From: 	Peter J. Webster[SMTP:pjw@oz.colorado.edu]
Reply To: 	Peter J. Webster
Sent: 	Monday, March 20, 2000 2:59 PM
To: 	esbensen@ats.orst.edu; rweller@whoi.edu; pjw@oz.colorado.edu; raymond@kestrel.nmt.edu; gregg@apl.washington.edu; houze@atmos.washington.edu; rutledge@radarmet.atmos.Colostate.EDU; yuter@atmos.washington.edu; rlukas@iniki.soest.hawaii.edu; cfairall@etl.noaa.gov
Cc: 	patterson@ogp.noaa.gov; wneff@etl.noaa.gov; fredr@oar31.oar.noaa.gov
Subject: 	Re: FW: Proposal to remove radar from the Brown

Gentlemen,

There has been enormous progress in the last few years in the
understanding of climate variability to the extent that experimental
forecasts are being made with the possibility of some success.
Part and parcel of this progress is the realization that the 
ocean and the atmosphere are partners in this variability and that
the field of climate is jointly oceanographic and meteorological. 
In fact, the successful field programs of the 80's and 90's, and
which have led to the realization of predictable elements in climate,
have  all recognized the importance of measuring the atmosphere and the
ocean simultaneously. In fact, such joint measurements have been
the backbone of field programs in TOGA and TOGA COARE for the pacific 
ocean and, more recently, in JASMINE in the Indian Ocean. A continuation
of these joint measurements is a central thrust of future programs such
as CLIVAR/EPIC in the Pacific and JASMINE in the Indian Ocean.

Large elements of the scientific community were extremely impressed
with the foresight of NOAA in placing a permanent rain radar on the 
Ronald H.  Brown. Without such an instrument, the sampling of different
dynamic-convective synergies that exist from basin to basin or
during climate variability would not have been recognized. It is
noted that this foresight has been withdrawn by the proposal to 
remove the radar from the Ronald H. Brown thus reducing the capability
of the Brown from the foremost "climate" research ship on the globe to
a platform of no greater capability than any other oceanographic 
research ship. In one quick stoke, NOAA has the potential of 
"unlearning" all of the lessons gained during the last decade and a half.

I must say that I am appalled that the radar would be used as
a portable unit in a region of very dense radar coverage and used to
measure phenomena that have been observed since land based radar was 
first implemented. I am equally appalled that the reason for 
dismantling the radar is given as "financial". But this reasoning  is
equally empty given the costs to renovate the radar to make it
portable. 

I ask that NOAA reconsider its decision to remove the radar from the 
Ronald H. Brown. I ask that the real reasons for the removal be 
investigated in order to make sure that parochial interests are
not at work. NOAA has an opportunity to shine once again in a time
of few sunrises. I ask that the senior administrators  of NOAA take 
the high ground and continue to allow the Brown to be the foremost 
ocean observing platform on the planet

Sincerely

Peter J. Webster
Professor and Director
Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
University of Colorado