Lightning experts to discuss electrifying research at conference in Guntersville, Ala.; media invited to cover

Lightning -- its connection to severe weather, dangers of lightning strikes, triggering lightning with rockets, and detecting lightning from space -- will be discussed by researchers at the Eleventh International Conference on Atmospheric Electricity in Guntersville, Ala., June 7-11.

"This conference will bring together leading international lightning researchers to exchange information about the study of atmospheric electricity and discuss recent, exciting results," said conference chairman Dr. Hugh Christian, senior lightning researcher at the Global Hydrology and Climate Center at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

"We'll exchange ideas, gather information, and -- most importantly -- create an atmosphere where scientists can pursue fruitful and stimulating discussions about their research," said Christian.

Media interested in attending or covering the workshop should contact Steve Roy of the Marshall Media Relations Office at 256-544-6535. Interviews, photos and video supporting this release also are available to media representatives by contacting Steve Roy. For an electronic version of this release or digital photos, visit Marshall's News Center on the Web: http://www.msfc.nasa.gov/news

Researchers will be available for media interviews on various aspects of atmospheric electricity throughout the conference. Nearly 200 researchers -- some of whom are listed below -- will present their research during the following scientific sessions:

Monday, June 7

9:15-11:45 a.m. - Lightning Characteristics

2:15-4:45 p.m. - Lightning Characteristics

Rocket triggered lightning: Dr. Pierre Laroche Office National d'Etudes et de Recherches Aerospatiales in Paris, France;
Detection of lightning sprites and jets: Dr. Dave Sentman, professor, University of Alaska in Fairbanks;
Lightning and thunderstorm experiments: Dr. Bill Winn, professor, New Mexico Tech in Soccoro;
Brazilian lightning network: Dr. Osmar Pinto Jr., researcher, Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology;
Cloud-to-Ground Lightning Research: Dr. Martin Uman, professor and author of several books on lightning, University of Florida in Gainesville.

Tuesday, June 8

9:15-11:45 a.m. - Lightning Detection and Protection;

2:15-4:45 p.m. - Thunderstorm Electrification

Demographics of U.S. lightning casualties and damages: Dr. Ronald Holle, lightning researcher, National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, Okla.;
Two important characteristics of ground flashes for human safety: Dr. Nobuichi Kitagawa, researcher, Central Lightning Protection, Inc., in Saitama, Japan;
North American lightning detection network: Dr. Ken Cummins, Global Atmospherics Inc. in Tucson, Ariz.;
Lightning launch criteria for America's space program: Dr. E. Philip Krider, professor, University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz.;
Federal Aviation Administration investigations into using lightning measurements to improve forecasting for aviation: Dr. Alan Nierow, Federal Aviation Administration in Sterling, Va.;
Cloud electrification and Processes: Dr. Clive Saunders, professor, Institute of Science and Technology at the University of Manchester in England.

Wednesday, June 9,

9:15-11:45 a.m. - Thunderstorm Characteristics

2:15-4:45 p.m. - Thunderstorm Characteristics

Three dimensional lightning mapping observations: Dr. Paul Krehbiel, professor, New Mexico Institute of Technology in Soccoro, N.M.;
Lightning and severe storms: Dr. Dave Rust, researcher, National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, Okla.;
Lightning activity associated with severe weather and tornadoes: Dr. Steve Goodman, researcher, Global Hydrology and Climate Center at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.;
The 1997-98 El Nino and its relationship to changes in lightning activity in the Southeastern U.S: Dennis Buechler, researcher, Global Hydrology and Climate Center at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.;
High altitude aircraft-based electric field measurements above thunderstorms: Dr. Richard Blakeslee, researcher, Global Hydrology and Climate Center at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

Thursday, June 10

9:15-11:45 a.m. - Fair Weather Electricity

2:15-4:45 p.m. - Global Lightning Activity; Lightning Chemistry

Lightning detection from space: Dr. Hugh Christian, research scientist, Global Hydrology and Climate Center at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.;
Lightning and Atmospheric Chemistry -- chemicals produced by lightning: Dr. James Dye, researcher, National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo.;
The Global Electric Circuit and Fair Weather Electricity: Dr. Sergy Anisimov, Geophysical Observatory, Shmidt Institute of Earth Physics, Yaroslavl, Russia;
Land-Ocean Differences in Lightning Activity: Dr. Kevin Driscoll, researcher, Global Hydrology and Climate Center at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

Conference sponsors include the International Commission on Atmospheric Electricity, NASA, the National Science Foundation and the American Meteorological Society.

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For more information on the Global Hydrology and Climate Center at the Marshall Center, visit its Web site: http://wwwghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/ghcc_home.html

For more information on the conference, visit its Web site: http://icae.atmos.uah.edu/index.html

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