Recent severe weather across the Midwest has included more than tornadoes. Some of the thunderstorms have congealed into giant clusters that can spread hurricane-force wind and torrential rain for hundreds of miles. Now researchers are heading to the skies and highways to profile these storm complexes--some of the world's biggest. A media day near St. Louis will kick off BAMEX, the Bow Echo and MCV [Mesoscale Convective Vortex] Experiment.
The media day will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Monday, May 19, at MidAmerica Airport, located about 20 miles east of St. Louis. Below are a summary of the day's activities and directions to the airport. Journalists interested in attending the media day should notify Anatta (see contact information above). A full news release on BAMEX may be found at http://www.ucar.edu/communications/newsreleases/2003/bamex.html.
Scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder are organizing BAMEX. The National Science Foundation is primary funder of the $4-million study. Collaborators include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), and over a dozen colleges and universities.
Media Day Schedule9:30 a.m. Three-minute overviews from BAMEX researchers
BAMEX science goals and recent severe weather--Christopher Davis, NCAR
MCVs: What they are and why we care--Christopher Davis, NCAR
Bow echoes: Swaths of damaging wind--Morris Weisman, NCAR
Instrumented aircraft--David Jorgensen, National Severe Storms Laboratory
Mobile weather labs, balloon launches--Kevin Knupp, Univ. of Alabama in Huntsville
National Weather Service forecaster participation--Ron Przybylinski, NWS St. Louis
10:00 a.m. Questions and answers
10:15 a.m.--noon Launch of radiosonde (weather balloon) from an NCAR research vehicle
Tours of two P-3 aircraft, a Lear Jet and ground vehicles--all instrumented for the experimentInterviews and photo opportunities
noon--1:30 Weather briefing. Camera crews may videotape the start of the briefing.
1:30--3:00 Interviews and photo opportunities continue until 3:00 p.m.
Directions to MidAmerica AirportMidAmerica Airport is located in St. Clair County, Illinois, about 20 miles east of St. Louis. The street address is 9768 Airport Boulevard, Mascoutah, IL 62258-5500.
When approaching on Interstate 64 from either direction, take Exit 23 and follow signs to the airport. Media Day presentations will be held on Level One of the Passenger Terminal.
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