Dr. William Collins, an internationally recognized scientist studying climate change and lead author on the Fourth Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that was awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, will be the keynote speaker at Operation Sierra Storm Meteorologist Conference, Jan. 8-11 at Stateline, Lake Tahoe.
Dr. Collins was lead author for the Fourth Assessment Report by the IPCC, and co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for that effort. The IPCC shared the 2007 Peace Prize with former Vice President Al Gore.
The prize-winning report assessed scientific, technical and socio-economic information concerning climate change, its potential effects, and options for adaptation and mitigation. The report was the largest and most detailed summary of the climate change situation ever undertaken. Collins, a Senior Scientist and Climate Sciences Department Head at UC Berkeley, is the lead author of IPCC’s upcoming 5th Assessment where he will provide the conference an update.
Operation Sierra Storm Jan. 8-11, will also feature:
Dr. Duane Waliser, chief scientist of the Earth Science and Technology Directorate at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. He will discuss JPL research on weather patterns to forecast major winter storms and atmospheric rivers three to four weeks out.
Virgil Welch, Special Counsel California Air Resources Board, will talk about a national study on creating more efficient, low-carbon and environmentally beneficial transportation systems.
Julie Regan, Lake Tahoe’s environmental agency spokeswoman, will discuss climate change impacts on skiing’s future and area’s leadership role as a national mode.
Jeff Piotrowski, an Emmy Award winning storm chaser who has filmed more than 800 tornadoes in his 30 years and licenses his weather footage for documentaries featured on The Discovery Channel, National Geographic, The Learning Channel, The History Channel and The Weather Channel.
Collins and Welch’s presentation will be open to the public Friday, Jan. 10 at Harveys Lake Tahoe. Welch will speak from 7:45 – 8:45 a.m. and Collins from 9 – 10 a.m. with Q&A to follow. Waliser and Regan’s presentation are Thursday, Jan. 9 at Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel. Speakers’ biographies: www.osstahoe.com
