From: baalke@zagami.jpl.nasa.gov   
      
   Elvia Thompson   
   Headquarters, Washington                 December 8, 2003   
   (Phone: 202/358-1696)   
      
   Krishna Ramanujan/Rob Gutro at AGU   
   Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.   
   (Phone: 607/273-2561/301/286-4044)   
   (AGU Press Phone: 415/905-1007)   
      
   NOTE TO EDITORS: 03-n137   
      
   NASA ANNOUNCES PRESS CONFERENCES AT AGU MEETING   
      
        NASA researchers will present findings on various topics   
   at the American Geophysical Union Meeting at the Moscone   
   Convention Center (MCC), San Francisco, December 8-12.   
      
   THE MARTIAN CLIMATE, AS SEEN BY MARS ODYSSEY   
   Odyssey's sensors have measured the movement of carbon dioxide   
   as it accumulates as frost at the winter poles and evaporates   
   during the spring. Intriguing images of this dry ice will be   
   shown. The Odyssey camera has obtained the most detailed map   
   yet of the south Polar Regions. Measurements of water ice in   
   the soil suggest a complex layering, indicating recent global   
   climate change. Enigmatic hydrogen deposits at warm mid-   
   latitudes will be discussed. Results from the radiation   
   monitoring experiment show the level of radiation hazard that   
   Mars-bound astronauts may face, including that from intense   
   solar activity recently measured by the instrument. Press   
   conference: Monday, December 8, noon EST. The associated   
   session, P21A, is Tuesday, 11 a.m. EST in Room MCC 3002.   
      
   A SEASON IN THE LIFE OF THE ANTARCTIC OZONE HOLE   
   NASA's Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) instruments   
   have been looking at ozone and making daily maps of the ozone   
   content of the atmosphere. TOMS data has shown the evolution   
   of the 'ozone hole' since 1979. This instrument was an   
   essential factor in establishing international agreements that   
   led to the banning of ozone destroying chlorofluorocarbons.   
   Press conference: Monday, December 8, 4 p.m. EST. The   
   associated sessions, A11A, A11G, begin on today at 11 a.m. EST   
   in Room MCC 3018. Poster Session A21D is Tuesday, December 9,   
   11:30 a.m. EST on MCC Level 2.   
      
   NASA MISSION TO JUPITER'S ICY MOONS   
   NASA's Project Prometheus is developing plans for the Jupiter   
   Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO). It will orbit Callisto, Ganymede and   
   Europa, the three planet-size moons of Jupiter that have   
   ingredients necessary for life: water, energy and necessary   
   chemicals. JIMO will be the first spacecraft powered by   
   nuclear electric propulsion. Press conference: Monday,   
   December 8, 5 p.m. EST. The associated session, P11C, is   
   Monday, December 8, 1:20 p.m. EST in Room MCC 3009.   
      
   ICESAT CAPTURES EARTH IN 3-D   
   NASA's Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) is   
   sending home spectacular 3-D views of Earth's polar ice   
   sheets, clouds, mountains, forestlands and even fires, all to   
   help scientists understand how our changing climate affects   
   life on Earth. Press conference: Tuesday, December 9, 6 p.m.   
   EST. Special sessions C31A and C31D detail these results on   
   Wednesday, December 10, at 11 a.m. EST in Room MCC 3010.   
      
   EARTH'S COLLAPSING DIPOLE   
   Earth's dipole field has decreased over the past 150 years at   
   a rate greater than if flow in the outer core were to suddenly   
   stop. The trend has far-reaching implications, ranging from   
   the potential for more extensive radiation damage to   
   satellites, to the possibility the field is heading toward   
   reversal. Atmospheric changes are known to result from   
   variations in solar activity, and thus should be expected if   
   the dipole decrease persists. Discussions include what would   
   happen to the atmosphere if there were an extremely large   
   solar proton event caused by a large-scale solar storm during   
   the time when Earth's magnetic field is low. Press conference:   
   Thursday, December 11, at noon EST. The associated session is   
   U42A, at 4:40 p.m. EST, Thursday, December 11 in Room MCC   
   3001-3003.   
      
   EARTH'S CLIMATE OVER THE PAST MILLENNIUM   
   Using the perspective of the past few millennia, speakers will   
   discuss the latest research involving climate reconstructions   
   and different models. Discussions include how researchers used   
   a climate model that included solar radiation changes,   
   volcanic eruptions, and natural internal variability to arrive   
   at a more accurate look at Earth's changing climate. Press   
   conference: Tuesday, December 9, 5 p.m. EST. The associated   
   session, PP51, begins at 11 a.m. EST, on Friday, December 12,   
   in Room MCC 3004.   
      
   HOW URBANIZATION IS IMPACTING CLIMATE   
   Scientists estimate by 2025, 60 percent of the world's   
   population will live in cities. The urban environment can   
   impact several aspects of the natural Earth system. This press   
   conference will highlight some of the impact of urbanization   
   on climate change including temperature changes, rainfall   
   modification, and aerosol constituents. The press conference   
   is Thursday, December 11 at 6 p.m. EST. Associated sessions:   
   U51A on Friday, December 12 at 11 a.m. EST in Room MCC 3001-   
   3003 and U51C on Friday December 12 at 1:20 p.m. EST in Room   
   MCC 3001-3003.   
      
      
   -end-   
      
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