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Events on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Chaos & Complex Systems Seminar
Overview of Satellite-based Aviation Application for Detection of Thunderstorms, Turbulence and Volcanic Ash
Time: 12:05 pm
Place: 4274 Chamberlin Hall
Speaker: Wayne Feltz, UW-Madison, Dept. of Space Science and Engineering Center
Abstract: The University of Wisconsin-Madison Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) Satellite Nowcasting and Aviation APplication (SNAAP) team is heavily involved in research to develop satellite-based nowcasting tools (0-3 hour forecast) for improving aviation weather forecasting. Current areas of research focus on satellite detection of aviation hazards such as convection, turbulence, and volcanic ash using current and future weather satellite systems. This seminar will overview this research as well as in context toward improvement of future air transportation route planning and warning for the general public.

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Astronomy Colloquium
Interstellar Constraints on the Evolution of Cosmic Lithium
Time: 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Place: 3425 Sterling Hall
Speaker: Chris Howk, Notre Dame University, Physics Dept
Abstract: The cosmic abundance of lithium continues to represent a conundrum, as predictions from standard theories of Big Bang nucleosynthesis are inconsistent with measurements in the atmospheres of the lowest-metallicity stars. This discrepancy may be caused by astrophysical effects, such as the destruction of Li in the stars over their lifetimes, although no fully satisfactory astrophysical explanation has been proposed. Alternatively, it may also be explained by new physics in the early universe, e.g., by the early decay of particle dark matter. We are following an alternate approach to studying the cosmic Li abundance: the use of interstellar gas-phase Li in low-metallicity galaxies as a constraint on the primordial abundance and the cosmic evolution of Li. I will present measurement of gas-phase Li in the Small Magellanic Cloud, the first such measurement beyond the Milky Way. I will discuss the implications of our measurements and the prospects for future advances in this area.

Host: Matt Haffner
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