Here's an exchange that might be of interest. As usual, I recommend
against writing her/them right away on the same topic. We don't want to
look like a conspiracy.
Bruce
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2001 13:55:40 -0700
From: Cynthia M. O'Carroll <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Bruce Raup <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: NASA CONFIRMS NORTH POLE OZONE HOLE TRIGGER
Thanks! I have sent this to my boss for his recommendation.
>Cynthia,
>
>Thanks for this interesting article.
>
>However, I wish you would use, or at least include, SI (metric) units.
>As I'm sure you know, science, even in the US, is done in metric units,
>and readers of scientific articles can be expected to be familiar with
>them. Additionally, since this information is on the World Wide Web, it
>is appropriate to use World Wide Units of measure; I'm sure you have
>international visitors.
>
>NASA's inspector general issued a report recently on NASA's use of the
>metric system. In it, they specifically recommend that NASA use metric
>units even when interfacing with the public:
>
> "Recommendation 8: NASA's program and functional offices should use SI
>as the preferred system for interactions with the external community in
>public events, educational materials, and Web site viewing. English units
>can be presented parenthetically."
>
>I would stress again that this is especially appropriate when you're
>already expecting readers to be familiar with and interested in scientific
>ideas.
>
>Thanks,
>Bruce
>
>P.S. I just tried looking at
>http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/topstory/20010917arctictemps.html, but the server
>seems to be down. I will try later.
>
>--
>Bruce Raup
>National Snow and Ice Data Center Phone: 303-492-8814
>University of Colorado, 449 UCB Fax: 303-492-2468
>Boulder, CO 80309-0449 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2001 15:43:35 -0400
>> From: Mark Hess <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> To: News Media list.serv <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> Subject: NASA CONFIRMS NORTH POLE OZONE HOLE TRIGGER
>>
>> Cynthia M. O'Carroll September 17, 2001
>> Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
>> (Phone: 301/614-5563)
>> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>
>> RELEASE NO: 01-89
>>
>> NASA CONFIRMS NORTH POLE OZONE HOLE TRIGGER
>>
>> NASA researchers using 22 years of satellite-derived data have
>> confirmed a theory that the strength of "long waves," bands of
>> atmospheric energy that circle the earth, regulate the temperatures
>> in the upper atmosphere of the Arctic, and play a role in controlling
>> ozone losses in the stratosphere. These findings will also help
>> scientists predict stratospheric ozone loss in the future.
>>
>> These long waves affect the atmospheric circulation in the Arctic by
>> strengthening it and warming temperatures, or weakening it and
>> cooling temperatures. Colder temperatures cause polar clouds to form,
>> which lead to chemical reactions that affect the chemical form of
>> chlorine in the stratosphere. In certain chemical forms, chlorine
>> can deplete the ozone layer. One theory is that greenhouse gases may
>> be responsible for decreasing the number of long waves that enter the
>> stratosphere, which then thins the ozone layer.
>>
>> Just as the weather at the Earth's surface varies a lot from one year
>> to the next, so can the weather in the stratosphere. For instance,
>> there were some years like 1984, in which it didn't get cold enough
>> in the Arctic stratosphere for significant ozone loss to occur.
>> "During that year, we saw stronger and more frequent waves around the
>> world, that acted as the fuel to a heat engine in the Arctic, and
>> kept the polar stratosphere from becoming cold enough for great ozone
>> losses," said Paul Newman, lead author of the study and an
>> atmospheric scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, in
>> Greenbelt, Md.
>>
>> "Other years, like 1997, weaker, and less frequent waves reduced the
>> effectiveness of the Arctic heat engine and cooled the stratosphere,
>> making conditions just right for ozone destruction," Newman said. The
>> paper appears in the September 16 issue of Journal of Geophysical
>> Research-Atmospheres.
>>
>> The temperature of the lower level of the stratosphere over the poles
>> is also controlled by the change in seasons from winter to spring,
>> and by gases such as ozone, water vapor and carbon dioxide.
>>
>> A long wave or planetary wave is like a band of energy, thousands of
>> miles in length that flows eastward in the middle latitudes of the
>> upper atmosphere, and circles the world. It resembles a series of
>> ocean waves with ridges (the high points) and troughs (the low
>> points). Typically, at any given time, there are between one and
>> three of these waves looping around the Earth.
>>
>> These long waves move up from the lower atmosphere (troposphere) into
>> the stratosphere, where they dissipate. When these waves break up in
>> the upper atmosphere they produce a warming of the polar region. So,
>> when more waves are present to break apart, the stratosphere becomes
>> warmer. When fewer waves rise up and dissipate, the stratosphere
>> cools, and the more ozone loss occurs.
>>
>> Weaker "long waves" over the course of the Northern Hemisphere's
>> winter generate colder Arctic upper air temperatures during spring.
>> By knowing the cause of colder temperatures, scientists can better
>> predict what will happen to the ozone layer.
>>
>> The temperature of the polar lower stratosphere during March is the
>> key in understanding polar ozone losses - and the temperature at that
>> time is usually driven by the strength and duration of "planetary
>> waves" spreading into the stratosphere.
>>
>> This discovery provides a key test of climate models that are used to
>> predict polar ozone levels. "This then lends itself to adjusting
>> climate models, and increasing their accuracy, which means scientists
>> will have a better way to predict climate change in the future,"
>> Newman said.
>>
>> The stratosphere is an atmospheric layer about 6 to 30 miles above
>> the Earth's surface where the ozone layer is found. The ozone layer
>> prevents the sun's harmful ultra-violet radiation from reaching the
>> Earth's surface. Ultra-violet radiation is a primary cause of skin
>> cancer. Without upper-level ozone, life on Earth would be
>> non-existent.
>>
>> The research used temperature measurements of the stratosphere from
>> the Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite (UARS).
>>
>> More information and images available at:
>> http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/topstory/20010917arctictemps.html
>>
>>
>> -end-
>>
>>
Cynthia M. O'Carroll
Public Affairs Officer/130
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
(301)614-5563
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Earth Science Directorate
Building 33 Room E105
Greenbelt, MD 20771
FAX (301)614-5620
