NOAA ESRL 2009 Global Monitoring Annual Conference

The theme for this year's conference is

"21st Century Challenges for Long-Term Monitoring"

NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL), Global Monitoring Division (formerly the Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory) is pleased to announce the first call for participation and attendance at the ESRL Global Monitoring Annual Conference to be held on Wednesday, May 13 and Thursday, May 14, 2009, at the David Skaggs Research Center, 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado. In our continuing effort to stay abreast of recent observations concerning trace gases, aerosols, radiation, ozone, and climate forcing and to provide a forum in which these observations can be relayed and discussed, we will be presenting the ESRL monitoring and research results of the past year. The meeting is not limited to ESRL reports and includes observations related to these themes by both independent and cooperative investigators, and other national and international programs. We welcome your active participation at this annual conference.

Please view 2009 Invite letter from Dr. James H. Butler, Director of ESRL's Global Monitoring Division.

Agenda

Agenda for 2009 Meeting Revised May 5, 2009
Poster Session Agenda for 2009 Meeting Revised May 5, 2009

Keynote Speaker

"Prospects for a Low Carbon Energy Future"
Michael B. McElroy, Harvard University

The abundance of CO2 is demonstrably higher now than at any time over the past 650,000 years and is likely over the next few decades to rise to levels not seen since dinosaurs roamed the Earth 50 million years ago. The increase in the abundance of CO2 and a variety of other so-called greenhouse gases (notably CH4 and N2O) has resulted in a serious perturbation to the global energy balance. The Earth is now radiating significantly less energy to space than it absorbs from the sun. The extra heat, stored largely in the ocean, is responsible for important changes in global and regional climate with consequences, which though difficult to predict in detail, are surely serious. This paper will discuss potential options for a low-carbon energy future. Options to be discussed include prospects for carbon capture and sequestration with particular attention to the potential for an energy future based largely on electricity produced from a combination of wind, solar and geothermal sources complemented to an extent by nuclear. Particular attention will be directed at the challenges faced by large developing countries such as China and India, the former now having surpassed the US as the world’s largest national source of greenhouse gas emissions.


About Dr. McElroy

Michael B. McElroy

Gilbert Butler Professor of Environmental Studies

B.A., A.M., Ph.D., Applied Mathematics, Queens University, Belfast



The atmosphere is an important resource, an indispensable component of the global life support system. Human activity can change its composition, altering climate, air quality, and radiation reaching us from the sun. Michael McElroy studies changes in the composition of the atmosphere with an emphasis on the impact of human activity. His research includes investigations of processes affecting the abundance of ozone in the stratosphere and factors influencing the chemical composition of the troposphere. It explores the manner in which changes in the composition of the atmosphere affect climate. It seeks to place the impact of contemporary human activity in a larger context by studying large-scale changes in the environment that occurred in the past. His research addresses also challenges for public policy posed by the rapid pace of industrialization in developing countries such as China and India while exploring alternative strategies for more sustainable development in mature economies such as the United States.
Registration

If you plan on attending the conference, please complete the online Registration Form.

A booklet with abstracts of the ~15-minute papers to be presented will be available at the meeting.

Box lunchs will also be provided during the meeting for $10 a day.

You can also view Last Years Agenda and Abstracts.

Lodging

A block of rooms has been reserved at three local hotels under NOAA ESRL Global Monitoring Annual Conference. Late arrivals (after 4:00 p.m.) must be guaranteed. Reservations are being held until April 9, 2009.

Best Western Boulder Inn
770 28th Street
Boulder, CO 80303
303-449-3800 or
800-233-8469
$89 per night
FAX: 303-402-9118
www.boulderinn.com
Golden Buff Lodge
1725 28th Street
Boulder, CO 80303
303-442-7450 or
800-999-2833
$84.60 per night
FAX: 303-442-8788
www.goldenbufflodge.com
Boulder Outlook Hotel
800 28th Street
Boulder, CO 80303
303-443-3322 or
800-542-0304
$105 per night
FAX: 303-443-0397
www.boulderoutlook.com

If you have any questions, call Misti Hinson at 303-497-6083 or email

Getting to ESRL

ESRL is located in the David Skaggs Research Center (DSRC) at 325 Broadway, in Boulder, Colorado, next to the Department of Commerce National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) building.

Map of driving route from DIA to Boulder and NOAA.

Driving Directions from DIA

Toll Free:

  • Exit Denver International Airport via Peña Boulevard.
  • Take Peña Boulevard to I-70 West.
  • Split right on I-270 North (Exit 279), toward Ft. Collins and follow across I-25 to US-36 toward Boulder.
  • Take US-36 (Boulder Turnpike) West.
  • Exit US-36 at Baseline Road (University of Colorado Main Campus exit).
  • Keep left and turn left (West) onto Baseline.
  • Keep left and turn left at the first light onto 27th Way.
  • Stay in the middle lane and turn left onto Broadway.
  • Take the second right at the light onto Rayleigh Rd. and bear right into the Visitors Center parking lot.

Toll Road:

  • Exit Peña Boulevard at E-470 and follow to US-36. Tolls are $6.00 each way.

By Bus

Regional bus service to Boulder is available through the RTD. The B bus provides regional service between Denver and Boulder. The Flatiron Park-n-Ride (Broadway and 27th Way) is the closest stop to ESRL and is on the Skip, Bound, 204, 227, AB, B, D, G, and J bus routes.

Security Procedure for Visitors

  • Visitors are required to sign in and receive a visitor badge from the Visitors Center at the Security Checkpoint. Visitors will need to present a U.S. photo ID or foreign passport. No other forms of identification are accepted.
  • To receive a visitor badge, all visitors are required to park next to the Security Checkpoint and enter the Visitors Center to be screened before proceeding to their destination.
  • These are our requirements as per Homeland Security regardless of security threat level. If you have any questions, please contact Keith Turbitt at (303) 497-4332.

Lodging Information

Area Restaurants

Boulder Weather