July 2009 Vol 2, Issue 7 www.noaaworld.noaa.gov
INSIDE:
Landmark Climate Change Report
Makes Headlines
Page 4
NOAA Corps Officer Serves at Crash Scene
Page 3
NOAA’s Climate Storytellers
Page 5
Balsiger Builds Bridges in Gloucester
Page 10
NOAA Sets Whales on the ‘Right’ Path
Page 13
In This Issue:
Just In
NOAA World is an internal
newsletter designed to inform and NOAA Corps Officer Helps Injured D.C. Metro Rail
inspire NOAA’s 15,000-plus
employees. We aim to bring you a
Riders at Scene 3
wide variety of news about the people
and critical programs that are making Focus On: Climate Change
headlines across NOAA.
Landmark ‘Global Climate Change Impacts in the U.S.’ Report
NOAA World is published monthly on Makes Headlines 4
the NOAA WORLD Web site by
NOAA’s Office of Communications and
External Affairs. Highlights from each Communicators Swap Stories at ClimateWatch Workshop 5
month are available as a
downloadable PDF file. We encourage Science and Technology
you to print copies of the newsletter
and place them wherever employees
gather. The NOAA WORLD Web site NOAA Hydrographic Leadership Delivers Historic Ratification 7
is regularly updated, so check back
often. Agency News
NOAA World depends on your
NOAA Makes A Splash On Capitol Hill 8
contributions. We welcome your ideas
for content and value your input.
Have a great NOAA photo, video or NOAA People
podcast you want to show off? Want
to promote your favorite or newly
Up Close: Don Berchoff, NWS Office of
launched NOAA Web site for our “Best
of the Web” feature? Send your Science and Technology 9
submissions to noaaworld@noaa.gov.
Balsiger Column Builds Bridges with Gloucester
Have a story idea for NOAA WORLD? Fishing Community 10
E-mail your idea to
noaaworld@noaa.gov. Susan Solomon Awarded Volvo Environmental Prize 11
July’s Employee & Team Member of the Month 12
Managing Editors:
Conservation and Stewardship
Janet Ward
Julie Bedford
Ed Levy NOAA Setting Whales on ‘Right Path’ to Safety 13
Genevieve Contey
Around NOAA
Line Office Editors:
Second Try a Charm for NOAA Administrator’s
Troy Kitch (NOS) Boulder Visit 16
John Skoda (NWS)
Barry Reichenbaugh (OAR)
Brycen Smart (NMFS)
John Leslie (NESDIS)
David Hall (OMAO)
Robert Hansen (Education)
www.noaaworld.noaa.gov JULY 2009 Vol 2, Issue 7 NOAA WORLD 2
JUST IN
NOAA Corps Officer Helps Injured D.C. Metro Rail
Riders at Scene
Peter Fischel, NOAA Fisheries
Like most people on Washington’s Red Line Metro train
Monday, June 22, LTJG Victoria Zalewski expected her trip
downtown to be like any other weekday commute — until she
heard the crash and felt the jolt.
Zalewski, a NOAA Corps officer serving with the National
Marine Fisheries Service, was riding in the train that was struck
from behind by another Metro train, which ended up on top of the
other.
At the time, the passengers in her car were a bit shaken, but
okay. They were wondering what had happened as the conductor
passed rapidly through the car heading towards the back of the
train. Passengers from the rear of the train started moving
forward through their car, some of them screaming.
Zalewski saw a very upset young woman asking for shirts or
clothes that could be used as bandages and asked her if she
needed any help. When the woman said, “It’s really bad, there
are people crushed and people dead,” Zalewski knew it was time
to quickly put her medical and emergency training into action.
As part of her NOAA Corps training, Zalewski had received
medical and fire emergency training to prepare for emergencies
aboard NOAA ships. She expected to use her skills 100 miles
offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, not on the train tracks a couple
miles from NOAA’s Silver Spring campus.
“As I made my way towards the back of the train, I could see
that things were really messed up,” said Zalewski. “There were
three injured people laying on the ground and a gentlemen
standing behind a pile of rubble helping someone. Although LTJG Victoria Zalewski, NOAA Corps.
rescue units had begun to arrive, the scene was chaotic, and they Photo credit: NOAA.
could not reach the hurt passengers.”
Working with three or four other passengers, Zalewski began
helping the injured on the ground while trying to avoid the still-electrified third track rail. The first person she treated was an
older man with a bleeding head wound and aching back. Next, she helped a young couple, both of whom were in serious
pain with compound leg fractures. It was only later that she realized the injured had been thrown from the train car overhead
that was now perched on the roof of the forward train.
As medical responders tried to reach her area from the other train track, they were forced to cut through a 12-foot
barbed-wire fence. Zalewski and a group of passengers shielded the injured people from the flying debris as rescue crews
sawed through the fence. Once medical personnel were on scene, Zalewski moved down the tracks to attend to other
victims.
Zalewski then started working with a former Army medic to help treat a seriously injured young woman. With massive
deep cuts to her arm, leg and chest, the woman was barely holding on, lapsing in and out of consciousness. Zalewski and
the medic were able to stabilize her condition and immobilize her injuries. They then helped transport her for further medical
attention. Their efforts allowed the limited number of first medical responders to attend to other critical patients who were
desperate for help.
As emergency authorities brought the crash scene under control, Zalewski was finally able to “regroup” and help less
critically injured passengers. She comforted some by calling their relatives on her cell phone to let them know they were
okay. After an hour and a half, Zalewski was finally able to call for her own ride and leave the scene.
Sometimes tragic events bring out the best in people. Luckily for injured Metro rail passengers that day, NOAA’s
Zalewski was there, ready and able to make a difference.
www.noaaworld.noaa.gov JULY 2009 Vol 2, Issue 7 NOAA WORLD 3
FOCUS ON: Climate Change
Landmark ‘Global Climate Change Impacts in the U.S.’
Report Makes Headlines
NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco joined John Holdren, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology
Policy, and lead authors of the ‘Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States’ report at a June 16 reception on Capitol
Hill, following a White House press event that unveiled critical findings from the landmark study.
The nonpartisan report, commissioned in 2007, is an authoritative assessment of the most up-to-date climate change
science available. Having undergone extensive public and peer review, the highly anticipated study outlines climate-related
trends and projections for the nation, as well as for specific regions and sectors of the United States.
Pictured from left: John Holdren (OSTP); Thomas Karl (NOAA
National Climatic Data Center); Michael Savonis (U.S. Dept. of
Transportation); Anthony Janetos (Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory, DOE); Susan Hassol (Climate Communication,
LLC); Donald Wuebbles (Univ. of Illinois); NOAA Administrator
Jane Lubchenco; and Jerry Melillo (Marine Biological
Laboratory, Woods Hole, Mass.). Photo credit: NOAA.
www.noaaworld.noaa.gov JULY 2009 Vol 2, Issue 7 NOAA WORLD 4
FOCUS ON: Climate Change
Communicators Swap Stories at ClimateWatch Workshop
Caitlyn Kennedy, NOAA Climate Program Office
It might not be a plot line in your new summer beach communication director for the Climate Program Office. “The
read, but climate change could be the year’s biggest story you stories we came up with at the workshop and the stories that
haven’t read — yet. will be featured in ClimateWatch are going to be about NOAA
Not only is the public buzzing about climate change, they people — their passion for science and their sense of wonder
want clear direction as to what they can do at home and in about how the climate system works.”
their neighborhoods to help avert a climate crisis. Likewise,
reporters are thirsty for stories about
climate impacts, and they are
increasingly looking to NOAA for
compelling content.
Communicators across NOAA are
working hard to harness the power of
effective storytelling to engage the
public, the media and policy makers
about climate change and to promote
climate literacy. And, here’s why:
research has shown that people who
receive information in the form of a story
tend to understand it better, retain it
longer and are better able to apply it to
their own lives.
In early June, more than 100
climate communicators gathered at the
NOAA Science Center in Silver Spring
for the ClimateWatch Editorial
Workshop — an opportunity to develop
methods for crafting stories, overview
articles, case studies, and other content
that illustrate NOAA’s climate science
expertise and services.
Representatives from science-
technology centers, museums, and
tribal communities from around the Nationally-recognized storyteller Andy Goodman discusses storytelling strategies at
country also came to share their own NOAA’s Climate Program Office’s ClimateWatch Editorial Workshop. Goodman
techniques and traditions of storytelling, refers to scientific data as the "elephant in the room," in that science communicators
as well as to learn new ways to generate often lose their audiences in a flood of data and facts, instead of engaging them with
narrative content for their own projects. compelling stories. Photo credit: Caitlyn Kennedy, NOAA OAR.
Talking About Climate in More
Ways Than One Andy Goodman, a nationally recognized storyteller, author,
speaker and consultant was one of the workshop’s keynote
The ClimateWatch workshop was held in preparation for speakers. Goodman, who was enlisted by former Vice
the launch of NOAA’s new online Climate Services Portal President Al Gore in 2007 to train volunteers about global
expected later this year. The portal will use storytelling warming, told “the story of story,” which included simple steps
techniques to render climate information more accessible to for showcasing NOAA’s climate science and services in both
the public and others in need of accurate and engaging print and oral presentations.
climate data. “Storytelling is an integral part of our history,” Goodman
Included in the portal rollout will be an online magazine said. “We’ve been telling stories for tens of thousands of
called ClimateWatch. The magazine will serve as a source of years.”
cogent, visually compelling climate stories from NOAA and its
partners. Climate Stories: Making the Case for Why We
“Storytelling provides an excellent vehicle by which NOAA Should Care
can build awareness, attentiveness and engagement with
larger numbers of citizens,” said David Herring, When writing stories for the public, Goodman urged
www.noaaworld.noaa.gov JULY 2009 Vol 2, Issue 7 NOAA WORLD 5
FOCUS ON: Climate Change
communicators to abandon the “inverted pyramid” (news summary) style of writing that they might have learned in journalism
classes and replace it with engaging narratives. A good story, he said, requires a central character with a goal in mind and
usually includes an “inciting incident” that throws the character’s world out of balance until he/she can come to some kind of
resolution.
Stories structured like this are effective, Goodman added, because the audience begins to root for and empathize with the
character. At the story’s conclusion, the audience will be more likely to remember and internalize the story’s meaning — in
terms of climate change, storytelling is a powerful way to galvanize people to help the planet.
Tribal community leader and professor Dan Wildcat also took workshop attendees through a few stories of his own, both
virtually and verbally. First they traveled together through time and space in an immersive visual presentation about the Lakota
tribe’s age-old dependence on the Earth and solar system — with the aid of a 9-foot “GeoDome” visual projector.
Wildcat then shared a number of inspiring narratives orally passed down through generations of Native Americans,
including those from his own experience teaching at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kan., where he is co-
director of the Haskell Environmental Research Studies Center.
Climate Portal to Boost News You Can Use
One well-known workshop attendee, TV weatherman Joe Witte, is eager to use the Climate Services Portal resources in
his work for News Channel 8, a local cable news network serving the Washington, D.C., area.
“[NOAA’s ClimateWatch workshop] has got me thinking in new ways now about climate,” Witte said.
The ClimateWatch workshop was sponsored by the NOAA Central Region Collaboration Team, through a mini-grant from
the NOAA Executive Committee on Engagement and was hosted by NOAA's OAR, Climate Program Office, Geophysical Fluid
Dynamics Laboratory, and the International Research Institute for Climate and Society.
To learn more about the Climate Services Portal and ClimateWatch magazine, contact OAR’s David Herring at
David.Herring@noaa.gov.
Workshop Presentations
The Story of NASA's Earth Observatory
A case study in successful virtual team building
David Herring, NOAA OAR Climate Program Office
C3: Communicating Climate Change
Walter Staveloz and Kate Crawford
Association of Science-Technology Centers
Climate Change Mythbusters
Communicating clmate change to the non-scientific
community
Leon R. Geschwind, Bishop Museum, Honolulu, HI
NOAA's Climate Services Portal
An overview for NOAA's ClimateWatch Editorial
Workshop
David Herring, NOAA OAR Climate Program Office
Storytelling: The First Big Thing
Andy Goodman, The Goodman Center
Enhancing Storytelling with Compelling Data
Visualizations
Ned Gardiner, NOAA OAR Climate Program Office
Remote GeoDome Presentation
Jim Rock, Wayzata (Minn.) High School
Joel Halvorson, Minnesota Planetarium Society
www.noaaworld.noaa.gov JULY 2009 Vol 2, Issue 7 NOAA WORLD 6
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
NOAA Hydrographic Leadership Delivers
Historic Ratification
Dawn Forsythe, NOAA Office of Coast Survey
People have been
charting the seas for
centuries, primarily for the
benefit of navigation. Over
the last few decades,
modern day charters or
hydrographers — many
from NOAA’s Office of
Coast Survey — have
made tremendous
advances in the charting
process.
NOAA and its
colleagues in U.S.
defense agencies have
joined forces to help
advance modern
hydrography.
Representatives from
NOAA’s Office of Coast
Survey (OCS) made
history in June when they
led the U.S. delegation to
the 4th Extraordinary
International Hydrographic NOAA representatives deliver President Obama’s first instrument of ratification to the Government
Organization Conference. of Monaco, the depositary for the International Hydrographic Organization. Seated are Capt.
They had the unusual Steven Barnum, NOAA, and Franck Biancheri, Monaco’s Government Counsellor for External
privilege of hand carrying Relations and International Economic and Financial Affairs. Pictured standing from left to right are:
President Obama’s first NOAA OCS representatives Craig Winn, Capt. John Lowell, Meg Danley and Kathryn Ries; RADM
signed instrument of Christopher Andreasen and Peter Doherty from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
ratification to an (NGA); CMDR Brian Connon from the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office; NOAA contractor and
international gathering. former OCS employee Erich Frey; and Steven Keating from NGA. Photo credit: Craig Winn, NOAA
Office of Coast Survey.
The document, which
provides for sweeping
organizational changes to IHO’s Convention, will clear the the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office, and the National
way for broader geographic coverage, better consistency and Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. The IHO, formed in 1921,
quality, and easier availability of nautical charts produced provides for cooperation between the world’s chart makers.
around the world. “You can sense an international groundswell moving
“Government officials at all levels, mariners on our forward,” said Capt. John Lowell, chief of OCS’s Marine Chart
waters, and environmental managers have a lot to gain from Division who was a member of the U.S. delegation. “It’s
these changes,” explains Capt. Steven Barnum, director of exciting to be part of a renewed global effort to provide
NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey and the U.S. National mariners with the products they need, especially as more ships
Hydrographer. “IHO will be better equipped to support travel between multiple ports in multiple countries.”
standardized navigational products and services. Since many
shipping companies are based outside the U.S., it is in our
best interest that all navigational information is commonly
recognizable and understood.”
Barnum says that common chart standards used
worldwide will ultimately increase the safety of navigation in
U.S. waters, reducing the risks of casualties and
environmental damage to sensitive marine ecosystems.
The U.S. delegation to the IHO, led by Capt. Barnum,
included representatives from NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey,
www.noaaworld.noaa.gov JULY 2009 Vol 2, Issue 7 NOAA WORLD 7
AGENCY NEWS
NOAA Makes a Splash on Capitol Hill
Laurel Bryant, National Marine Fisheries Service
Rochelle Plutchak, Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research
Capitol Hill was feeling quite blue on June 9, but in a good and Creating an Ocean Infrastructure,” which highlighted the
way. It was the kick off of the annual Capitol Hill Ocean Week work of NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research.
(CHOW). This three-day event, hosted by the National Marine Other panels addressed the ocean’s role in comprehensive
Sanctuary Foundation, is dedicated to educating and energy production, healthcare and drug production; links
spreading awareness about ocean science and policy. between the ocean and agriculture; and the status of the
With this year’s theme of The Blue Economy, attendees Coral Triangle Initiative, a multinational effort to protect the
learned about the critical role the
ocean plays in the national and
global economies.
“For too long now people have
considered a healthy economy to be
something that exists, at least in
some degree, at the expense of a
healthy environment,” said NOAA
Administrator Jane Lubchenco in her
keynote remarks to a packed house
of NOAA stakeholders, congressional
members and staff. “Today we
realize that a healthy environment is
a fundamental requirement for a
healthy economy.”
Setting the tone and focus for the
week, Dr. Lubchenco underscored
the importance of ecosystem-based
management for the long-term
stewardship of ocean resources, as
well as the need for a more holistic
understanding of the interactions
across the different sectors of ocean
use.
Senators and members of
Congress were also on hand to
introduce and participate in several
noteworthy panel discussions, in As a primary sponsor of CHOW, NOAA organized a “One NOAA” booth reflective of all
addition to stakeholders, interest the contributing and participating line offices and programs playing a role in the
groups and congressional staff. science, service and stewardship responsibilities of the agency. Pictured from left are:
NOAA’s Chief Science Advisor for Bill Zahner (NMFS Office of Sustainable Fisheries), Brady Phillips (NOS Marine
Fisheries, Steve Murawski, moderated Sanctuaries), and Steve Meyers (NMFS Office of Sustainable Fisheries).
a panel discussion on “Feeding a Photo credit: NOAA.
Nation: The Role of Fisheries and
Aquaculture,” which explored the economic contributions of coastal resources of Southeast Asia.
fisheries and the increased economic and ecological values The conference concluded with an in-depth discussion on
yet to be realized by fully rebuilt fisheries and the marine spatial planning, including related initiatives in Rhode
establishment of a robust marine aquaculture industry. Island and Massachusetts. Topics related to NOAA’s role in
“This year's focus on the blue economy is particularly developing an overall ocean policy and adequate funding
relevant for NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, as we levels emerged as items for congressional activity and further
move forward to end overfishing in our country by 2010, as examination.
mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation To learn more about CHOW panels and speakers, please
and Management Act,” said Murawski. “Sustaining fish visit the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation website at
populations that fisheries depend upon is the primary, but not www.nmsfocean.org.
the only factor that will ensure good, high-paying jobs in the
fisheries and domestic aquaculture sectors of our economy.”
Richard W. Spinrad, assistant administrator for NOAA
Research, led a panel on “Tools and Technology: Exploring
www.noaaworld.noaa.gov JULY 2009 Vol 2, Issue 7 NOAA WORLD 8
NOAA PEOPLE
Up Close: Don Berchoff, NWS Office of Science
and Technology
Harriet Loeb, NOAA National Weather Service Communications Office
If it wasn’t for a
confusing 4th grade
science lesson on
weather, Don Berchoff
may never have
become passionate
about meteorology.
In his science
class, the then 8-year-
old Berchoff was told
that in order for
snowstorms to form, it
has to be cold. And,
cold weather requires
a favorable, high-
pressure system. The
connection just did not
make sense to him at
the time. So, Berchoff
set out to do what any
curious child might: he
started keeping
weather diaries and
drawing weather maps
he saw on television,
teaching himself about
East Coast storms that Don Berchoff, director of NWS Office of Science and Technology, is briefed by Deirdre Jones, director
fascinated him. of the Systems Engineering Center for OST. Jones is spearheading the design and production of
“I have always been AWIPS II, a cutting-edge weather information system that will soon help deliver more effective and
a person of discovery; I accurate weather forecasts and warnings. Photo credit: NOAA NWS Communications Office.
love learning and
understanding why
things happen the way
they do,” says Berchoff, who parlayed his childhood interest northeastern United States.”
into a position with National Weather Service’s Office of As busy as he was during his years in the Air Force,
Science and Technology (OST), where he serves as its Berchoff managed to earn two master’s degrees: one in
director. international relations and another in procurement and
acquisition management.
To NWS, By Way of the Air Force He eventually joined the NWS in the fall of 2008 as OST’s
director. He believes we are in a “seminal moment” in
The path that led Berchoff to NWS was hardly a straight meteorology in that decision makers are moving from a “cope
one. A New York native, Berchoff always wanted to be part of with the weather” attitude to one that asks, “How do I mitigate
the NWS. However, in the months leading up to his its effects or exploit the opportunities it presents?”
graduation from college in 1984 with a degree in meteorology, “Weather information is becoming a commodity in demand
NWS experienced a hiring freeze. He figured he’d give the Air because weather service capabilities, and most importantly
Force a try instead. our people, have taken forecast skills to a level where the
“I told my wife it was only going to be a four-year career information can be better utilized,” says Berchoff. “The work
[with the Air Force] and then I would get out,” says Berchoff. we are doing in terms of saving lives, protecting property and
“It turned into a 24-year career where I gained tremendous enabling economic prosperity is just going to get better over
experience with operational forecasting. I helped build and time.”
lead a 180-person regional weather center responsible for
providing weather forecasts, severe weather warnings and Coming Soon: AWIPS-II
aviation forecasts for Air Force aircraft and bases across the
Berchoff is chiefly responsible for NWS science and
www.noaaworld.noaa.gov JULY 2009 Vol 2, Issue 7 NOAA WORLD 9
NOAA PEOPLE
technology plans, programs, and development activities. He is playing a critical role in transitioning the NWS to a second-
generation version of its Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS II) — basically the nerve center of every
weather forecast office in the country.
AWIPS is a technologically advanced information processing, display, and telecommunications system that is the
cornerstone of NWS weather and water forecasting operations. AWIPS II will better integrate all of NWS’s meteorological,
hydrological, satellite and radar data. The state-of-the-art system will allow forecasters to prepare and issue more accurate and
timely forecasts and warnings.
Cautiously optimistic, Berchoff says that the transition of AWIPS II into field operations will have its challenges. Keeping the
lines of communication open between his office and the field offices will be critical for its successful implementation. Thus far,
he has been impressed with the effort the regions and NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Prediction are making to
ensure the changeover to AWIPS II is a success.
“I am much attuned to the things that can go wrong,” says Berchoff. “We are doing our best to understand what those
possibilities are and how best to manage them. If the field tells me this was a lot less painful than they imagined, I will feel that
we succeeded.”
You can learn more about AWIPS II and listen to Don Berchoff discussing the project by visiting:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/ost/SEC/AE/index.htm.
Balsiger Column Builds Bridges with Gloucester
Fishing Community
Monica Allen, NOAA Office of Communications & External Affairs
This past winter, tensions reached a
new high in America’s oldest fishing port.
NOAA’s Fisheries Service was about
to put in place a rule reducing fishing that
would affect fishermen in Gloucester and
other ports up and down the Northeast
coast. The local newspaper had been
criticizing these proposed cuts in fishing
designed to help rebuild fish stocks. The
leaders of NOAA Fisheries decided to
request a meeting with Gloucester’s
mayor, Cheryl Kirk, and the editor of the
city’s daily newspaper to discuss the
matter and listen to community concerns.
One snowy day in early March, after
meeting with the mayor and leaders of
Gloucester’s fishing industry, Jim Balsiger,
the acting head of NOAA’s Fisheries,
Patricia Kurkul, the Gloucester-based
Northeast regional administrator for
Fisheries and Monica Allen, Fisheries
public affairs specialist, met with the
Gloucester Daily Times. Balsiger asked
the paper’s editor, Ray Lamont, if he could
write a regular column that would allow Jim Balsiger, acting head of NOAA Fisheries, meets with Bill Lee, a fisherman
him to share his perspective and open up from Rockport, Mass., to discuss issues important to New England’s fishing
a forum for discussion with the community. community. Balsiger often consults with fishermen as part of the research he
Lamont said yes. conducts for his regular Gloucester Daily Times column. Photo credit: Monica Allen,
“I knew we needed to open up better NOAA Office of Communications.
lines of communication with those in the
fishing industry and others in the
community,” said Balsiger. “I also wanted to be sure that Every two weeks, Balsiger uses his column to talk openly
people in Gloucester and throughout the Northeast with fishermen and the broader community about a range of
understood that NOAA shared the goal of the region to issues including what NOAA’s scientists are learning about
maintain good fishing jobs, healthy fishing stocks, and vital fish stocks, the ways fishermen from the region and around
coastal communities.” the country have worked cooperatively with NOAA scientists,
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NOAA PEOPLE
and some of the recent breakthroughs in fisheries
management.
One of the strongest themes of Balsiger’s column has
been about how fishermen and NOAA researchers and
partners have already worked together to solve problems —
something the broader community has not heard a lot about.
For example, Balsiger wrote about how two Rhode Island
fishermen teamed up with a fishing gear maker, university
researchers, and NOAA staff to design a net that catches
haddock, but allows depleted fish stocks such as cod and
flounder to swim free.
In another column, Balsiger described the benefits seen
by a Cape Cod, Mass., fisherman involved in a pilot project to
manage cod through a catch-share program that allocates a
portion of the total catch to a group of fishermen. More
recently, Balsiger looked around the country for examples of
how members of the fishing industry have pioneered effective
management ideas. Gloucester fisherman mending nets on the dock.
Balsiger’s column appears prominently on the Gloucester Photo credit: NOAA.
Daily Time’s editorial page. At the bottom of each column is
an email address readers can use to respond directly to him. generations,” Balsiger said. “The experience has also
Responses to the column have ranged from criticism of convinced me that it might be a good idea to share this
Fisheries’ policies to praise from a local writer who was column with other newspapers in coastal communities around
pleased that Balsiger was championing the need for the nation.”
fishermen to work with scientists and managers to safeguard You can check out one of Balsiger’s recent columns at:
the ocean and our fish populations. http://www.gloucestertimes.com/archivesearch/
Not surprisingly, Balsiger’s column has not stopped the local_story_142162711.html.
paper’s editor from penning editorials critical of NOAA. But,
that wasn’t its intent.
“I hope the column has helped the public understand that
NOAA needs fishermen as active partners if we’re going to
succeed in rebuilding healthy fish stocks and in sustaining a
diverse marine ecosystem for today and for future
Susan Solomon Awarded Volvo Environmental Prize
Jana Goldman, NOAA Office of Communications & External Affairs
The Volvo Environmental Prize Foundation has named
NOAA Senior Scientist Susan Solomon as the recipient of its
2009 environmental prize.
The Volvo Environment Prize is awarded for “Outstanding
innovations or scientific discoveries which in broad terms fall
within the environmental field.”
“This prestigious award recognizes and honors Dr.
Solomon’s distinguished work in the Antarctic as well as her
exemplary leadership during the last Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change assessment,” said Richard W. Spinrad,
NOAA assistant administrator for oceanic and atmospheric
research. “Throughout her career, she has coupled preeminent
science with service to society. We, at NOAA are honored to
see our colleague, Dr. Solomon recognized with this award.”
Solomon, an atmospheric scientist at NOAA’s Earth
System Research Laboratory in Boulder, Colo., will receive the
award during ceremonies on November 5 in Stockholm,
Sweden.
Susan Solomon. Photo credit: NOAA.
www.noaaworld.noaa.gov JULY 2009 Vol 2, Issue 7 NOAA WORLD 11
NOAA PEOPLE
Congratulations to July’s Employee & Team Member of the Month
Kenneth Nock (Employee of the Month) has worked through enormous difficulties in processing
personnel actions to effectively meet the Geophysical Fluid Dynamic Laboratory’s scientific and
support group staffing requirements. His diligence and talent ensured that all personnel actions
were executed successfully to meet mission requirements. Nock’s work was particularly difficult
this year as GFDL transitioned from being serviced by staff in Boulder to Silver Spring and then
finally on to Norfolk. Nock used his interpersonal skills to establish effective working relationships
with all three groups of people and to negotiate with them to properly complete GFDL’s personnel
actions. He exhibited professionalism, tact, and diplomacy in working with these diverse and
geographically disbursed staff members.
Bill Deringer (Team Member of the Month), contract site manager at the NWS Radar Operations
Center in Norman, Okla., made use of his outstanding managerial leadership skills and technical
expertise in working to restore the Reno, Nev., weather radar after it sustained wind-driven,
catastrophic damage. This catastrophic damage required use of multiple, sub-contracted teams to
place cranes, other construction equipment, and repair components at the mountaintop site to
facilitate repairs. The work was complicated and dangerous. Deringer coordinated activities for
local delivery and temporary storage of the new radome, radar antenna pedestal, and antenna
dish from separate locations. Once the parts were on-site, Deringer rented a 120-ton crane,
coordinated the removal of the existing pedestal and remaining antenna and radome pieces,
assembly and lifting of the new radome and new pedestal, and the assembly of the new antenna.
More on the Web...
Stories:
Live From Miami, It’s The Weather Channel’s ‘Hurricane Week’
‘Blue Whales’ Beached by ‘Red Tide’: NOAA's 1st Ping-Pong Tournament
Scholars Learn All There Is to NOAA
Perspective on NOAA Restoration Day ‘09
Videos:
Highlights from Dr. Lubchenco's Remarks at June 16 White House
Press Event for Landmark 'Global Climate Change Impacts in the U.S.'
Report. Captioned
NOAA’s New Lighting Safety Awareness Campaign PSA
Captioned | Non-Captioned
www.noaaworld.noaa.gov JULY 2009 Vol 2, Issue 7 NOAA WORLD 12
CONSERVATION & STEWARDSHIP
Jamison Smith, NOAA Fisheries,
Protected Resources
For NOAA researchers studying
North Atlantic right whales, the 2008–
2009 calving season proved to be a
record setter.
The number of new calves observed
on the calving grounds hit an all-time
record high (39), but so did the number
of entangled right whale cases sighted
during the season.
www.noaaworld.noaa.gov JULY 2009 Vol 2, Issue 7 NOAA WORLD 13
CONSERVATION & STEWARDSHIP
A right whale is disentangled from fishing gear after being sedated by tranquilizer darts. Photo credit: Wildlife Trust/NOAA.
NOAA Fisheries staff work with the fishing industry and States, particularly mothers and calves.
other partners to make the only known North Atlantic right • Numerous education and outreach materials to inform
whale calving area — the waters off the coast of South commercial and recreational mariners about right whales.
Carolina, Georgia and Florida — as safe as possible for These include an educational “Prudent Mariner” CD-ROM,
wintering right whales. seasonal whale alerts on appropriate National Data Buoy
Fisheries staff and their partners survey the coastal Center Web sites, and informational placards and fact sheets
waters of the southeastern United States searching for mother for shipping lanes.
and calf right whales during the winter months. These
sightings are used to alert mariners to the whales’ locations
• Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultations with
federal agencies to help conserve threatened and
so vessel collisions and other harmful encounters can be
endangered species and ensure agency actions do not
avoided.
jeopardize listed species or adversely affect critical habitat.
“Successful calving coupled with NOAA’s science-based
While searching the area for new mothers and calves,
management plans, positions NOAA to make a substantial
researchers often encounter whales and other animals injured
positive difference in this species’ future,” said Barb Zoodsma,
or entangled in fishing line, floating marine debris, and even
NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Regional Office Right Whale
anchoring systems for moorings.
Recovery program coordinator.
NOAA Fisheries coordinates the Atlantic Large Whale
Some of NOAA’s right whale conservation measures
Disentanglement Network to respond to each entangled
include:
whale case. NOAA Fisheries staff assist in disentanglement
• Regulating ship speeds and fisheries that may rescues and gear experts investigate the removed gear as
adversely affect right whales in the southeastern United part of research efforts to better understand the disturbing
www.noaaworld.noaa.gov JULY 2009 Vol 2, Issue 7 NOAA WORLD 14
CONSERVATION & STEWARDSHIP
phenomenon. Often, the only gear recovered is a single piece tissue.
of line, which doesn’t generally indicate where the interaction “The successful at-sea chemical sedation of a free-
occurred. swimming entangled right whale was the first of its kind in the
This past season, the network assessed and responded world and the implications of this are far reaching,” says
to five new entangled right whale cases. A majority of the gear NOAA veterinarian Teri Rowles, who coordinates NOAA’s
was successfully removed from the animals; it is hoped that Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program.
the rescued whales will fully rebound. Successful sedation can provide safer working conditions
“The [large] number of entangled right whale cases [this for rescuers and decrease the amount of time required for
season] certainly raises flags of concern as to why there were crews to pursue and attempt to free the whales.
so many new cases, but it also highlighted the skilled and Disentanglement is a dangerous maneuver for rescuers
dedicated members of the Atlantic Large Whale as well as whales; it’s considered a temporary measure until
Disentanglement Network,” said Jamison Smith, NOAA other solutions are identified. NOAA Fisheries continues to
Fisheries’ East Coast disentanglement coordinator. work very closely with the fishing industry, scientists and
One case in particular proved to be extremely difficult. Not conservationists to prevent entanglements and to develop
only was the entanglement severe, but also the whale’s innovations in gear that will allow animals to free themselves
evasive behavior added to the challenge. without serious injury.
Luckily, the whale was eventually freed from the gear
after being sedated by a team comprised of experts from
NOAA Fisheries, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution,
Coastwise Consulting, the University of Florida, Florida Fish
and Wildlife Commission, Georgia Department of Natural
Resources and others. Rescue crews used a tranquilizer dart
gun to administer sedatives directly into the whale’s muscle
Right whale “Pediddle”
(catalogue #1012) with her new calf.
Photo credit: With permission from Jessica
Taylor, New England Aquarium.
www.noaaworld.noaa.gov JULY 2009 Vol 2, Issue 7 NOAA WORLD 15
AROUND NOAA - Boulder, Colo.
Second Try a Charm for NOAA Administrator’s
Boulder Visit
Anatta, NOAA Office of Communications & External Affairs
A spectacular spring day filled with sunshine and wildflowers, along with some very excited employees, greeted NOAA
Administrator Jane Lubchenco during her first trip to NOAA’s Boulder, Colo., campus on May 29.
The visit was Dr. Lubchenco’s second attempt to tour NOAA’s largest facility outside of the Washington, D.C., area. A
winter blizzard derailed her first attempt in late March, just four days after she took office as NOAA under secretary. The
NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco answers questions from NOAA employees during a
May 29 town hall meeting in Boulder, Colo. Photo credit: Steve Peckham, NOAA.
snowstorm sent her straight to a conference in Aspen, Colo., whiting out her plans to visit the Boulder campus.
“This is only my second time speaking directly to a group of NOAA employees outside of D.C.,” Dr. Lubchenco announced
to a packed town hall meeting at the David Skaggs Research Center. She went on to present her vision for NOAA and
thoughtfully responded to a flurry of questions from employees.
NOAA’s Boulder campus, located at the base of the Rocky Mountain foothills, is home to a number of NOAA research
centers, laboratories and joint research institutes including the:
• Earth System Research Laboratory;
• National Climatic Data Center – Paleoclimatology Branch;
• National Geophysical Data Center;
• National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office; and the
• National Weather Service Space Weather Prediction Center.
As the day unfolded, Dr. Lubchenco was treated to a host of briefings and enthusiastic presentations by NOAA scientists,
researchers, forecasters, and other personnel from Boulder’s laboratories and research centers. The NOAA under secretary
also received an entertaining demonstration of the popular Science on a Sphere animated globe.
www.noaaworld.noaa.gov JULY 2009 Vol 2, Issue 7 NOAA WORLD 16