BARON CRITICAL WEATHER INSTITUTE

CLASS WEATHER INSTRUMENTATION IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE AREA OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AND STATE OF ALABAMA HAS ALL THE NATURAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUBSTANTIAL STUDY INTO TRANSPORTATION WEATHER AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BUT DOES NOT CURRENTLY HAVE ACCESS TO WORLD CLASS INSTRUMENTATION. THE INSTITUTE IS DEDICATED TO ORGANIZING CURRENTLY AVAILABLE INSTRUMENTATION IN REAL TIME AS WELL AS DEVELOPING REAL TIME WEATHER NETWORKS ON LAND, NAVIGABLE WATERWAYS AND OTHER. THE INSTITUTE IS DEDICATED TO EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH AND WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A HANDS-ON EXHIBIT WHICH ALLOWS CITIZENS AND SCIENTISTS TO UNDERSTAND HOW INSTRUMENTATION ASSISTS IN "KNOWING THE WEATHER". THE INSTITUTE WILL CONTRIBUTE DATA AND RESEARCH INTO THE ONGOING STATEWIDE EFFORT TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY.