Topics ranging from radioactive waste transport from the tsunami stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant to cloud seeding made headlines at the 93rd American Meteorological Society (AMS) Annual Meeting in early January. In addition to these newsmakers, scientists funded by DOE’s Atmospheric System Research (ASR) program presented innovative research about the aerosol, cloud, and precipitation processes. In particular, the Fifth Symposium on Aerosol-Cloud-Climate Interactions included a variety of new results, including studies about the genesis of ice nuclei—the first particles of cloud formation—from dust and soot.

Each year, scientists, professors, and students from around the world attend the annual AMS gathering to collaborate and catch up on the latest advances in weather, climate science, and technology. In addition to providing a collaborative research forum, the society also conducts networking events for early career scientists. As reflected by students comprising 20 percent of AMS membership this year, the society actively supports the next generation of scientists, notably through fellowships and scholarships. These are made possible through funding support from the society, industry, and government entities, including ASR.

Graduate Fellowship Awarded to Jennifer Gahtan

Jennifer Gahtan received an AMS graduate fellowship this year sponsored by ASR. She is one of 14 graduate students to receive an AMS fellowship award this year, which includes a $24 thousand stipend for the academic year (August 2012-August 2013) plus travel support to attend the AMS Annual Meeting.

Gahtan received her undergraduate degree from the University of Miami and completed an internship for the Center for Multiscale Modeling of Atmospheric Process, or CMMAP. With the fellowship award, she chose to continue her research at the University at Albany-SUNY, to understand the propagation of atmospheric waves associated with the Madden Julian Oscillation, one of the leading causes of rainfall variation over the Indian and Pacific Oceans.