1995-8							April 7, 1995

Contact:	Bob Henson, UCAR Communications
		Box 3000, Boulder CO  80307
		(303) 497-8605, fax 497-8610
		Internet bhenson@ucar.edu


NCAR DIRECTOR TO OUTLINE HISTORY OF WEATHER OBSERVATIONS 
IN PUBLIC TALK

	BOULDERÑThereÕs more to monitoring the earthÕs 
atmosphere than reading a thermometer.  Thousands of 
reports of temperature, pressure, winds, and moisture are 
made each dayÑcome fair or foul weatherÑvia human 
observers, weather balloons, airplanes, radars, and 
automated systems.  New techniques, including pilotless 
airplanes and Global Positioning System satellites, may 
lead to a revolution in weather observing.
	Bob Serafin, director of the National Center for 
Atmospheric Research (NCAR), will take the public on a 
tour through 2,000 years of progress in a free talk, 
ÒWeather Measurements:  From Antiquity to Today,Ó on 
Monday, April 17, at 4:00 p.m. in the Boulder Public 
Library Auditorium, 1000 Canyon Boulevard.  All ages are 
welcome.  The talk is part of LASERS, the Learning about 
Science Easily and Readily Series, which presents 
atmospheric research in a nontechnical forum.  LASERS is 
sponsored by the University Corporation for Atmospheric 
Research (UCAR), which operates NCAR under a cooperative 
agreement with the National Science Foundation.
	Below is the complete line-up of LASERS talks this 
spring and summer.  For more information, contact Milli 
Butterworth, UCAR Communications, 497-8601, e-mail 
butterwo@ucar.edu.

"Weather Measurements:  From Antiquity to Today"
Bob Serafin, director of NCAR
Monday, 17 April, 4:00 p.m.
Boulder Public Library Auditorium, 1000 Canyon Boulevard
ÑFrom the wind vanes used by the ancient Egyptians and 
Chinese to todayÕs Doppler radar, the instruments used to 
observe weather have become vastly more sensitive and 
sophisticated.  This talk spotlights some of the most 
important developments and discusses where atmospheric 
observations are headed.

"Mesoscale Meteorology:  Toward the Understanding of 
Severe Storms"
Rick Anthes, president of UCAR
Wednesday, 17 May, 4:00 p.m.
Foothills Lab Main Auditorium, 3450 Mitchell Lane, 
Boulder
ÑMesoscale meteorology investigates some of the earthÕs 
most interesting and important weather phenomena, 
including hurricanes, thunderstorms, and tornadoes.  The 
cyclone theory developed by Norwegian meteorologists in 
the early 1900s kicked off 75 years of progress in the 
study of weather systems on the mesoscale, which extends 
from a few dozen to a few hundred miles.   This talk 
explains how the theories of the 1920s evolved into the 
exciting and revealing models of the 1990s.

"Atmospheric Chemistry:  The Growth of a Discipline"
William Chameides, Georgia Institute of Technology
Wednesday, 19 July, 4:00 p.m.
Mesa Lab Main Seminar Room, west end of Table Mesa Drive, 
Boulder
ÑAtmospheric chemistry as a scientific discipline can be 
traced back to the 18th century.  Since World War II, 
trace components of the atmosphereÑwith concentrations of 
less than one part in a millionÑhave been found to have a 
disproportionately large effect on the environment and 
human welfare.  Today atmospheric chemistry is not only 
an intriguing scientific discipline, it is one of 
inordinate social and political relevance.  How has that 
occurred, and where is atmospheric chemistry going in the 
coming decades?

"Predicting Climate:  100 Years of Progress"
Eric Barron, Pennsylvania State University
Wednesday, 9 August, 4:00 p.m.
Foothills Lab Main Auditorium, 3450 Mitchell Lane, 
Boulder
ÑBuilding accurate climate models is one key to 
anticipating global climate change.  How do scientists 
use computers to accomplish this task?  Beginning with 
physical laws established more than a century ago, this 
talk will take you step by step through the process of 
creating a simple, workable climate model.

SPECIAL NOTE:  The LASERS talk is only one part of a 
week-long celebration of NCARÕs 35th anniversary that 
culminates in an open house on Saturday, April 22, 
between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.  Included will be 
special exhibits, weather briefings, guided tours on the 
information superhighway, and tours of research aircraft.  
Three sites will be open:

	¥  the Mesa Laboratory, at the west end of Table 
Mesa Drive 
	¥  the Foothills Laboratory, at 3450 Mitchell Lane, 
just off 	47th Street north of Valmont
	¥  the Research Aviation Facility, at Jefferson 
County Airport, 	just west of Broomfield.

	More details on the open house can be found in an 
upcoming press release and through a special phone line, 
497-8670.

Writer:  Bob Henson
ÿ