[DIALOGnews] DIALOG and DISCCRS News March 19, 2004
Susan Weiler
weilercs@whitman.edu
Fri, 19 Mar 2004 11:24:54 -0800
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DIALOG and Disccrs News
March 19, 2004
***************************************************
Resources
UK SOLAS, a =A312 million programme of the
UK Natural Environment Research Council, is now
up and running with a Steering Committee, a
Science Coordination team and (very shortly) a
5-year science plan. The UK project office is
based at the University of East Anglia, Norwich.
If you would like more details about UK SOLAS, or
to join their mailing list, contact
<mailto:claire.hughes@uea.ac.uk>claire.hughes@uea.ac.uk, of visit:
<http://www.uea.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/uk-solas-academic>http://www.uea.ac.u=
k/mailman/listinfo/uk-solas-academic
***************************************************
Science News
RELEASE: 04-095
NASA EXPLAINS "DUST BOWL" DROUGHT
NASA scientists have an explanation for one of the worst
climatic events in the history of the United States, the "Dust
Bowl" drought, which devastated the Great Plains and all but
dried up an already depressed American economy in the 1930's.
Siegfried Schubert of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center,
Greenbelt, Md., and colleagues used a computer model developed
with modern-era satellite data to look at the climate over the
past 100 years. The study found cooler than normal tropical
Pacific Ocean surface temperatures combined with warmer
tropical Atlantic Ocean temperatures to create conditions in
the atmosphere that turned America's breadbasket into a dust
bowl from 1931 to 1939. The team's data is in this week's
Science magazine.
These changes in sea surface temperatures created shifts in the
large-scale weather patterns and low level winds that reduced
the normal supply of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and
inhibited rainfall throughout the Great Plains.
"The 1930s drought was the major climatic event in the nation's
history," Schubert said. "Just beginning to understand what
occurred is really critical to understanding future droughts
and the links to global climate change issues we're
experiencing today," he said.
By discovering the causes behind U.S. droughts, especially
severe episodes like the Plains' dry spell, scientists may
recognize and possibly foresee future patterns that could
create similar conditions. For example, La Ninas are marked by
cooler than normal tropical Pacific Ocean surface water
temperatures, which impact weather globally, and also create
dry conditions over the Great Plains.
The researchers used NASA's Seasonal-to-Interannual Prediction
Project (NSIPP) atmospheric general circulation model and
agency computational facilities to conduct the research. The
NSIPP model was developed using NASA satellite observations,
including; Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System
radiation measurements; and the Global Precipitation
Climatology Project precipitation data.
The model showed cooler than normal tropical Pacific Ocean
temperatures and warmer than normal tropical Atlantic Ocean
temperatures contributed to a weakened low-level jet stream and
changed its course. The jet stream, a ribbon of fast moving air
near the Earth's surface, normally flows westward over the Gulf
of Mexico and then turns northward pulling up moisture and
dumping rain onto the Great Plains. As the low level jet stream
weakened, it traveled farther south than normal. The Great
Plains dried up and dust storms formed.
The research shed light on how tropical sea surface
temperatures can have a remote response and control over
weather and climate. It also confirmed droughts can become
localized based on soil moisture levels, especially during
summer. When rain is scarce and soil dries, there is less
evaporation, which leads to even less precipitation, creating a
feedback process that reinforces lack of rainfall.
The study also shed light on droughts throughout the 20th
century. Analysis of other major U.S. droughts of the 1900s
suggests a cool tropical Pacific was a common factor. Schubert
said simulating major events like the 1930s drought provides an
excellent test for computer models. While the study finds no
indication of a similar Great Plains drought in the near
future, it is vital to continue studies relating to climate
change. NASA's current and planned suite of satellite sensors
is uniquely poised to answer related climate questions.
NASA's Earth Science Enterprise funded the study. The
Enterprise is dedicated to understanding the Earth as an
integrated system and applying Earth System Science to improve
climate, weather, and natural hazard prediction using the
unique vantage point of space. For information about NASA and
agency programs on the Internet, visit:
***************************************************
This newsletter has been developed by C. Susan=20
Weiler for the purpose of distributing=20
information of potential interest to recent PhDs=20
engaged in interdisciplinary aquatic science or=20
climate change research, and to build an=20
international sense of community among recent=20
grads. It provides an international forum for the=20
exchange of information and opinions regarding=20
research, professional and social issues.
The views and opinions expressed are strictly=20
those of C.S. Weiler or of the individual who has=20
submitted a particular item for distribution. The=20
opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect=20
those of the funding agencies or sponsoring=20
societies. Dr. Weiler serves as producer and=20
editor and reserves the right to edit or reject=20
material submitted to the list.
Please submit announcements of interest to recent=20
PhDs to phd@whitman.edu or weiler@whitman.edu.
=46or ease of transmission, please do not send=20
attachments. Send a short message in the body of=20
an e-mail message, and link to any appropriate=20
websites.
--
C. Susan Weiler, Ph.D.
Biology Department Tel: 509-527-5948
Whitman College Fax: 509-527-5961
Walla Walla, WA 99362
weiler@whitman.edu
Programs for Recent PhDs http://aslo.org/phd.html
Minorities in the Aquatic Sciences http://www.aslo.org/mas.html
DIALOG poster http://www.aslo.org/phd/dialogposter.pdf
DISCCRS poster http://www.aslo.org/phd/disccrsposter.pdf
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<html><head><style type=3D"text/css"><!--
blockquote, dl, ul, ol, li { padding-top: 0 ; padding-bottom: 0 }
--></style><title>DIALOG and DISCCRS News March 19,
2004</title></head><body>
<div align=3D"center"><font size=3D"+2" color=3D"#0000FF"><b>DIALOG and
Disccrs News</b></font></div>
<div align=3D"center">March 19, 2004</div>
<div align=3D"center"><font
color=3D"#0000FF"><b>***************************************************</b
></font></div>
<div align=3D"center"><font size=3D"+1"
color=3D"#0000FF"><b>Resources</b></font></div>
<div align=3D"center"><br></div>
<div><x-tab> </x-tab><b> UK
SOLAS</b>, a =A312 million programme of the<br>
UK Natural Environment Research Council, is now<br>
up and running with a Steering Committee, a<br>
Science Coordination team and (very shortly) a<br>
5-year science plan. The UK project office is<br>
based at the University of East Anglia, Norwich.<br>
If you would like more details about UK SOLAS, or<br>
to join their mailing list, contact<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:claire.hughes@uea.ac.uk">claire.hughes@uea.ac.uk</a>,
of visit:<br>
<a
href=3D"http://www.uea.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/uk-solas-academic"
>http://www.uea.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/uk-solas-academic</a></div>
<div align=3D"center"><br></div>
<div align=3D"center"><br></div>
<div align=3D"center"><br></div>
<div align=3D"center"><font
color=3D"#0000FF"><b>***************************************************</b
></font></div>
<div align=3D"center"><br></div>
<div align=3D"center"><font size=3D"+1" color=3D"#0000FF"><b>Science
News</b></font></div>
<div align=3D"center"><br></div>
<div>RELEASE: 04-095<br>
<br>
NASA EXPLAINS "DUST BOWL" DROUGHT<br>
<br>
NASA scientists have an explanation for one
of the worst<br>
climatic events in the history of the United States, the
"Dust<br>
Bowl" drought, which devastated the Great Plains and all but<br>
dried up an already depressed American economy in the 1930's.<br>
<br>
Siegfried Schubert of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center,<br>
Greenbelt, Md., and colleagues used a computer model developed<br>
with modern-era satellite data to look at the climate over the<br>
past 100 years. The study found cooler than normal tropical<br>
Pacific Ocean surface temperatures combined with warmer<br>
tropical Atlantic Ocean temperatures to create conditions in<br>
the atmosphere that turned America's breadbasket into a dust<br>
bowl from 1931 to 1939. The team's data is in this week's<br>
Science magazine.<br>
<br>
These changes in sea surface temperatures created shifts in the<br>
large-scale weather patterns and low level winds that reduced<br>
the normal supply of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and<br>
inhibited rainfall throughout the Great Plains.<br>
<br>
"The 1930s drought was the major climatic event in the
nation's<br>
history," Schubert said. "Just beginning to understand
what<br>
occurred is really critical to understanding future droughts<br>
and the links to global climate change issues we're<br>
experiencing today," he said.<br>
<br>
By discovering the causes behind U.S. droughts, especially<br>
severe episodes like the Plains' dry spell, scientists may<br>
recognize and possibly foresee future patterns that could<br>
create similar conditions. For example, La Ninas are marked by<br>
cooler than normal tropical Pacific Ocean surface water<br>
temperatures, which impact weather globally, and also create<br>
dry conditions over the Great Plains.<br>
<br>
The researchers used NASA's Seasonal-to-Interannual Prediction<br>
Project (NSIPP) atmospheric general circulation model and<br>
agency computational facilities to conduct the research. The<br>
NSIPP model was developed using NASA satellite observations,<br>
including; Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System<br>
radiation measurements; and the Global Precipitation<br>
Climatology Project precipitation data.<br>
<br>
The model showed cooler than normal tropical Pacific Ocean<br>
temperatures and warmer than normal tropical Atlantic Ocean<br>
temperatures contributed to a weakened low-level jet stream and<br>
changed its course. The jet stream, a ribbon of fast moving air<br>
near the Earth's surface, normally flows westward over the Gulf<br>
of Mexico and then turns northward pulling up moisture and<br>
dumping rain onto the Great Plains. As the low level jet stream<br>
weakened, it traveled farther south than normal. The Great<br>
Plains dried up and dust storms formed.<br>
<br>
The research shed light on how tropical sea surface<br>
temperatures can have a remote response and control over<br>
weather and climate. It also confirmed droughts can become<br>
localized based on soil moisture levels, especially during<br>
summer. When rain is scarce and soil dries, there is less<br>
evaporation, which leads to even less precipitation, creating a<br>
feedback process that reinforces lack of rainfall.<br>
<br>
The study also shed light on droughts throughout the 20th<br>
century. Analysis of other major U.S. droughts of the 1900s<br>
suggests a cool tropical Pacific was a common factor. Schubert<br>
said simulating major events like the 1930s drought provides an</div>
<div>excellent test for computer models. While the study finds
no</div>
<div>indication of a similar Great Plains drought in the near<br>
future, it is vital to continue studies relating to climate<br>
change. NASA's current and planned suite of satellite sensors<br>
is uniquely poised to answer related climate questions.<br>
<br>
NASA's Earth Science Enterprise funded the study. The<br>
Enterprise is dedicated to understanding the Earth as an<br>
integrated system and applying Earth System Science to improve<br>
climate, weather, and natural hazard prediction using the<br>
unique vantage point of space. For information about NASA and</div>
<div>agency programs on the Internet, visit:</div>
<div align=3D"center"><br></div>
<div><br></div>
<div align=3D"center"><font
color=3D"#0000FF"><b>***************************************************</b
></font></div>
<div align=3D"center"><br></div>
<div align=3D"center"><br></div>
<div align=3D"center"><font size=3D"-1">This newsletter has been developed
by C. Susan Weiler for the purpose of distributing information of
potential interest to recent PhDs engaged in interdisciplinary aquatic
science or climate change research, and to build an international
sense of community among recent grads. It provides an international
forum for the exchange of information and opinions regarding research,
professional and social issues.</font></div>
<div align=3D"center"><font size=3D"-1">The views and opinions expressed
are strictly those of C.S. Weiler or of the individual who has
submitted a particular item for distribution. The opinions expressed
do not necessarily reflect those of the funding agencies or sponsoring
societies. Dr. Weiler serves as producer and editor and reserves the
right to edit or reject material submitted to the list.</font></div>
<div align=3D"center"><font color=3D"#0000FF"><b>Please submit
announcements of interest to recent PhDs to phd@whitman.edu or
weiler@whitman.edu.</b></font></div>
<div align=3D"center">For ease of transmission, please do not send
attachments. Send a short message in the body of an e-mail message,
and link to any appropriate websites.</div>
<div align=3D"center"><font color=3D"#0000FF"><b><br></b></font></div>
<div><br></div>
<div><br></div>
<div><br></div>
<x-sigsep><pre>--
</pre></x-sigsep>
<div>C. Susan Weiler,
Ph.D. <br>
Biology
Department <span
></span> Tel:
509-527-5948 <br
>
Whitman
College <span
></span
>
=46ax: 509-527-5961<br>
Walla Walla, WA 99362<br>
weiler@whitman.edu <br>
Programs for Recent
PhDs <span
></span> http://aslo.org/phd.html<br>
Minorities in the Aquatic Sciences
http://www.aslo.org/mas.html<br>
DIALOG poster
http://www.aslo.org/phd/dialogposter.pdf<br>
DISCCRS poster
http://www.aslo.org/phd/disccrsposter.pdf <span
></span> </div>
</body>
</html>
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