2016 AMS Annual Meeting

View in the Scientific Program

Sponsors and Organizers

The 18th Symposium on Meteorological Observations and Instrumentation is organized by the the AMS Committee on Measurements and is sponsored by the American Meteorological Society.

Call for Papers

The theme for the 2016 AMS Annual Meeting, “Earth System Science in Service to Society”, weaves the many parts of AMS into a common core. Emphasizing the academic and research strength of AMS, the theme also connects that research to the benefits that society gains from our science. AMS merges the physical, chemical, and biological study of the Earth with human-centered “domains of action”: (1) Observing, (2) Analysis and research leading to understanding, (3) Modeling and prediction, and (4) Social sciences – how people deal with Earth. “Service to Society” explicitly evokes the integrated and complementary government and commercial enterprise that the AMS has done so much to foster over the last decade.  The 2016 meeting integrates AMS’ proud, nearly 100-year history of making a positive difference in the lives of our citizens by continually communicating the advances of its science research to the public and policy makers.

Papers for this conference are solicited on integrated instrumentation and observing systems for all applications, metadata, network design, accuracy, instrument test beds, inter-comparison and calibration of instruments and remote sensing of the atmosphere. Additionally, papers on all aspects of observations (including new observations and physical parameterizations), innovative measurements, measurement systems, specialized instrumentation, and field projects will be welcome.  Application papers for measurements, calibrations and performance of sensors as applied to wind energy, boundary layer studies including important flux measurements.  Special topic sessions will also include: WMO Solid Precipitation Intercomparison, Unmanned aerial vehicles for atmospheric research and Mesonet standards.  A tribute session for Dr. Kenneth Crawford will also be held in conjunction with the Applied Climate Committee. 

Joint Sessions

Kenneth C. Crawford Named Session (Joint with the 22nd Conference on Applied Climatology): As a founding leader of mesoscale networks, Dr. Kenneth Crawford specialized in the unique overlap of meteorological observations and applied meteorology and applied climatology.  This session will highlight talks on these topics by colleagues and former students of Dr. Crawford.

Student Award Opportunities

Measurements Committee Student Travel Awards

The AMS Measurements Committee is offering $400 travel awards for up to three student AMS members who are presenting papers/posters at the meeting.  The award is to be used for travel expenses to and from the conference and lodging in New Orleans, LA.  Funding is available to both graduate and undergraduate students, but is limited to one award per educational institution.  Furthermore, the awardee may not receive any concurrent travel support from the AMS (e.g., an AMS travel grant).  The selected students will be required to pay for any travel up-front, and be reimbursed by AMS (Gillian Peguero, [email protected]) after the conference with proper receipts.

To apply, students should prepare a short written statement (no more than one page) declaring their financial need and circumstance, relevance of their research to the conference, and how they will benefit from attending the conference.  Applicants should also provide a copy of their abstract for the meeting.  Applications should be sent in pdf format via email to the conference chair: Bruce Baker ([email protected]).   Applications will be accepted through October 1, 2015 and selected students will be notified around the end of  November 2015.  Interested applicants or questions about the award should contact the conference Chair.  The measurements committee will evaluate and vote for student award winners based on these written statements with names/affiliations removed.

Student Awards

1. Student Awards will be given for the two best student papers (oral or poster) presented at the 18^th SMOI.  Student presenters are encouraged to identify yourself as a student and have your presentation recorded so that your paper can be considered by the committee.   Two awards of $150 will be given.  The Measurements Committee will attend student paper presentations (or review them online when they become available) and each member will then cast 2 votes for the best papers taking into consideration: scientific merit, contribution to the field of Instrumentation and Observations as well as presentation skills.  Award winners will be notified by the program chair after the annual meeting.
2. The Robert Leviton Student Prize is presented for the best student paper on the development or evaluation of atmospheric instrumentation or unique measurement techniques. The Committee on Measurements will submit a recommendation to the STAC Commissioner, who approves the recommendation. To be considered for the prize, an entrant should either be enrolled as a full-time student or be a student who has just completed a degree but has not yet begun employment at the time the paper is given or submitted for publication. The prize, an AMS reference book, $300, plus a certificate, was established to recognize Robert Leviton, who devoted nearly his entire professional career to endeavors related to the measurement of wind, temperature, pressure, and humidity in the atmosphere. He was one of the pioneers in reducing large datasets from radiosondes using a computer.

The AMS measurements committee will review all student presentations and posters at the Symposium and provide an evaluation to the committee chair.  The chair will tally votes provided by the committee members to distribute this award.  In the event of a tie, the committee will vote on the finalists.

Program Chair(s)

For additional information please contact the program chairperson, Bruce Baker.