News Release

1999 Fall Meeting: Press conferences and special events

Meeting Announcement

American Geophysical Union

Contents:
I. Press Conferences
II. Events of Interest to the Media
III. Abstracts Sent
IV. Press Room Phones
V. Note to Public Information Officers on Press Releases
VI. Email list

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    Note: This advisory supplements Media Advisory 1 (AGU Press Release 99-36) of October 14. If you do not have the earlier advisory, you should obtain it from the AGU web site: [http://www.agu.org/sci_soc/prrl/prrl9932.html]. Basic information in Advisory 1 is not repeated here, unless it has changed or is updated. The press registration form is at the end of Advisory 1, which also includes information on hotels. Several still have rooms available as of today.

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I. Press Conferences Press conferences are in the planning stage. All information in this section is tentative, subject to change of title, focus, date, or time, or even cancellation. Additional press conferences may also be scheduled. An updated media advisory will be sent in early December. Any changes after that will be posted in the Press Room at the Meeting.

Overview
Monday (8:00 AM). Enjoy breakfast in the Press Room, after which we will move into the Briefing Room for a broad look at Fall Meeting. Prof. Robert Duce, chair of the Program Committee, will point out sessions and special events likely to be of interest to the media, in addition to the press conferences.

Rapid Climate Change and the Oceans
Monday morning. Strong climate change has occurred rapidly in the past and will likely do so again in the future. A key factor is apparently the dynamics of large ice sheets on deep ocean circulation. Researchers consider our present "interglacial climate" to be fragile.

The Day the Solar Wind (Almost) Disappeared
Monday morning. The day was May 11 this year, and data suggest that the solar wind dropped to almost zero. This was accompanied by a rare auroral phenomenon, in which Earth's entire polar cap, not just a ring, glowed. The whole phenomenon has been described as a window to the corona's electrons.

The Latest News From Mars
Monday noon. Pick up lunch in the Press Room and head into the Briefing Room for this perennial favorite. You will see and hear new results from Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Polar Lander (which has not yet landed), and its Deep Space 2 probes of the Martian subsurface.

The Indian Ocean Experiment (INDOEX)
Monday afternoon. The Indian Ocean is a unique natural laboratory in which to observe the effects of manmade aerosols (airborne particles) and other factors on climate. A multidisciplinary and multinational group of scientists undertook intensive on site investigations early this year. This is the first report of their findings.

Way Down Under: New Clues to Antarctica
Monday afternoon. New tools and technology are helping scientists take a good look at strange features and puzzling behaviors on the frozen continent. These include giant ice streams, some dynamic and some placid, and snow dunes that stay in place despite fierce winds. It all affects global climate.

Solar Moss Discovered
Tuesday morning. Moss discovered on the Sun! Well, not exactly, but scientists using the TRACE spacecraft have discovered a mixture of coronal chromospheric gases at the base of the corona, and they have named it "moss." Solar moss is anything but static, and its discovery changes our understanding of how the base of the corona operates.

Sudden Volcanic Catastrophes Threaten Growing Populations
Tuesday afternoon. Stratovolcanoes are found near many highly populated areas. New findings will be reported on the risk that they may suddenly collapse, even without an eruption, unleashing massive avalanches of rock and mud that can devastate entire cities. Scientists are studying how to assess the risk factor for catastrophic collapse of specific volcanoes and are devising mitigation strategies.

FAST
Tuesday afternoon. This will be the first ever press conference on science results from the FAST satellite. It focuses on two phenomena: an invisible upward moving aurora (as contrasted with the "normal" visible aurora caused by downward moving electrons) and data supporting a new theory of Earth's natural radio broadcasts.

1999 Earthquakes in Izmit, Turkey; Taiwan; and Hector Mine, California
Wednesday morning. These quakes occurred too recently to have been included in planning for this meeting, and special extra sessions were organized soon after each occurred. We will hear the latest results from scientists who were on the scene.

Digital Library to Serve Earth Science Education
Wednesday noon. This initiative, unveiled at Fall Meeting, will fundamentally change the way students learn, the way instructors teach, and researchers interact. It will provide rapid and high quality information in digital formats on any aspect of the Earth system.

Early Results From New Earth Observing Satellites
Wednesday afternoon. Project scientists from NASA's Landsat 7 and QuickScat and Denmark's Oersted will discuss major breakthroughs offered by new remote sensing data and scientific advances made by combining long-term records of satellite images. Landsat 7 has helped scientists study recently erupting volcanoes and recent floods in North Carolina. QuickScat, covering nearly 90 percent of the world's oceans daily, provides important information on hurricane formation. Oersted, Denmark's first satellite, maps the Earth's magnetic field in order to explore the Earth's core and the interaction of the magnetosphere with solar winds.

The Climatic Impact of Volcanic Eruptions
Wednesday afternoon. The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo put more particles into the stratosphere than any other of the 20th century. Its effect on climate has also been studied more intensively than any previous eruption, thanks to previously unavailable satellites and instruments. We will learn some of the newest results from ongoing studies of Pinatubo and other volcanoes.

Solar Max: New Thoughts on Why and When
Thursday morning. Solar maximum is coming, with possible strong effects on Earth's communications and power systems. We will hear the latest research on processes that cause the Sun's cyclical variations: the solar interior, atmosphere, corona, and wind, and possible links between internal and external processes. We will also learn the latest on modeling the cycle and more accurately predicting the time of the maximum.

Astrobiology: Oxymoron No More
Thursday morning. Seeking extraterrestrial life within our own solar system is no longer considered a quixotic pursuit. The search for life on Europa is, for example, linked with investigations into the origins of life on Earth.

El Niño's Arctic Cousin
Thursday afternoon. The Arctic Oscillation, once known as the North Atlantic Oscillation, is now recognized as one of the most important factors in weather and temperature all across the Arctic. We will learn the latest on the physical basis of the Arctic Oscillation, its relationship to El Niño and other periodic atmospheric variations, and its possible role in lowering surface temperatures in some far northern land areas.

Galileo at Io
Friday noon. This session will report results from spacecraft Galileo's closest ever fly-by of Io, Jupiter's volcanic moon. It will consist of new findings since the November 19 NASA Space Science Update on this subject.
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II. Events of interest to the media (in chronological order)

Field Trip for Press Room Registrants
Sunday, December 12 (12:00 noon, Howard Street Entrance to Moscone Convention Center, between 3rd and 4th Streets). See Media Advisory 1 for general information. All who registered for the Press Room by December 18 and checked that they wish to participate in the field trip on San Francisco Bay are hereby confirmed. A very few openings remain.

Due to the large response, there will be two cruises. Half the group will be briefed at the USGS Marine Facility in Redwood City while the other half sails on the Polaris; then the two groups will change places. Both USGS and AGU incur significant costs for this program, and it will be held rain or shine, so if you have signed up, please don't be a no-show.

Dinner plans: Following the conclusion of the field trip at USGS Menlo Park, we will go to the same nearby restaurant as last year, Chevy's (tex-mex), for an early supper. As last year, we each order individually, but the total check will be divided evenly, including tax and tip. Harvey Leifert will pay the total bill to the restaurant and receive reimbursement from each participant (cash or check) at the restaurant. Please be sure to have enough bills and coins to make exact change in the $20-25 range (estimate, based on last year's cost). Harvey will provide receipts to those who need them in the Press Room on Monday.

Address by Dr. Rita Colwell, Director, National Science Foundation
Monday (5:15 PM, Room 134 Moscone). Dr. Colwell will speak on "Complexity and Connectivity: A New Cartography for Science and Engineering." She will comment on the increasing links between biology and earth sciences (a theme of this meeting) and call for scientists to further expand their connections both within and beyond the scientific community.

Chui Highlights Holiday Dinner of Northern California Science Writers Association (NCSWA)
Monday (6:30 PM, Gordon Biersch restaurant, 2 Harrison Street).

This message is from Sally Stephens, president of NCSWA:

"All AGU Press are invited (and encouraged) to join NCSWA at their holiday dinner on Monday, December 13. Good food and drink (unlimited beer, wine, and soda the first hour). Great schmoozing. NCSWA's own Glennda Chui, science writer for the San Jose Mercury News, will regale us with tales of her experiences covering last summer's earthquake in Turkey. And don't forget the door prizes! Dress: come as you are.

"Gordon Birsch restaurant and microbrewery is located at 2 Harrison Street (on the waterfront at the Embarcadero) in San Francisco. It is about a six block walk from Moscone Convention Center, with free parking under the building (enter from Folsom Street).

"To save a seat at the dinner, please send a check for $35 (payable to NCSWA) BEFORE December 9 to:
Robert Sanders
NCSWA Dinner
1512 Holly Street
Berkeley, CA 94703
[Do not make or send the check to AGU!]

"Unfortunately, the restaurant needs to know how many people are coming before the AGU meeting starts. So, be sure to let us know in advance if you're coming. Hope to see you there."

How to Become a Congressional or Mass Media Fellow -- and Why!
Tuesday (12:00 noon, Room 238 Moscone). AGU participates in these AAAS Fellowship programs, having sponsored 23 Congressional and three Mass Media Fellows. This seminar is designed to attract the interest of young scientists in participating in these programs, which help bridge gaps between the scientific community and society as a whole. Panelists are:

    Congressional
    Bryan Hannegan, currently with the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
    David Hunter, office of Sen. Jim Jeffords (1998-1999)
    Mass Media
    Victoria Bruce, The Oregonian (1997), now a science writer with NASA EOS Project Office
    Roberta Hotinski, U.S. News & World Report (1999), currently finishing Ph.D. at Penn State

AGU Honors Ceremony and Reception
Wednesday (5:30 PM, San Francisco Marriott, 55 4th Street, Salon 9). AGU will present medals to outstanding scientists. (See back cover of Abstract book for list.) A reception follows. The ceremony and reception are open to all (no charge). A few places may still be available for the banquet that follows the reception. The cost for the banquet is $40. If interested, please contact Harvey Leifert as soon as possible.

Geophysical News on TV: Could it be Better? How You Can Help
Thursday (5:30 PM, Room 132 Moscone). Is health and medicine the only science that makes it onto the network news? Do TV reporters conduct hour long interviews and use just 10 seconds, not even on the main point? Can scientists explain their discoveries in plain English? Do some researchers avoid media contact, while others relentlessly seek publicity for minor advances? Our panel of journalists and scientists will discuss the realities of TV news and seek ways to improve the relationship between researchers and reporters. Panelists are:

    Juju Chang, ABC News
    Rick Chapell, Vanderbilt University
    Ann Marie Cunningham, WNET/13 New York
    Jim Hartz, PBS
    Jay Ingram, Discovery Channel Canada
    Gregory van der Vink, IRIS

The Music of Earthquakes: Waveforms of Sound and Seismology
Thursday (7:30 PM, Room 134 Moscone). [Note: Especially suitable for radio or TV coverage.] Musicians and seismologists have much in common: musicians create waves to make beautiful music, while seismologists study waves to analyze the Earth. When musicians are also seismologists, they can explain both music and earthquakes in new ways. This is a public lecture, open to everyone who wishes to attend.

    Andrew Michael, USGS Menlo Park (trombone)
    Stephanie Ross, USGS Menlo Park (soprano)
    David Schaff, Stanford University (cello)
    With the assistance of Duckweed, the USGS Menlo Park old-time string music band

NPR Science Friday
Friday (11:00 AM, Room TBD). The first hour of Science Friday will feature several scientists who are presenting new research at Fall Meeting. They will participate from the studios of KQED-FM, and the program will be fed into a room to be determined at Moscone.
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III. Abstracts Sent

The Abstract books were mailed or FedExed on November 17 to Press Room registrants who had requested that service. Others will receive their copy in the Press Room, and all registrants will receive the Program book at the Press Room.
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IV. Press Room Phones The phone number for incoming calls to the Press Room (Room 111 Moscone) is 415-905-1007.
The number for incoming faxes to the Press room is 415-905-1008.
Please provide these numbers to anyone who might have to reach you at the Meeting.
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V. Note to Public Information Officers on Press Releases

Public Information Officers for universities and other research institutions are welcome to distribute meeting-related press releases in the AGU Press Room. If you will not be present yourself, you may send them by mail or express service. Please do not send them directly to Moscone; use this address:

    Harvey Leifert (Hold for December 10 arrival)
    San Francisco Marriott Hotel
    55 4th Street
    San Francisco, CA 94103-3156
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VI. Email List

All Press Room registrants who were not previously on the AGU list serve for press releases have been added to it in order to receive this and subsequent Fall Meeting messages. If you wish not to receive AGU press releases after the meeting, please send an email message to Harvey Leifert hleifert@agu.org so stating.

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