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In
his first address to the American Meteorological Society as Under
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA's new
Administrator, Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., outlined
his personal philosophy, highlighted the need to build partnerships,
and addressed current and future challenges to the nation, NOAA
and the scientific community.
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At
the group's 82nd Annual Meeting, the Vice Admiral underscored that people
are the most important asset and that brilliant scientists are the foundation
of NOAA's products and services. He spoke of the trust critical to all
partnerships, the need to explore bold new areas for resources, and
such major challenges as homeland security, energy and climate and climate
change.
From the Vice Admiral…
Tornado lead time has nearly doubled
to over 10 minutes.
Flash flood warning lead time has increased from less than 10
minutes to almost 50 minutes.
Hurricane track improvements' day 3 forecasts are now as good
as day 2 forecasts were in 1987.
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Vice
Admiral Lautenbacher explained that President Bush has tasked
the
Commerce Department and NOAA with developing a climate research plan
in consultation with other federal agencies. "The Administration," he
said, "is developing a science-based response to the issue of climate
change." NOAA's role will span climate assessment, monitoring, prediction
and research.
The Vice Admiral also spoke of how a small investment in NOAA for improved
forecasts can have a huge impact on the economy. Citing a USA Today
report, he said, "the annual cost of electricity can decrease by
at least $1 billion if the accuracy of weather forecasts improved one
degree Fahrenheit."
Photos by Keli Tarp and Ron Trumbla
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Vice
Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher (right) following his speech. Over
2,000 attendees from around the globe visited NOAA's five booths.
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John
Jones, Assistant Adminstrator of National Weather Service, and
Vicki Nadolski, Western Region Director.
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John
Shadid and Rhonda Lange of the Forecast Systems Laboratory in
Boulder.
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Operational
booth of National Polar-Orbiting Environmental Satellite System.
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Ed
Erwin and Kathy Martin (center), of NOAA's National Geophysical
Data Center, and Patricia Kirk of NOAA's National Oceanographic
Data Center.
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Dennis
Cain from the National Weather Service Southern Region, also known as
“Professor Weather,” demonstrates the ups and downs of the atmosphere
with a hairdryer and ping-pong ball during the AMS first WeatherFest.
More than 500 visitors from the Orlando community stopped by the science
fair and open house.
Photo
and caption courtesy of American Meteorological Society.
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