Seminars & Events
The Institute offers free public seminars on topics that impact our daily lives. These seminars are held on A-B Tech's Asheville Campus in the Ferguson Auditorium. There is plenty of free parking close to the auditorium - click here for a detailed map.
Interested in attending the next free climate seminar? Send us an e-mail and we'll make sure that you are notified of future events.
Upcoming Events and Seminars
Check back with us for upcoming events.
Past Seminars
Saturday April 13, 2013
SKYWARN 2013
The Institute for Climate Education partnered with the National Weather Service's Greenville-Spartanburg Weather Forecast Office to present SkyWarn 2013. Over 55 enthusiastic weather-savvy people attended and became official SKYWARN spotters. The day included both the "Basic" and the "Advanced" spotter training - allowing participants to receive both levels of training in a single day. Those who completed the training sessions received a certificate of completion.
A special thanks to Tony for providing such an interesting and engaging training session!
Image: NWS Greenville-Spartanburg Weather Forecast Office Warning Coordination Meteorologist Tony Sturey presenting at SKYWARN 2013
Image: NWS GSP WCM Tony Sturey answering questions from attendees at SKYWARN 2013
February 21, 2013
Free Screening of the energy documentary SWITCH - Discover the Future of Energy
For more information on the film - visit SwitchEnergyProject.com.
The screening was attended by around 80 people - roughly half of those attending were students and the other half were members of the community.
Following the film about 35 folks stayed to engage in a Question and Answer session hosted by Dr. Jon Snover, Director of A-B Tech's Global Institute for Sustainability Technologies. The questions and resulting discussions were engaging and thought provoking. A good crowd!
Jon Snover engaging the audience following the film.
Vicky Ballard of the Colburn Earth Science Museum
November 8, 2012
Long Range Winter Forecast for 2012-2013
Presented by Tom Ross, Meteorologist (retired) NOAA's National Climatic Data Center
Note: A-B Tech recorded the seminar and will soon post it on the Videos page of the Institute's website. The Winter Forecast video currently on the Videos page is from last year's seminar.
The Institute was honored to have Meteorologist Tom Ross present his forecast for the upcoming winter season.
You can access slides from the presentation by clicking on the image below.
Tom's presentation included information about the large scale circulations in the oceans and the atmosphere that are known to have an impact on winter weather in the U.S. - including El Nino/La Nina, the North Atlantic Oscillation and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. He presented the latest experimental long range forecast from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center which calls for "equal chances" of above and below average precipitation and temperature for much of the winter season (see slides 8 & 9 in the presentation).
He also provided information on Internet resources where you can find important weather information, including the Climate Prediction Center, National Weather Service, and Ray's Weather.
Tom's predictions for the 2012-2013 winter season are:
1) It is highly unlikely that this winter will be a mild as the last. Average annual snowfall in Asheville is around 12.5 ". The snowfall reported at AVL last year was a trace, the lowest report since the airport opened - and downtown Asheville only reported light snow in early January.
2) NOAA has been predicting that there will be a weak El Nino develop in the Equatorial Pacific early in the winter. If an El Nino does develop, it historically brings cooler and wetter conditions to the SE U.S. which could lead to a winter of slightly below normal temperatures and above average snowfall.
3) If an El Nino develops, it could lead to several icing events with High pressure going to our North and moisture coming up the spine of the Appalachians. Historically, the eastern areas of Buncombe and Henderson Counties tend to see the most ice storms.
4) The remainder of the winter will play a tug of war between warm and normal to wet conditions, alternating with dry and cold.
5) Asheville and surrounding communities could get a couple four inch or more snow events if enough moisture comes up from the Gulf while cold air is in place. This is a fairly common occurrence in the winter months.
6) Tom's forecast for snow during the 2012-2013 season: near or slightly above average with about 15 inches expected. Tom's "Wish Forecast" is for another snowy winter like 2009 and 2010 of 25 inches +. (He likes snow!)
June 14, 2012
Earth Extremes with Science on a Sphere (SOS)
Presented by Deke Arndt, Chief of the Climate Monitoring Branch at NOAA's National Climatic Data Center
Deke utilized the SOS display to show how large-scale climate patterns evolve and impact the day-to-day weather. In the image above, he's illustrating how the jet stream brings cold fronts into the U.S.
He also used the SOS to show the audience how Sea Surface Temperatures vary around the Earth and how the planet's oceans influence regional climate.
June 7, 2012
Eyes on the Earth: We are Being Watched with Science on a Sphere (SOS)
Presented by Dr. Gregory S. Wilson, Former Director, NASA's Mission to Planet Earth
The Institute was honored to have Dr. Greg Wilson share his expertise about the history of satellite observations of the Earth. Utilizing the Science on a Sphere display, Dr. Wilson started with the story of the "Blue Marble" and how the view of the Earth, as captured by the Apollo astronauts, changed the way that we think about humans on the planet. No longer were we separate, but we were linked together as a total Earth system.
The Landsat satellites were the first to provide views of the Earth in greater detail than ever seen before, allowing us to begin to understand the human impacts on the plant. It was NASA's Mission to Planet Earth project, dedicated to understanding the total Earth system and the effects of natural and human-induced changes on the global environment, that has led to the many observations that scientists use now to better understand human impacts on the planet.
June 2, 2012
The Institute for Climate Education partnered with the National Weather Service's Greenville-Spartanburg Weather Forecast Office to present SkyWarn 2012. Over 70 enthusiastic weather-savvy people attended and became official SKYWARN spotters.
Tony Sturey, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the GSP Weather Forecast Office led the group through both the Basic and Advanced SKYWARN Spotter Training Sessions.
The Long Range Winter Forecast for Western North Carolina -2011/2012
December 6, 2011
Presented by Tom Ross, retired NCDC Meteorologist
The college recorded the seminar and it is available under the Videos section of our web page.
Meteorologist Tom Ross's presentation included information on:
- Where to find local weather information on the Internet
- The winter weather outlooks from NOAA and other sources
- The global circulation patterns that impact winter weather in the U.S.
- The type if weather patterns that create the worst winter weather events
- His long-range forecast for the coming winter:
- December 2011 looks quite mild with generally a westerly flow and normal precipitation. (After Wednesday’s event (12/7) - If we get any major snow- don’t think it will occur until after Christmas)
- Remainder of the winter will play a tug of war between warm and normal to wet alternating with dry and cold - fairly normal for WNC.
- Think we will have a snowstorm or two, several NW flow events and the return of the possibility of several significant ice storms in east Buncombe and Henderson counties. (very little to no ice last year)
- Snowfall above average with 15 inches or more inches expected.
Click on image for slides from Tom Ross's presentation
Climate Change and Tropical Cyclones: An Increasing Threat to North Carolina?
October 13, 2011
Presented by Dr. Chris Hennon, Associate Professor, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, The University of North Carolina Asheville
The college recorded the seminar and it is available under the Videos section of our web page.
Dr. Hennon's presentation included information on:
- How tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop and strengthen.
- Various theories of how climatic change impacts tropical cyclones.
- Examination of recent climate trends and tropical activity in the Atlantic.
- What is predicted to happen with climate in the Atlantic and its expected impact on tropical activity.
- How will these trends impact North Carolina?
Click on image for slides from Chris Hennon's presentation
The Extreme Weather of 2011: Is This Climate Change in Action?
September 22, 2011
Presented by Deke Arndt, Chief of the Climate Monitoring Branch at NOAA's National Climatic Data Center and Chair of the National Climate Extremes Committee
Click on image for slides from Deke Arndt's presentation
The college recorded the seminar and it is available under the Videos section of our web page.
An Insider's Look: What YOU Need to Know About Climate
July 20, 2011
Presented by: Mark Brooks of the State Climate Office of North Carolina
The college recorded the seminar and it is available under the Videos section of our web page.
Brooks' presentation included information on:
- Why we have weather
- What is weather vs. climate
- What we know (and don't know) about climate change in North Carolina
- Climate services offered in North Carolina to help people mitigate the negative impacts of climate and capitalize on the favorable impacts.
Brooks highlighted the sensitivity of nearly every industry to weather and climate - from the supply chain to operations and delivery.
Mark was honored by A-B Tech's president, Dr. Hank Dunn as the first invited speaker in the Institute for Climate Education's climate seminar series.
Interested in attending the next free climate seminar? Send us an e-mail and we'll make sure that you are notified of future events.