P1.60
METEOROLOGICAL TOOLS THAT AID LOCAL MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICTS
Michael Hunter, Sacramento City College, Sacramento, CA
New weather forecasting technologies can improve the effectiveness of mosquito eradication efforts. The mosquito-borne West Nile Virus is a current target of local Mosquito Control Districts. Weather forecasting temperature inversions and winds are essential for optimal and safe application of insecticides. Application of weather radar technology, specifically “radar clutter” collection and analysis, can help determine the locations and movements of mosquito vectors. Local Mosquito Control Districts have expressed a need for better meteorological tools to help find and mitigate mosquito populations. The understanding and application of weather information is also essential for many other local public and private health and agricultural groups. This study examines how Sacramento City College’s new Online Weather Studies program might attract students by acting to serve these agencies’ specific meteorological demands and applications. We plan to further promote the course by integrating it with our Geography Department’s Geographic Information Systems courses and upcoming field courses. Students are currently enrolled in the Online Weather Studies course as an independent-studies option. In upcoming semesters, we plan to incorporate our Online Weather Studies course with our Geography Department’s outreach program that services schools and community groups.
Poster Session 1, Poster Session Educational initiatives (Hall 4AB)
Sunday, 11 January 2004, 5:00 PM-7:00 PM, Hall 4AB
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