Steve Ambrose on site at Long Branch
WEATHER CONFERENCE SUMMARY
On June 2, 1994, the Weather - Natural Diasters Cluster met online with two special guest speakers. Our guests were Mr. Steve Ambrose who was on site at Long Branch Elementary School in Arlington, Virginia, and Mr. Harry Volkman, a Channel 2 Meteorologist, who was on site at Springman School in Glenview, Illinois. The sites involved in the videoconference were as follows:
- Canyon Crest - Provo, Utah
- Cedar Bluff - Knoxville, Tennessee
- Long Branch - Arlington, Virginia
- Springman - Glenview, Illinois
We began by introducing our two guests. From Long Branch, Mr. Steve Ambrose told us a little about himself. He is currently a Physical Scientist for NOAA, National Climatic Data Center's Satellite Data Services Division in Camp Springs, Maryland. He is a trained meterologist who begun his career with the National Ocean Service's Office of Oceanography Tidal Analysis Branch and then moved to the NWS National Meteorological Center's Forecast Division. He then went to the Office of Hydrology. He has also worked with NESDIS, Satellite Services Division. When he is not working he is volunteering as a member of the newly formed International Weather Watchers, and the American Meteorological Society and National Weather Association. Steve is one of the co-founders of the International Weather Watchers and serves on the editorial board of the Weather Watcher Review. He brought recent copies of the Weather Watcher Review so that each site can profit from the articles and information. He also invited our cluster group to forward some of our research and articles to him for possible publication. Mr. Ambrose brought other materials as well as some sample satellite images. (Copies of materials will be sent to each site.) He invited our schools to become members in the IWW.
Also visiting on site at Long Branch was Ms. Sheryl Asen from the Office of Academic Computing and Mr. Phil Shapiro of Washington Apple Pi (our area's largest Apple User Group) and Balloon Software.
Springman School had many guests at their site visiting for the conference. Among their guest were the Mayor of Glenview and the school superintendant. Mrs. Trahannas introduced all of her visitors and then introduced their special guest, Mr. Harry Volkman. Mr. Volkman has been involved in meteorology since the 1930's. He currently is the Channel 2 Meteorologiest in Glenview. He told us he has seen a lot of weather in his time but that he does not feel that there is a climatic change in our weather. He feels that the weather he saw 40 years ago is basically the same as what he sees today.
Canyon Crest felt they were lucky to be joining us. They had been without power in their area for several days due to their own natural disaster. They had just gotten the electricity back on in their building that morning. When we asked what happened we found out that they had experienced microbursts. Mr. Ambrose asked if they had noticed a pattern with the fallen trees. He explained that this is the way to determine whether the storm they experienced was a tornado or a microburst. From the way the trees fell they determined it had indeed been a microburst. The students told us how the winds were up to 120 mph and that trees fell, roofs were taken off of buildings and some areas were flattened.
Holmes School joined us even though it was the last day of school for them. The timing was right and students were able to ask some questions of both of the guests before they left for the day. Even after the students had to leave their teacher, Jerry Shedlosky, carried on for them.
Cedar Bluff Middle School was also online. Mr. Bob Evenridge appeared in his plaid shirt ( a trade mark for Bob) with some of his students to find out a little more about weather. They told us they were just visiting but the students seemed interested in the questions and soon had several of their own to ask our guests.
Students found out a lot of information about weather phenomena and the use of technology, especially satellite imaging in predicting weather and flooding. We heard about the new GOES satellite that was launched April 13 and takes picture at 23,000 miles above the earth. Mr. Ambrose told us that the satellite pictures that we see on the Internet are the same ones which scientists use to predict and study the weather. He brought some sample satellite photos which we held up for all the sites to see. Mr. Volkman and Mr. Ambrose both agreed that satellite images help meteorologists make more accurate predictions than those made with other instruments.
When asked about what a NOAA radio was Mr. Volkman explained how the NOAA radio broadcasting is done 24 hours a day as a public service. He told us that it is very important to know about this service because in a natural disaster the information which is broadcast could be valuable to those listening so they can stay safe and be informed of current conditions. He reminded us that a fresh supply of batteries is something to have on hand because the electric power is often not working in an emergency situation.