Division of Atmospheric Sciences 



Goals and objectives. The objective of the Divi- 

 sion of Atmospheric Sciences is to increase knowl- 

 edge of the behavior of the earth's atmosphere. 

 The research that is supported may contribute di- 

 rectly to the solution or alleviation of atmospheric 

 problems such as those associated with pollution 

 from major industries, growing populations, and 

 other societal actions that affect the atmosphere in 

 various and subtle ways. There also is much to be 

 learned about the origin of droughts and severe 

 storms such as tornadoes and hailstorms. 



Basic research support is provided on a wide 

 range of subjects. Included are studies of the phys- 

 ics, chemistry, and dynamics of the earth's upper 

 and lower atmosphere; the physical processes in 

 the troposphere and stratosphere that will aid in 

 understanding the general circulation of the at- 

 mosphere and the physical basis of climate; re- 

 search on climate processes and variations; and 

 research on smaller scale, shorter term phenomena 

 leading to greater knowledge of weather processes. 

 The National Center for Atmospheric Research 

 (NCAR), at Boulder, Colorado, is a major research 

 facility devoted to large-scale atmospheric re- 

 search projects in cooperation with universities 

 and other organizations. 



Examples of significant basic research support. 

 During the past 10 years, there have been several 

 significant projects that deserve mentioning: 



• Large scale dynamics came into their own due 

 to the advent of earth-orbiting satellites that 

 could observe the entire globe, and large high- 

 speed, sophisticated computers that could 

 handle large quantities of data needed for 

 modeling problems. The most important re- 

 suh of that evolution is the Global Atmos- 

 pheric Research Program (GARP). Two ex- 

 periments have been held — one during the 

 summer of 1974 (GARP Atlantic Tropical 

 Experiment (GATE)), and another in February 

 1975 and 1976 (Air Mass Transformation 

 Experiment (AMTEX)). Some articles rele- 

 vant to GARP that have been funded through 

 NSF support are: 



Lorenz, Edward N. (1969): Atmospheric Predictability as 

 Revealed by Naturally Occurring Analogues, Journal of the 

 Atmospheric Sciences, 26. pp. 634-646. 



Reed, Richard J., D. C. Norquist and E. Recker (1977); The 

 Structure and Properties of African Wave Disturbances as Ob- 

 served During Phase III of GATE. Monthly Weather Review, 

 105, pp. 334-342. 



Norquist, Donald C, E. E. Recker and R. J. Reed (1977): The 

 Energetics of African Wave Disturbances as Observed During 

 Phase III of GATE' Monthly Weather Review, 105. pp. 343- 

 362. 



Shen, P. J. and E. Agee (1977): Kinematic Analysis and Air-Sea 

 Heat Flux Associated with Mesoscale Cellular Convection dur- 



ing AMTEX 75 (in press). Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences. 



M. 



• Another project that embraces weather modi- 

 fication as well as cloud physics and meso- 

 scale meteorology is the National Hail Research 

 Experiment that began with support from 

 NCAR, especially in the development of 

 facilities. It has produced great advances in 

 the understanding of the internal mechanisms 

 of precipitation formation and the dynamics 

 of storm systems together with an increased 

 understanding of frontal systems. Un- 

 fortunately, the important question of which 

 clouds to seed to lessen the hail dam- 

 age to agriculture and other areas of society 

 has not been answered. Among pertinent arti- 

 cles are: 



Hoskins, B. J. and F. P. Bretherton (1972): Atmospheric fron- 

 togenesis models; mathematical formulation and solutions. 

 Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, 29, pp. 1 1-37. 



Browning, Keith A. and G. B. Foote (1976): Airflow and hail 

 growth in supercell storms and some implications for hail sup- 

 pression. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological 

 Society, 102,499. 



• Magnetospheric studies in the upper atmos- 

 phere have been focused by the organization, 

 planning, and beginning of the International 

 Magnetospheric Study (IMS). The IMS is a 

 coordinated international cooperative pro- 

 gram to study key problems of the nearby 

 space environment, that region controlled by 

 the earth's magnetic field. The program is just 

 beginning; however, the next few years 

 should greatly improve our knowledge of the 

 magnetosphere. Two important articles are: 



Ahasifer, J. I. (1975): The solar wind-magnetospheric dynamo 

 and the magnetospheric-substorm. Planetary and Space Sci- 

 ence. 2.?. 817-823. 



Roederer, J. A. (1976): IMS 1976-1979, New concepts in inter- 

 national scientific cooperation. EOS. 57. 



• The chemistry of the stratosphere is becoming 

 more important, particularly with the prob- 

 lems of ozone depletion and increasing 

 concentrations of fluorocarbons and nitrogen 

 oxides. A significant early series of measure- 

 ments of great importance to the problems of 

 supersonic transports (SST's) and fluorocar- 

 bons was made as early as 1971. Again, little 

 is known of this area of the atmosphere and 

 few observations are available. A key article 

 in the field is: 



Williams, W. J., J. N. Brooks, D. G. Murcray and F. H. Mur- 

 cray (1972): Distribution of nitric acid vapor in the stratosphere 

 as determined from infrared atmospheric emission data. Journal 

 of the Atmospheric Sciences. 29. 1375-1379. 



NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 197 



