USWRP Office of the Lead Scientist U.S. Weather Research Program National Center for Atmospheric Research P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, Colorado 80307-3000. Phone (303) 497-8197, Fax (303) 497-8181 Email: carbone@ucar.edu WWW: www.mmm.ucar.edu/uswrp/

December 9, 1998

Dear Colleague:

This is to invite you to the 1^st USWRP Science Symposium, to be held 29-31 March 1999 at the NCAR Mesa Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado. The Symposium will serve the dual puposes of presenting research findings in the physical and social sciences and examining the effectiveness of our projects and approaches toward the operational goal of improved weather prediction. As a researcher in an area of interest to the Program, your participation is especially important to the success of the USWRP and its objectives.

A provisional agenda is enclosed for your information. Participants are requested to register in advance by sending a one-page abstract that addresses the following questions, as appropriate:

• What are the key scientific findings from your research?
• Can the results of this research be utilized to improve forecasts or to understand the use and value of forecasts? If so, how? This question should be answered from short- and/or long-term perspectives, as appropriate.
• What operational requirements or transitions might be necessary to fully utilize these results, e.g., forecast paradigm, new observational platforms, communications, training, etc.? What are the links to weather-sensitive sectors of society?

To be considered for an oral presentation it is necessary to receive your abstract by EOB 18 January 1999. In addition, there will be Poster sessions and Panel discussions. Nearly half of the meeting will be devoted to Panel discussions during which there will be extensive researcher participation as a means to fine tune future directions of the Program. A subcommittee of the Science Steering Committee and the IUAC will review your abstracts and arrange teh scientific program.

All four co-sponsoring agencies will be represented at the Symposium, as well as agencies considering future cooperation with or participation in the Program. Brief updates will be provided on Program status, progress of the USWRP FY 2000-2004 initiative, and activities associated with the Office of the Lead Scientist. There will also be Alpine Programme and Sydney 2000, a nowcast/forecast demonstration project.

Please help to make the 1^st USWRP Science Symposium a success.

Our best regards to you and your colleagues.

Sincerely,

Roger Pielke, Jr.
R. Carbone, Lead Scientist

P.S. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Regal Harvest House. The attachment describes how you can reserve a room at the special government rate. Shuttle transportation will be provided by NCAR, if there is adequate demand.