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Courtesy
of NASA
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Picture-Perfect
Launch a Credit to NOAA Staff
NOAA-17
Soars Into Orbit
When NOAA-M,
or NOAA-17 now that it's in orbit, soared into space on June 24, the
world saw a picture-perfect NOAA-NASA launch. NOAA's newest satellite
lifted off on an Air Force-launched Titan II rocket from Vandenberg
Air Force Base, about 150 scenic miles northwest of Los Angeles.
Saying he was "extremely pleased with the success of the launch,"
VADM Conrad Lautenbacher was looking ahead to NOAA-17's contributions
"to our global environmental observing system and the critical functions
it will perform for virtually all of our missions, such as weather,
climate, oceans, fisheries and ecosystem monitoring."
NOAA staff key to NOAA-17's success were still holding their breath.
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FULL STORY --
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'Go-To Guy'
Is Employee of Month
When it comes to demonstrating exceptional initiative and dedication
to NOAA, few can equal Jim Houston, according to those who work with
him at the Aircraft Operations Center, which is part of the Office
of Marine and Aviation Operations. Jim is the center's Aerospace Quality
Assurance Specialist and NOAA's Employee of the Month.
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FULL STORY --
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July
Team Member
A Vital NOAA Resource
Rosemary
McKeeby has been providing contract support to the National Ocean
Service's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management for nearly
three years. And she has built quite a track record! Recognized for
her adeptness at zeroing in on new responsibilities, excellent team
spirit, and flexibility in tackling new challenges, Rosemary is being
honored as July's Team Member of the Month.
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FULL STORY --
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NOAA Scientists to Receive
White House 'Early Career Awards'
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Two NOAA scientists are proud recipients
of 2001 Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers.
The award honors the most promising young researchers in the nation
within their fields and represents our country's highest tribute to
professionals at the outset of their independent research careers.
The two NOAA scientists - Dr. Steven S. Brown, and Dr. Thomas M. Hamill,
both from Boulder, - will be among 60 researchers honored Friday at
a White House ceremony.
Dr.
Steven S. Brown, of NOAA's Aeronomy Laboratory and the Cooperative
Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, is working on applying
newly developed laser-based techniques to the measurement of important
trace compounds that are key to air quality. The compounds are present
in the atmosphere at very low concentrations (parts per trillion)
"For the first time," he said, "we are able to measure two key nitrogen
oxide compounds. These compounds occur only at night because they
are readily broken down by sunlight." The two compounds contribute
to the formation of acid rain and the chemistry of ozone pollution.
Dr.
Thomas M. Hamill, of NOAA's Climate Diagnostics Center and also the
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, said
he enjoys having "one foot in the theoretical camp and another in
the development of practical applications." He is working on
"ensemble forecasting," which means improving probabilistic weather
forecasts by using information from a collection of forecasts. He's
also excited about a project which aims to improve long-lead weather
forecasts (two weeks and beyond) through careful examination of a
quarter-century of previous forecasts. He calls this "re-forecasting."
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VADM Lautenbacher Addresses IOC of
UNESCO
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VADM Lautenbacher addressed the Executive Council of the Intergovernmental
Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO at its annual meeting held last
month in Paris. The UN organization coordinates ocean science and
services among 129 member countries. Stan Wilson, U.S. representative
to the commission, also participated in the meeting.
The Vice Admiral encouraged members to strengthen partnerships
for the purpose of implementing an integrated ocean observing system.
He urged that members build "one coherent plan" that also fosters
the capability of developing countries to join in an integrated system.
"The global observation effort for climate is far too enormous for
one organization, or even one country, to undertake alone," he said.
"We must work together."
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FULL TEXT OF VADM'S REMARKS--
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Listening
to Shared Concerns
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Vice Admiral
Lautenbacher met last month with Carolyn Hartmann, vice president
for policy and public affairs at Oceana, an organization committed
to the health of the sea. Bill Hogarth, NOAA Fisheries assistant administrator,
and other Oceana staff members also participated. The group handed
over some 60,000 petitions calling for more support to count, cap
and control bycatch in U.S. fisheries. With the clear aim of strengthening
working relationships, Vice Admiral Lautenbacher will continue to
reach out to diverse groups across the country and internationally.
Just a week earlier, he met with representatives of nine environmental
groups. Opening communication on several levels, the Vice Admiral
listened to perspectives on issues such as Magnuson-Stevens reauthorization,
the NW Hawaiian Islands and sanctuary designation processes, and NOAA's
no-point pollution control programs. Participants praised recent fishery
management actions and preservation of critical habitat off Florida's
coast.
Reaching out to diverse groups, and to potential users of NOAA products,
Vice Admiral Lautenbacher has also met with representatives of the
oil and gas industry. Expansion of our knowledge about the Loop Current
System in the Gulf of Mexico is key to more effective offshore energy
industry management. Gaining a better understanding of where the currents
are going, how fast they are moving and in what direction, enables
the energy industry in the Gulf of Mexico to more effectively manage
offshore energy assets. Predicting this information via a good regional
ocean observing system will save many dollars and provide a host of
important data. The Vice Admiral plans to continue exploring collaborative
possibilities with parties already involved.
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National
Race for the Cure
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With NESDIS's
Mary Glackin and NWS's Chris Alex as the stalwart co-chairs, NOAA's
enduring Running With the Currents team again came through
admirably during last month's National Race for the Cure. In addition
to more than $7,200 in registration fees, NOAA brought in an extra
$1,000 in donations.
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Scenes from the Race--
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NOAA
Seizes Illegally Harvested Chilean Sea Bass
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Led
by Special Agent Richard Tourzos, NOAA special agents recently seized
over 33 tons of illegally imported Chilean sea bass in Boston. The
shipment, valued at approximately $275,000, was seized after NOAA
Fisheries law enforcement agents received information from the Australian
government that the fish were illegally harvested from Antarctic
waters. NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement and the U.S. Customs
Service are coordinating an initiative with several other countries
to crack down on illegal fishing for Chilean sea bass.
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FULL STORY --
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Who's On Jeopardy
This Week?
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Baked...grilled...raw...shell
"Farm-raised" A Hit at
27th Annual Fish Fry
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The Flower
Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in Bryan, Texas is now
traveling across the country. As a tribute to America, U-Haul chose
a special attraction from each state to feature on its trucks. In
Texas, U-Haul chose the sanctuary. "Our message will now be seen by
far more people than we could ever hope to reach," said sanctuary
manager G.P. Schmahl.
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Photo
by Jeanne Kouhestani
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Opening Young Minds to Science
By Jeanne Kouhestani
Rear Admiral Evelyn J. Fields
is on a mission complementary yet separate from her mission to support
NOAA's diverse science programs as director of the Office of Marine
and Aviation Operations and the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. She
is determined to make a difference in the life of a child by opening
his or her mind to the world of science and the possibilities within.
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FULL STORY --
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'Public
Investment in Pfiesteria Research Paying Off'
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 NOAA
scientists recently reported that the singled-celled organism, Pfiesteria
piscicida, associated with fish kills and human health problems
in the mid-1990s in North Carolina and Maryland has a very simple
life cycle. This conclusion is based on results of a new federally
funded and peer-reviewed study published in the June 20 issue of the
Journal of Phycology, the leading US publication on marine
and freshwater algae. "This research is a giant step forward in understanding
how Pfiesteria works. We now know our focus must extend well
beyond Pfiesteria alone," said principal author Dr. R. Wayne
Litaker, of NOAA's Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research
and University of North Carolina's Program in Molecular Biology and
Biotechnology.
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FULL STORY --
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