There are 3 messages totalling 195 lines in this issue. Topics of the day:
1. MISC> NASA TO STUDY LIGHTNING STORMS USING HIGH-FLYING UNINHABITED VEHICLE 2. K12> T2T> Re: Favorite Elementary Science/Technology activity? 3. Last: posting for Tuesday, July 23, 2002 ***************************************** For individual postings, send the message: set net-happenings mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe, click and send (no body or subject: required) mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Net-happenings mailing list is a service of Classroom Connect - http://www.classroom.com Archives for Net-happenings can be found at: http://www.classroom.com/community/email/archives.jhtml?A0=NET-HAPPENINGS Newsgroups: news:comp.internet.net-happenings http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&GROUP;=comp.internet.net-happenings ******************************************* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2002 14:05:55 -0500 From: Gleason Sackmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: MISC> NASA TO STUDY LIGHTNING STORMS USING HIGH-FLYING UNINHABITED VEHICLE From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2002 1:20 PM To: undisclosed-recipients: Subject: NASA TO STUDY LIGHTNING STORMS USING HIGH-FLYING UNINHABITED VEHICLE David E. Steitz Headquarters, Washington July 23, 2002 (Phone: 202/358-1730) Steve Roy Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. (Phone: 256/544-0034) RELEASE: 02-135 NASA TO STUDY LIGHTNING STORMS USING HIGH-FLYING UNINHABITED VEHICLE To better understand both the causes of an electrical storm's fury and its effects on our home planet, NASA and university research scientists will use a tool no atmospheric scientist has ever used to study lightning -- an uninhabited aerial vehicle. The research is part of the Altus Cumulus Electrification Study (ACES), a collaboration among NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.; the University of Alabama at Huntsville; NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.; Penn State University, University Park; and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., San Diego. Based at the Naval Air Station Key West in Florida, researchers in August will chase down thunderstorms using an uninhabited aerial vehicle, or "UAV" -- allowing them to achieve dual goals of gathering weather data safely and testing new aircraft technology. This is expected to mark the first time a UAV is used to conduct lightning research. "What we learn has the potential to help forecasters improve weather prediction, especially for storms that may produce severe weather," said the study's principal investigator, Dr. Richard Blakeslee, a NASA atmospheric scientist at the Global Hydrology and Climate Center in Huntsville. "Also, by learning more about these individual storms, we hope to better understand weather on a global scale. "Using the aerial vehicle, we will make electric, magnetic and optical measurements of the thunderstorms, gauging elements such as lightning activity and the electrical environment in and around the storms," explained Blakeslee. "At the same time, ground-based radar and satellite observations will provide detailed information on the cloud properties and storm severity." This ground- and satellite-based data will include details on lightning flash rate, amount of precipitation and speed of updraft -- providing a comprehensive view of the storm from the ground, as well as from the sky. By learning more about individual storms, scientists hope to better understand the global water and energy cycle as well as climate variability. The study also will provide federal, state and local governments with new disaster-management information for use during severe storms, floods and wildfires. In the process, researchers will learn more about UAV aircraft and how they can be used for future research missions. "The UAV is an exciting new technology," said Blakeslee. "By getting this close to storms, we're demonstrating the promise of using uninhabited aerial vehicles for meteorological applications." "The mission will utilize the Altus UAV -- built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems -- chosen for its slow flight speed of 70 to 100 knots (80 to 115 mph), long endurance, and high-altitude flight (up to 55,000 feet)," said ACES project manager Tony Kim of Marshall Space Flight Center. "The Altus boasts a wing span of 55 feet." These qualities give the Altus aircraft the ability to fly near thunderstorms for long periods of time, allowing investigations to be conducted over the entire life cycle of storms. The Altus overcomes the limitations of conventional aircraft that, because of their greater speed, provide only brief snapshots of storm activity sandwiched between long periods of no observations. As part of NASA's Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle-based, science demonstration program, these flights also will demonstrate this aircraft's ability to carry Earth-viewing scientific payloads into environments where pilots would be exposed to potentially life-threatening hazards. "In the summer, Florida is the best location in the United States to study thunderstorms because the large number of storms that occur there should provide frequent opportunities to observe them," said Blakeslee. The mission is part of NASA's Earth Science Enterprise, a long-term research effort designed to help us better understand and protect our home planet, while inspiring the next generation of explorers. -end- * * * NASA press releases and other information are available automatically by sending an Internet electronic mail message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the body of the message (not the subject line) users should type the words "subscribe press-release" (no quotes). The system will reply with a confirmation via E-mail of each subscription. A second automatic message will include additional information on the service. NASA releases also are available via CompuServe using the command GO NASA. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2002 14:38:00 -0500 From: Gleason Sackmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: K12> T2T> Re: Favorite Elementary Science/Technology activity? From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2002 2:01 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: T2T> Re: Favorite Elementary Science/Technology activity? Jerry, Check out the Intel Teach to the Future Unit Plan Database. These lessons are created by teachers using technology in their subject areas. I saw some really good things on there. The address: http://www.intel.com/education/unitplans I highly recommend people consider taking the "Intel Teach to the Future" course if it is offered to you. It was very helpful and you walk away with a finished product to use in class. Also, not only do you get your finished product but a copy of all the other teachers' units that participated in the same class. I encourage everyone to check out the above web site. Have fun! Laura ---------------------------------------------------------- NEWS UPDATE: YOUR MONEY WILL ACTUALLY BUY US TIME. Teachnet may be free, but our computers and server fees certainly are not. PLEASE consider a small donation to keep things running, AND to give us resources to invest more time in Teachnet to ensure its future. Read our plea at http://www.teachnet.com ---------------------------------------------------------- TO POST A MESSAGE, EMAIL: [EMAIL PROTECTED] SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE FORM online at: http://www.teachnet.com/t2t/ copyright 1995-2001 Teachnet.Com - All Rights Reserved ---------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2002 15:01:21 -0500 From: Gleason Sackmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Last: posting for Tuesday, July 23, 2002 Last: posting for Tuesday, July 23, 2002 NOTE: This is primarily for website/newsgroup readers. If list subscribers do not want to see this notice any longer, send the message: SET [name of this list] TOPICS -last to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------ End of NET-HAPPENINGS Digest - 23 Jul 2002 (#2002-461) ******************************************************
