us every day, and the health of the seas is indicative of the health of our planet.

To highlight the International Year of the Ocean (1998), this course features explorers, researchers, and scientists who present a rare look at some of the most spectacular ocean life. Through slide-illustrated lectures and a live televised feed from the world's only undersea laboratory, many aspects of the vast, largely unexplored ocean frontier are investigated.

October 6 Jack Elrod: The Ocean's Role

The syndicated Mark Trail comic strip artist discusses how oceans affect our daily lives and draws a new strip for participants.

October 13 Understanding El Niño

What's next with El Niño? Climate forecasting offers new ways to manage society. Ants Leetmaa, Director, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.

October 20 The Age of Aquarius

A live televised feed from Aquarius, the world's only undersea laboratory, which studies the Conch reef.
Steven Miller, University of North Carolina, Wilmington.

October 27 The Mysterious Environment of the Blue Whale

The elusive behavior of the blue whale challenges researchers who work for its survival. LT. Commander Ed Cassano, Manager, NOAA's Channel Island National Marine Sanctuary.

November 3 Oceans and the Evolution of Climate Change

How the oceans influence climate change; future global changes and how to prepare for them. James Baker, Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, U.S. Department of Commerce, and NOAA Administrator.

November 10 The World of Undersea Volcanoes

New research from the deep microbial biosphere; how hydrothermal activity impacts the world's oceans. Stephen Hammond, NOAA'S Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL), Portland, Oregon.

NOAA employees receive resident member prices.

CODE: AJ01
6 SESSIONS
Resident Members $72;
Senior Members $64.80
Gen. Admission $96