January 18^th, 2011

Start Time: 7:03 pm

Attendance: 39

EVENTS AND DEADLINES

• Intramural Dues: Pay ASAP. Details under treasurer material.
• Snow Football: January 22^nd or 23^rd, depending on weather conditions. Expect an email soon with additional details.
• ISD Forecasting: Begins, for those involved, on Sunday, January 23^rd. Details under Forecasting material.
• First Cy’s Eyes Show: Monday, January 24^th at 6:00 pm at the communications building. Details under Cy’s Eyes material.
• WxChallenge Forecasting: Begins on January 31^st for Seattle, WA. Details under Forecasting material.
• Childhood Regression Night: Friday, February 4^th at 7:00 pm in Agronomy 3140.
• NWA Meeting: Tuesday, February 8^th at 7pm in Agronomy 3140.
• Science Night: Thursday, February 24^th from 5:30 – 8:00 pm. Details under Outreach material.
• NWA Severe Storms and Doppler Radar Conference: May 31^st – April 2^nd in Ankeny’s Courtyard Hotel. Details under Vice President material.

SENIOR THESIS AWARD

Carl Jacobson and other faculty members presented the award for best senior thesis report. As a background, senior thesis (or Mteor 499) is very important and unique in that it allows you to solve your own problems on an extended basis – much like what would be expected with jobs in the field. For those yet to take thesis, view it as a challenge.

All seniors should be very proud of what they’ve accomplished, as many of the results were fascinating.

Best senior thesis: Ryan Spies! Title: August 2010 Flood Inundation Mapping Using GIS and LIDAR Data along the Squaw Creek in Ames, IA. He raised questions on how flooding impacts may be mitigated for the Ames community and ISU. He used certain tools to examine the extent of flooding in the Squaw creek and the surrounding areas from the model’s interpretation when land surface features were changed.

Runner Up: Ben Moser. Title: Comparative Analysis of the 1993, 2008, and 2010 Warm Seasons: Analysis of Low-Level Jets and Synoptic Features.

Second Runner Up: Casey Zoellick. Title: Comparing Extreme Precipitation Events Between the MM5I Climate Model and Observations using the Method for Object-Based Diagnostic Evaluation (MODE).

PRESENTATION: Hampton University Atmospheric Science REU

By Nick Carletta

Nick’s research, which took place in Hampton Virginia, was mainly orientated for NASA and involved extensive amounts of programming. For details, see the attached PowerPoint. Note: A deadline for applying has not yet been set, but Nick will provide it via email as soon as it is brought to his attention.

President

• BUFKIT Workshop by Rachael Witter: BUFKIT is a software program used for forecasting that eliminates the need to scavenge through multiple sites to gather forecasting information. It’s pretty complex, so this will be more of a beginner’s course. Examples will be shown, so bring your laptops so you can install this software. Details will be provided later via email.
• Survey and Membership Information: These were distributed during the meeting, but if you did not get them, see the attachment or pick up a copy in the map room. These mean a lot to the club, so please complete them!

Vice President

• Spring Break Trip: The committee has selected Denver, Colorado as the destination of our 2011 AMS Spring Break Trip. Activities include a visit to NCAR, a ski trip, and much more. If interested in joining us on this trip (from Saturday to Thursday, March 17^th), send Pete an email at vp.isuams@iastate.edu.
• Clubfest II: After gaining some volunteers at the meeting, we had enough people to represent our stand at Clubfest II which took place on the evening of January 19^th in the MU.
• NWA Severe Storms and Doppler Radar Conference: This is a great event to attend since professionals from every area of the field will be there. Normally most people stay at the hotel, but this is not required especially since Ankeny is so close. The cost is $75.00 for non-NWA members and $55.00 for members. However, $35.00 will be reimbursed by LAS IF you sign-up by contacting Pete at vp.isuams@iastate.edu... DO NOT sign up through the recent email notification. Additionally, the hotel will cost $110.00 per night.
• ISU AMS Window Clings: On sale for only $5! Hunt Pete down if interested.
• Snowfall Contest Winner: Steph Melton! The prize was a $20.00 gift certificate to Target.

Treasurer

• Current Balance: $3,614.40.
• Intramural Dues: Pay $5.00 for broomball and $3.00 for curling. Drop money off in the 2101 mailbox or to Nick Carletta. Remember, when using checks, write down what it is for. When using cash, place in an envelope with an attached note addressing what the money is for and who it is from.
• KQ: This is a popular 26 hour trivia competition run by the radio station KURE based here in Ames. They ask questions every 6 minutes for the entire time. The team that gets the most questions right and completes other activities accumulates the most points and wins. In the past, Liz Suess has been in charge, but we have not had enough interest to be an exclusive AMS group. Therefore, we’ll combine with another group this year. Contact Nick at treasurer.isuams@iastate.edu if interested… this does not mean you have to commit.

Secretary

• Keep reading to get to “this month in weather history!”

Social Chair

• Intramurals: There will be no AMS intramural teams for hockey or basketball.
• Ski Trip: Plan on this event taking place sometime in February at Seven Oaks. A group from AMS went last year and had a blast! Keep an eye on your inbox for additional information.
• Cyclone Hockey: Based on a show of hands at the meeting, there was plenty of interest. However, there are not too many home games left. Details will be provided via email if this event is possible.

Outreach Chair

• Science Night: This event will take place at Fellows Elementary School. If interested in helping out, let Kristy know at outreach.isuams@iastate.edu
• Sell Calendars: It’s not too late – find an outline of the calendar on the AMS website.
• Calendar Committee 2012: If want to be a part of it and help select photos, email Kristy at outreach.isuams@iastate.edu. She will inform those who are interested with further details.

Academic Chair

• Study sessions: Based on completed forms for this semester’s classes (if you have not filled one out at the meeting, can find in the map room), Nick will create study sessions for those interested in seeking additional held.
• Ask questions on AMS Forums!: Big part of the forums is for you to ask questions. This great tool has hardly been used this year at all. It is very easy to use once you are registered, and Nick is personally on the forums around 3 to 4 days of the week, so any questions you have should be answered rather quickly.

Forecasting

• WxChallenge Update: For those who participated last semester, you do not need to pay a cent, but if you wish to join for the first time this semester, the cost is $3.00. Let Kristy know by Friday, January 21^st.
• WxChallenge Results: http://www.meteor.iastate.edu/~ralliss/wxchallenge/. Last semester, the team finished at a rank of 20^th place. Many people missed forecasts consistently. REMEMBER TO FORECAST!! For last period, Ethan Milius was the winner for the Freshman/Sophomore group, Rob Nelson for the Junior/Senior group, Jeff Duda for the grad student group, and Bill Gallus for the faculty group. Overall winners were Andrew Ansorge followed by Eric Mykleby. Congratulations!
• Iowa Forecasting Contest: Andrew Ansorge won the last period in 2010. Overall, the average is leading followed by Andrew Ansorge and Jeff Duda. Additionally, we are still less than half done with the 2010-11 contest, so there is plenty of time to get involved. Information is on the contest website and, remember, registration is free!
• ISD Forecast Update: Pete will take the place of Ryan Alliss for a forecasting team leader. Anyone who is interested in forecasting for the Daily should contact Rob at webmaster.isuams@iastate.edu. Also, the NWS radar will be featured on the Daily website now.

Webmaster

• Sign up for the forums! http://www.meteor.iastate.edu/ams/forums/. Post questions there as well – can be very helpful. Email Rob at webmaster.isuams@iastate.edu for questions regarding how to register.
• Interesting Website Tidbit: http://www.meteor.iastate.edu/ams/members/alumni.php. You’ll find an alumni page here with a whole list of graduate students and their contact information. Feel free to ask them questions about where they work and how they got there.

Historian

• Battery Recycling Competition – Committee: To go with our “green theme,” Anthony entered our club (which is among nine others) in this contest which runs from Jan 31 through Feb 11. The incentive is $500.00 for first place, $250.00 for second and $100.00 for third. But no matter how we rank, we will be awarded for participation which means we will get the club name out there. Criteria to be judged on: weight of batteries, media coverage (broadcast meteorology, NWS link, Cy’s eyes on the skies, etc.) and creativity of the battery collection process. Those interested in being a part of the committee to create a recycling plan involving students on campus or businesses around town should contact Anthony at historian.isuams@iastate.edu.
• Picture of the Month: Will be continued in February due to the lack of events in December.
• AMS Poster: This poster, which will represent our club and be presented at the conference in Seattle, is completed and will be printed off on the 19^th. Looks good!
• Send event photos to Anthony at historian.isuams@iastate.edu or upload at http://www.meteor.iastate.edu/ams/Photos or on our Facebook Page.

Past President

• Midland Weather Radios: These radios will be door prizes for VEISHA later in the semester.

Cy’s Eyes

• First Show of the Semester: If interested in attending, meet in the front doors of the communications building on the NW corner of campus at 6:00 pm. The more members the better – give it a try!
• YouTube page: To view, go to http://www.youtube.com/user/CysEyesISU?feature=mhum.
• Show during “dead week” will not happen since people want to focus exclusively on finals during that time. Therefore, the last episode of the semester took place on December 1^st.

Sophomore Chair

• AMS Jeopardy! Coming Soon: Nathan will create questions (not exclusively weather related) for us to use our clickers on. Details will be sent out via email soon.

End Time: 7:54 pm

Weather History for January: 01/10/1975 - The "Storm of the Century" hit Minnesota. A severe blizzard moved northward across the state producing up to two feet of snow. High winds drove wind chill readings to 80 degrees below zero, and at Duluth MN the barometric pressure dipped to 28.55 inches. The storm, which claimed 35 lives, occurred on the 102nd anniversary of the infamous "Pioneer Blizzard" in Minnesota.

Next Meeting: TBA (pending on survey results)