The theme for the 2017 AMS Annual Meeting is “Observations Lead the Way”. Herein, we define severe local storms as deep moist convection and associated hazards including tornadoes, damaging local winds, flash flooding, frequent lightning, and large hail. The emphasis of this special symposium will be to highlight the information gaps in our current understanding of severe local storms science across a range of sectors, and how current and future observing systems might fill some of these gaps. This will include observation needs for basic research applications appropriate for future field campaigns. Further, we will highlight advances in observations, modeling, and data assimilation that are leading toward improved severe storms hazard prediction. Also, emerging observing systems with potential to significant impact the availability of observations relevant to severe storms monitoring and short-term hazard predictions, such as GOES-R, will be presented. Finally, the theme allows for exploration of information needs to improve the effectiveness of communication, emergency response, and public behavior and perceptions to severe storm hazards.
This symposium will complement the 2017 AMS Annual Meeting theme of "Observations lead the way" by offering a one-day series of invited oral presentations and solicited poster presentations that specifically highlight observational needs of the severe local storms community. This will include the use of special observations in analysis of severe storms, synthesis of observations and models for analysis of severe storms, capabilities and gaps in prediction of severe storm hazards, results from recent field campaigns, and moreover the current state of severe local storm science. The theme is relevant to the NOAA goal and the National Weather Service vision for “A Weather-Ready Nation – a society that is prepared for and responds to weather related events.”
As part of this Special Symposium, there is a call for poster presentations. To align best with the AMS 2017 Annual Meeting theme, posters are specifically solicited in several topic areas, including application of observations to answer open questions germane to severe local storms, especially application of observations from new and/or cutting-edge technology (i.e., radar, remote sensing, information communication and dissemination, etc.) in the arena of severe local storms. Posters on topics that highlight results from recent field campaigns, analyze recent significant severe weather events, or emphasize the current state of severe local storm science are also encouraged. Poster submissions from students are strongly encouraged.
The $95 abstract fee (payable by credit card or purchase order) is refundable only if your abstract is not accepted.
Your fee includes your abstract, extended abstract (optional), and your recorded oral presentation posted to the online program which is available to all visitors for free.
The Special Symposium on Severe Local Storms will give awards to the top three student poster presentations. Cash prizes and a certificate from AMS will be awarded to outstanding first author poster presenters who are undergraduate or graduate students presenting their own original work. Students who wish to be considered for this prize must indicate their eligibility when submitting their abstract.
For additional information please contact the program chairperson Glen Romine.