NASA hurricane researchers are available for a media teleconference at noon EDT, Thursday, June 23 to discuss the month-long Tropical Cloud Systems and Processes (TCSP) mission to Costa Rica.

TCSP starts July 1, and mission scientists expect to observe the genesis of some of the world’s most dangerous weather formations in the Pacific Ocean. Five NASA centers, 10 American universities and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are participating.

For the call-in number, password, Internet site where graphics and other materials will be posted, reporters should call Tomeka Scales at: 202/358-0781, by 5 p.m. EDT, Wednesday.

Briefing Participants:

  • Dr. Ramesh Kakar: Weather Focus Area leader for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate
  • Dr. Gerry Heymsfield: cloud radar expert and research meteorologist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
  • Dr. Edward Zipser: chairman and professor of the Department of Meteorology at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City
  • Dr. Frank Marks, director of the Hurricane Research Division for NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Miami

For information about TCSP on the Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lookingatearth/hurricane_2005.html

or

http://tcsp.nsstc.nasa.gov/tcsp/