Gizmorama!

Good Morning,

Signs of climate change are becoming more abundant across
the nation say U.S. Scientists. Temperatures are beginning
to permanently rise and extreme weather conditions such as
heavy downpours are more common. Read about more finds in
the second article.

Until Tomorrow,
Erin

NASA awards science services contract

GREENBELT, Md. - The U.S. space agency says it’s selected
the Sigma Space Corp. to provide hydrospheric and biospheric
support services. The Lanham, Md., corporation is to provide
support to the Hydrospheric and Biospheric Sciences Labora-
tory at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s
Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Under the five-
year, $120 million contract, Sigma will support research
involving satellite remote sensing, as well as field and air-
craft instruments for measuring Earth, oceanic, biospheric
and atmospheric processes; scientific and engineering support
for the development and calibration of remote sensing instru-
ments; and development of data systems for the production and
distribution of satellite products, NASA said.

Climate change: Here now and intensifying

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - U.S. scientists say climate change in the
form of regional drought, higher temperatures and heavy rain-
fall is now common in many parts of the nation. The scientists
representing 13 U.S government agencies, universities and
research institutes say the human-induced climate changes are
likely to increase in intensity. The 190-page study is said
to be the most comprehensive report to date on national
climate change, offering the latest information on rising
temperatures, heavy downpours, extreme weather conditions,
sea level changes and other results of U.S. climate change.
The study, led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-
istration, focuses on effects by region and details how the
nation’s transportation, agriculture, health, water and
energy sectors will be affected. University of Illinois Pro-
fessor Don Wuebbles, a contributor to the report, said
average temperatures have risen in the Midwest during recent
decades and the growing season has been extended by one week.
Heavy downpours are now twice as frequent as they were a
century ago and the Midwest has experienced two record-
breaking floods during the past 15 years, he said. Wuebbles
said average annual temperatures are expected to increase by
about 2 degrees Fahrenheit during the next few decades and by
as much as 7 to 10 degrees by the end of the century.

NASA prepares for GOES-O launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The U.S. space agency is preparing
to launch the Geostationary Operational Environmental
Satellite-O from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in
Florida. The liftoff of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration’s GOES-O satellite is targeted for June 16,
during a 6:14 a.m. to 7:14 a.m. EDT launch window. “Launching
GOES-O will contribute the data needed for accurate NOAA
forecasts for severe weather, including hurricanes that
threaten at least 35 million Americans living in areas vulner-
able to land-falling hurricanes,” Steve Kirkner, GOES program
manager at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s
Goddard Space Flight Center, said. The space agency said
GOES-O will be the second spacecraft to be launched in the
GOES N Series of geostationary environmental weather satel-
lites. The satellites provide continuous observations of 60
percent of the Earth including the continental United States,
providing weather monitoring and forecast operations as well
as a continuous stream of environmental information. NOAA
manages the GOES program, establishes requirements, provides
all funding and distributes environmental satellite data for
the United States. NASA manages the design, development and
launch of the satellites for NOAA.