Establishing Research Connections in Emerging Nations
People everywhere are affected by weather, climate change and other atmospheric phenomena. There are communities of highly capable scientist in many emerging nations, and support for science is steadily increasing in China, India and other rapidly industrializing countries. Continued improvements in scientific capabilities in emerging nations creates opportunity for scientific progress and increases the likelihood that science can improve the effectiveness of local and regional decision making on environmental and development issues. While a good number of EOL's activities center around our international collaborations, two activities stand out as prime examples of our commitment to support NCAR's strategic priority to establish research connections in emerging nations.
International Symposium on Tropospheric Profiling [Highlight]
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Participants discuss a poster during the 7th International Symposium on Tropospheric Profiling, which took place in Boulder, Colorado in June 2006. In order to improve understanding and forecasting of the atmosphere, it is crucial to make advances in observational techniques and modeling. EOL has been a leader in motivating and facilitating this important conference series, which attracts an international group of scientists, engineers, and program managers with broad experience in atmospheric measurement and modeling. |
EOL hosted the 7th International Symposium on Tropospheric Profiling: Needs and Technologies (ISTP) June 11th-17th, 2006. Originating in 1988 from German-American collaboration, the symposium’s main focus is on wind profiling in the lower troposphere. Over the years it has grown to attract an international group of scientists, engineers, and program managers with broad experience in atmospheric measurement and modeling, and it benefits from commercial sponsorship.
EOL has been a leader in motivating and facilitating this important conference series. In order to improve understanding and forecasting of the atmosphere, it is crucial to make advances in observational techniques and modeling. Highlights of ISTP were focused on the needs in tropospheric profiling, including profiling of atmospheric state parameters and constituents, the understanding of tropospheric processes, and the use of experimental data in atmospheric models. Recent progress in technology was assessed, especially considering the combination of different sensors and retrieval algorithms.
EOL's leading role in the ISTP addressed several of NCAR’s Goals, most notably the priority of establishing new connections with researchers in emerging nations. Approximately 5% of conference participants. This project also supports the priority of cultivating a scientifically literate and engaged citizenry and a diverse and creative workforce, and the workshop directly addressed the priority of supporting and enhancing formal science education at all levels.
Nearly 200 participants from 20 countries attended the symposium, presenting more than 150 papers, and we plan to organize a Special Issue of the Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology. The next in this series of meetings will take place in The Netherlands in 2009.
This workshop was made possible by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as well as 10 commercial sponsors, including Lockheed Martin, Vaisala, Applied Technology, Atmospheric Systems Corp, Ball Aerospace, Metek, Remtek, Yankee Environmental Systems, Mardoc and CIRES.
Mentoring China/India in Airborne Platform Facilities Development
In 2006, EOL staff began collaboration with scientists from both India and China in a mentorship role regarding establishing and operating airborne platforms facilities. Both these countries intend to establish aircraft operations facilities to support atmospheric sciences and have asked EOL for advice on a variety of subjects, including what science could be accomplished and enhanced using airborne platforms; what platforms would best fit the science they intend to carry out; operational matters such as how flight hours are requested and allocated; what instrumentation, both state parameter and specialized, should be considered for the aircraft; and how such a facility can be funded.
EOL and the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting in Delhi have been
funded by the Indo-US Forum to hold a weeklong workshop in India. The purpose of the
workshop is to illustrate to Indian scientists the investigations made possible by
instrumented research aircraft. India is interested to obtain an airborne platform and
to instrument it initially for cyclone research, and are looking to NCAR to assist by
sharing our experience with operating research aircraft as well as expertise in
conducting airborne science. The workshop will be held in Delhi in late February 2007.EOL and the National Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasting in Delhi have submitted a proposal to the India-US Forum to fund a five day workshop in late February 2007 to explore these questions with Indian scientists and the Government of India.
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