Dione Rossiter, a graduate student working with VOCALS, is shown here standing by the Phase Doppler Interferometer (PDI) and wearing her PDI shirt. This instrument is mounted on an airplane wing. It will help her to study tiny physical processes inside clouds.
Image Courtesy of Dione Rossiter

Who is involved in VOCALS?

Would you like to be involved in a field campaign? There are many interesting things to do, and teamwork is very important! The scientists' observations will help to improve models that describe processes in the atmosphere and predict future climate. The scientists’ have many different roles as they use tools and instruments on ships, on aircraft, and on the land.

  • Meteorologists study the weather and weather forecasting.
  • Climate scientists study the climate, including short and long-term atmospheric changes that define average climates and their change over time.
  • Atmospheric chemists study chemical reactions in the atmosphere.
  • Atmospheric physicists use physics to study the atmosphere.
  • Aircraft pilots, ship captains, mechanics, software engineers, and many other people provide important support to the scientists.

    • Before the field campaign begins, various teams of experts come together to design, organize, and prepare for their mission. The scientists share their expertise with each other. They also have the support of many other skilled people, such as computer programmers, aircraft pilots, ship navigators, machinists, engineers, and travel logistics planners.

    During the campaign every second counts, because mistakes can cost lots of money and risk lives. Therefore, each day during the VOCALS campaign the lead scientist will be in very close touch with all teams. Their activities must occur in a highly efficient, coordinated, and safe manner.

    The links below will introduce you to some of these people, their interests, and careers. Perhaps they will interest you in becoming an atmospheric or climate scientist some day!


    Brigitte Baeuerle
    National Center for Atmospheric Research
    Dr. Taehyoung Lee
    Colorado State University
    Katie Beem
    Colorado State University
    Jacqueline Lim
    National Center for Atmospheric Research
    Wiesje Mooiweer Bryan
    University of Wyoming
    David Painemal
    University of Miami
    Carlye Calvin
    National Center for Atmospheric Research
    Dione Rossiter
    University of California, Santa Cruz
    Dr. Patrick Chuang
    University of California, Santa Cruz
    Dr. Jeff Snider
    University of Wyoming
    Jake Crouch
    North Carolina State University
    Dr. Cynthia Twohy
    Oregon State University
    Dr. Boris Dewitte
    Institute for Research and Development, Peru
    Dr. Robert Wood
    University of Washington
    Dr. Chris Fairall
    NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory
    Dr. Chris Zappa
    Columbia University
    Rhea George
    University of Washington    		 Dr. Paquita Zuidema
    University of Miami
    Lelia Hawkins
    Scripps Institution of Oceanography
    		 
    Last modified October 20, 2008 by Becca Hatheway.

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