NASA Daily News Summary
For Release: Jan. 11, 2000
Media Advisory m00-007


SUMMARY:

NASA ADMINISTRATOR HIGHLIGHTS AGENCY'S ROLE IN IMPROVING CLIMATE AND
WEATHER PREDICTION

Video File for Jan. 11, 2000

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NASA ADMINISTRATOR HIGHLIGHTS AGENCY'S ROLE IN IMPROVING CLIMATE AND
WEATHER PREDICTION

In a keynote address to weather forecasters at their annual convention, NASA Administrator Daniel
S. Goldin yesterday outlined the space agency's role in studying Earth's climate -- a commitment to
scientific research and technology development that will help forecasters make more accurate weather
predictions in the new millennium. For the future, NASA has set goals for its Earth Sciences research
and technology development projects that  may result in new satellite technologies and models to help
National Weather Service replace the common three- to five-day forecasts of today with accurate 10-
to 14-day forecasts, Goldin added.

NASA Headquarters contact: David E. Steitz (Phone:  202/358-1730)


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Video File for Jan. 11, 2000


Video File for Jan. 11, 2000


Item 1  - NASA Technology Improved Weather Forecasting in 1999

NASA is getting better at predicting weather.  Wth the use of satellite data and
better computer modeling techniques, meteorologists in the next ten years
may be able to predict El Nino weather conditions potentially 15 months  in
advance and detect hurricanes far enough ahead to help protect lives and
property, according to NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin.  The following
video details several NASA weather missions that will help accomplish these
goals.

HQ Contact - Dave Steitz 202/358-1730.


Item 1a - Landsat 7 - Mapping Cities

Landsat 7 is an Earth-mapping mission that provides imagery of the planet
from space that can be used to understand natural events all over the world.
Building on a 27-year heritage of data, Landsat 7 helps researchers
understand the effects of hurricanes and monitor fires and droughts.  These
views show the cities of San Francisco, Rome, Paris, and New York.  TRT -
3:13

Video courtesy NASA

Center contact: Wade Sisler 301/286-6256


Item 1b - Quikscat - Tracking Ocean Winds
Quikscat, a satellite launched last spring that tracks wind currents over the
ocean's surface, is providing information that can help scientists understand
the interactions between Earth's oceans and the atmosphere. This data can
help predict the evolution and movement of severe storms.  TRT - 1:56

Video Courtesy NASA

Center contact: Diane Ainsworth 818/354-5011


Item 1c - Topex-Poseidon Looks at Sea Surfaces

A joint NASA-French mission that uses radar to study ocean surface
topography and heat content gives two more clues as to how El Nino and
other ocean events affect the weather that crosses our nation each day.
Animation depicts the evolution and decrease of the El Nino warm water pool
from Dec. 1996-March 1998. The warm water pool is red and white and the
La Nina cold water pool is blue and purple.  TRT - 2:01

Video Courtesy NASA

Center contact:  Diane Ainsworth 818/354-5011


Item 1d - TRMM Aids Hurricane Research

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission, a joint NASA-Japanese mission,
continues to provide profound new insights into events such as hurricanes,
modeling them in 3-D while showing how energy is used within the storm. The
following animation shows the hurricane swath in 1998 and a 3-D working
model of a hurricane.   TRT - :34

Video Courtesy NASA/NASDA

Center contact: Wade Sisler 301/286-6256


Item 1e - Terra: A planet-wide system

Terra, launched in Dec. 1999, will enable new research into the ways that
Earth's lands, oceans, air, ice and life function as a total planet-wide system.
Terra is the first spacecraft of the Earth Observing Satellite (EOS) series to be
launched and will provide comprehensive, daily information on the health of
the planet.
TRT - 3:02

Video Courtesy NASA

Center contact: Wade Sisler 301/286-6256


Item 1f - Acrimsat: Measuring the Sun's Energy

Launched in Dec. 1999, the Acrimsat mission is designed to measure Total
Solar Irradiance (TRI), or the impact on Earth of the Sun's energy, during its
five-year mission life.  Acrimsat is also part of the Earth Observing Satellite
series.  TRT - :58

Video Courtesy NASA

Center contact:  Diane Ainsworth 818/354-5011


Item 2 - Reversal of Magnetic Fields on Europa (Replay)

This animation depicts the movement of Europa's magnetic field, which
reverses direction every 5-1/2 hours. The animation was developed from
data taken by the Galileo spacecraft.  TRT - :30

HQ Contact - Doug Isbell 202/358-1753

Center Contact - Mary Hardin 818/354-5011


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