3/3/08

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Romney Hall, Public Affairs Coordinator, UNI Museums, (319) 273-2188
Vicki Grimes, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-6728

Note to editors/news directors: A high-resolution image of Johnson is available at http://www.uni.edu/pubrel/newsroom/photos/CraigJohnson.jpg

UNI Museums to host Craig Johnson and 'Weather from Space'
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa Museum will host "Spacious Skies: Earth's Weather from Space," a presentation by Craig Johnson, well-known local meteorologist, now executive director of the Iowa Academy of Science with offices at UNI, and owner of Weather Briefing, L.C., at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 13, at the University Museum, located at 3219 Hudson Road, Cedar Falls.

Johnson's lecture will address the use of satellite imagery in predicting and understanding weather patterns and phenomena and will include a discussion of the role that satellite imagery plays in assessing both large and small weather events. The importance of the technology and its potential to uncover information about such weather occurrences as hurricanes, thunderstorms, and blizzards will be explored.

"From majestic storms to delicate cloud streets, our weather is inter-related," says Johnson. "Satellites allow us to observe the remarkable organization found in Earth's atmosphere, without which life as we know it would not be possible. The dawn of the satellite age has provided meteorologists with an invaluable perspective on our weather. Satellites monitor storms, provide raw data input to computer models and have helped save lives and property."

"Spacious Skies: Earth's Weather from Space" is presented in connection with the University Museum's current featured exhibit, "Earth from Space," a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition, on display now through June 28. "Earth from Space" is organized in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. The exhibition has been made possible by Global Imagination. Additional support has been provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Smithsonian Women's Committee. The Smithsonian Community Grant program, funded by MetLife Foundation, and John Deere Waterloo Operations are sponsors of these public programs.

Admission to the museum and presentation is free and open to the public. University Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday. For additional information, visit www.uni.edu/museum or call (319) 273-2188.

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