The next step

Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 72

As I mentioned earlier, learning is a never ending process. I will continue to learn and grow from my participation in this project. The next step for me will be to continue learning from some of the researchers on the Summit project. I will be spending a week toward the end of July with them in New Hampshire, where they will be participating in an international project .

The study is to understand how chemicals (particulary ozone, aerosols, and greenhouse gases and their precursors) move and change as they travel across the United States and then over the Atlantic Ocean. The data collected will also help to understand how this movement and changes in chemical composition impact the atmosphere, air quality, and climate. This is part of a large study that is taking place in the U.S., and will be followed by a second phase in Asia in the spring of 2006.

The data is going to be collected at labs located on ships and labs stationed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. They will be flying in a number of areas, really focusing on collecting data in areas where satellites have already been collecting this type of data (Jack told me they have even flown over Wisconsin!!). The purpose for flying in areas where satellites are already collecting data is to show that the data that is being collected is accurate, and can be replicated by other means of collection.

I am not really sure at this point what I will be doing, seeing, or participating in when I get there. I will, however, make sure to update this journal daily for the four days I am in New Hampshire.

Talk to you soon!