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cations of atmospheric science, including the benefits of
improved knowledge of atmospheric processes for the health and
welfare of the environment and society.
Opportunities and Imperatives for the
Atmospheric Sciences
As BASC studied the progress and future of the atmospheric
sciences, it became evident that a critical contemporary theme
involves the increasing importance of integrated observation
systems and new observations of critical variables; thus, these
constitute the subject of the Board's two highest-priority
recommendations, designated as ''Imperatives.''
Atmospheric Science Imperative
1:
Improve Observation Capabilities
The atmospheric science community and relevant federal
agencies should develop a specific plan for optimizing global
observations of the atmosphere, oceans, and land. This plan should
take into account requirements for monitoring weather, climate, and
air quality and for providing the information needed to improve
predictive numerical models used for weather, climate, atmospheric
chemistry, air quality, and near-Earth space physics activities.
The process should involve a continuous interaction between the
research and operational communities and should delineate critical
scientific and engineering issues. Proposed configurations of the
national and international observing systems should be examined
with the aid of observing system simulation experiments.
In addition, new opportunities for advances in research and
services lead to the second imperative:
Atmospheric Science Imperative
2:
Develop New Observation Capabilities
The federal agencies involved in atmospheric science should
commit to a strategy, priorities, and a program for developing new
capabilities for observing critical variables, including water in
all its phases, wind, aerosols, and chemical constituents and
variables related to phenomena in near-Earth space, all on spatial
and temporal scales relevant to forecasts and applications. The
possibilities for obtaining such observations should be considered
in studying the optimum observing systems of Imperative 1.
