Contact: Maria Cardona                 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
         Lori Arguelles                10/1/97
         

More than 100 television weathercasters representing stations from around the country are in Washington, D.C., today for a forum hosted by the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, where they will hear from some of the nation's leading scientists on global climate change. As part of the forum, the weathercasters will also hear comments from President Clinton and Vice President Gore later today at the White House.

"This forum will provide broadcast weathercasters with direct access to the scientists who have studied this issue for decades," said Department of Commerce Secretary William M. Daley. "The Administration recognizes the unique contribution that television weathercasters play in educating the public."

The conference begins this morning with briefings at NOAA's campus in Silver Spring, Md., by some of the nation's leading scientists on climate and climate change.

Among those giving presentations are:

Dr. Daniel Albritton, director of NOAA's Aeronomy Laboratory, who will discuss predictions of the changes in the climate system that could result from increased levels of greenhouse gases.

Mr. Thomas Karl, senior scientist at NOAA's National Climatic Data Center, who will discuss how precipitation and temperature patterns are changing across the United States and the world.

Dr. Ants Leetmaa, director of NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, who will discuss how the current El Ni¤o was predicted using numerical models; predictions for the coming season and lessons learned which can be applied to long-term climate change.

Prof. William Easterling, professor at Pennsylvania State University's Geography and System Science Department, who will discuss the importance of studying the societal and economic impacts of climate change. Professor Easterling will also describe how the climate system has and will continue to impact society.

Also, the following experts on regional climate impacts will discuss climate outlooks for specific regions of the country with the weathercasters:

Pacific Northwest: Dr. Edward L. Miles, Virginia and Prentice Bloedel Professor of Marine Studies and Public Affairs, University of Washington;

Southwest: Dr. Roger Bales, director, Institute for the Study of Planet Earth and Professor of Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona;

Midwest/Great Plains: Dr. Dennis Ojima, senior research scientist, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University;

Northeast: Dr. Berrien Moore III, director, Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space, University of New Hampshire; and

Southeast: Dr. Barbara A. Miller, co-founder and president, Rankin International.

Transportation from Silver Spring for the broadcasters was arranged on alternative fuel buses with the help of the Montgomery County transit, the National Biodiesel Board and Twin Rivers Technology, Inc.