Wakimoto named NSF assistant director for the geosciences
NCAR director Roger Wakimoto has been named by NSF to serve as assistant director for the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO), whose annual budget of approximately $1 billion supports core research in the atmospheric, polar, Earth, and ocean sciences. Roger will assume his new position in Washington, DC, in February.

Future warming likely on high side
Climate model projections showing a greater rise in global temperature are likely to prove more accurate than those showing a lesser rise, according to a new analysis by NCAR's John Fasullo and Kevin Trenberth. The findings, published in last week’s issue of Science, could provide a breakthrough in the longstanding quest to narrow the range of global warming expected in coming decades and beyond.

¡Hola, La Nada!
NOAA has cancelled the El Niño Watch that was in effect since June. However, this doesn't guarantee a placid U.S. winter. Without the influence of El Niño or La Niña, other forms of natural variability, as well as long-term trends, can become more obvious.