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23rd Conference on Weather Analysis and Forecasting/19th Conference on Numerical Weather Prediction
1-5 June 2009
Omaha, Nebraska

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The 23rd Conference on Weather Analysis and Forecasting (WAF)/19th Conference on Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP), jointly sponsored for the first time by the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association, and organized by the AMS Committee on Weather Analysis and Forecasting, will be held 1–5 June 2009 in Omaha, Nebraska. Preliminary programs, registration, detailed hotel, and general information will be posted on the AMS Web site (www.ametsoc.org/meet/fainst/2009WAFNWP.html) in mid-February 2009.

This conference is focused on the theme “Forecasting Significant Weather: Recent Progress, Ongoing Challenges." Specific goals include: (1) to assess our current abilities to analyze and predict significant weather events with emphasis on our recent progress and ongoing challenges and (2) to highlight research underway to enhance those capabilities through improved understanding of the underlying physical processes, as well as improved numerical methods. The scope of the conference extends beyond the theme, by examining the success or failure of analysis and prediction methods for significant weather events in an aggregate sense, rather than relying solely on case studies of local interest. The Committee solicits papers and posters on the following topics: (1) Weather Phenomena (winter weather, tropical weather, severe storms, cyclogenesis, mesoscale meteorology, high impact local weather, etc.); (2) Forecasting Techniques (forecasting for aviation, hydrologic forecasting, fire weather, impact of new data types, etc.); (3) Forecasting Tools (new applications, satellite applications, quantitative precipitation forecasting, etc.); (4) Societal Impacts of Weather Forecasts; (5) Data Assimilation (3D-Var, 4D-Var, KF, EnKF, satellite and remote sensing data assimilation, etc.); (6) Modeling (mesoscale models, global models, improving model performance/efficiency, local application of regional models, etc.); (7) Ensemble Forecasting; and (8) Statistical Techniques/Probabilistic Forecasting (MOS, etc.).

Please submit your abstract (one page limit) electronically via the Web by Friday, 23 January 2009 (refer to the AMS Web page at www.ametsoc.org/meet/online_submit.html for instructions). When you submit, please indicate your preference for an oral or poster presentation. An abstract fee of $90 (payable by credit card or purchase order) is charged at the time of submission and is refundable only if abstract is not accepted. Authors of accepted presentations will be notified via e-mail by mid-March 2009. Instructions for formatting extended abstracts will be posted on the AMS website. Extended manuscripts (file size up to 3 MB) must be submitted electronically by 22 May 2009. All abstracts, extended abstracts, and presentations will be made available on the AMS website.

The AMS WAF Committee will also be offering up to six student awards for best oral and poster presentations at the conference. To be eligible, a student must present his/her own research and serve as first author.

This conference will take place at the Doubletree Hotel & Executive Meeting Center Omaha-Downtown, 1616 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68102, telephone 402-346-7600. When reserving, mention reference code "AmerMeteorological" and specify either "AMG" for government rate (ID required on check-in) or "AMS" for non-government rate; cutoff date for Doubletree reservations is Monday, 11 May 2009.

For additional information please contact the program chairpersons, R. Bruce Telfeyan, (phone: 402-294-1690 or e-mail: telfeyab@offutt.af.mil); or Dr. Edward L. Bensman, (phone: 574-631-2397 or e-mail: ebensman@nd.edu). You can also contact NWA WAF Chairperson John Gagan (John.Gagan@noaa.gov) for more information.