The scientific results of the VOCALS field campaign are based on analysis of observations made by instruments located on ships, aircraft, and land. This map shows the paths followed by ships and planes over the Southeast Pacific and the observation stations along the coasts of Chile and Peru.
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Courtesy of Robert Wood
What are the results of VOCALS?
Scientists must work very hard! It will take time for them to understand the information they collected during VOCALS. They must study the measurements and use them to improve their models of clouds, weather, and climate. Eventually, they will tell others what they have learned by writing papers and giving talks to each other at scientific meetings.
For a whole month, the scientists were able to make measurements of changes in the ocean currents, ocean upwelling, winds, and air pollution. The results of all these measurements have helped scientists to better understand the atmosphere, the clouds, and rain found over the ocean and close to the Andes Mountains.
Won't it be great if the results of VOCALS help scientists to make predictions of future climate? Predictions are very important to people around the world who live where climate will change the most. They are in danger from such things as sea level rise, heat waves, drought, severe rainstorms, and changes in growing seasons. The results of VOCALS really makes a difference to people in may places!
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