88th Annual Meeting (20-24 January 2008)

Wednesday, 23 January 2008
Atmospheric and interdisciplinary applications of the Mississippi Mesonet
Exhibit Hall B (Ernest N. Morial Convention Center)
Loren D. White, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS; and E. Matlack, V. S. Challah, D. Mullins, and D. Lipscomb
The Mississippi Mesonet is a developing network of about 15 environmental monitoring stations, largely modeled after the capabilities of the Oklahoma Mesonet and the Louisiana Agriclimatic Information System. It has been designed to provide consistent real-time datasets for application to various disciplines. We will discuss some current examples. Within the Jackson State University (JSU) meteorology and environmental science programs, data from the mesonet are being used for studies on nocturnal warming associated with intermittent turbulence, characterization of the surface layer during fog and dew, and atmospheric dispersion modeling along the Gulf coast. A new partnership between JSU and East Mississippi Community College will incorporate mesonet data into curricula of the “Mississippi Virtual Weather College”. Community impacts on emergency management, health, and agriculture are managed through the National Center for Biodefense Communications, county emergency managers, and a quarterly newsletter. The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources will also be using the mesonet to improve coastal fisheries management.

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