FORUM SPONSORED BY CHESAPEAKE BAY OBSERVING SYSTEM TODAY
Strategies for monitoring the oceans and other large bodies of water such as the Chesapeake Bay will be discussed in an all-day forum today, Dec. 4,
sponsored by the Chesapeake Bay Observing System (CBOS) and planned by the organization's director, Old Dominion University oceanographer Elizabeth
Smith.
The user forum, which is open to the public and titled "Ocean Observations to Improve Decision-Making," will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center on the downtown Norfolk waterfront.
Donald Schregardus, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for the environment, will deliver the keynote address at 9 a.m.
The forum's three themed sessions will be:
Marine Weather Forecasting, Storm-tide and Inundation in Chesapeake Bay (10:15 a.m.). This will highlight CBOS's recently announced pilot project, the Chesapeake Inundation Prediction System, and new observations, models and products for improved marine weather and storm surge predictions. Early
warning advances that the program develops will be of use to maritime operations, emergency management, planning and response personnel and recreational boaters.
Speakers for this session will include Dennis King, University of Maryland; Tony Siebers, Steve Zubrick and Bill Sammler, National Weather Service;
Michael Koterba, U.S. Geological Survey; and Barry Stamey, Noblis Inc.