For Release: March 20, 1996

Steve Roy
Office of Media Services
(205) 544-0034
steve.roy@msfc.nasa.gov

NOTE TO EDITORS/PRODUCERS: 96-19N

STUDENTS STUDY HUNTSVILLE "HOTSPOTS"

Students from James Edward Williams Elementary School in Huntsville, Ala. will explore the geography and climate of their city Thursday using NASA satellite and aircraft images.

The project is one of the many activities planned for students during the school’s observation of Huntsville City Space Week.

Dr. Jeff Luvall from NASA's Global Hydrology and Climate Center in Huntsville will conduct a hands-on exploration of the student's urban environment using data collected from space. Students will use the exact same tools used by NASA scientists to analyze their images, examine land use patterns and study the geography of the urban environment.

Students will also get a chance to examine "hotspots" in the city using data collected from aircraft-based remote sensors as part of NASA's Huntsville urban heat island experiment, which concluded last year. During the heat island study, students from 13 Huntsville schools assisted NASA scientists confirm air temperatures throughout the city as part of project "ground-truth", a national program to involve students in the study of the local environment.

News media are invited to cover the Williams Space Week activities and interview Dr. Luvall, faculty and students. Interested media should contact the School Principal Lee Mcallister at 772-5130 or Steve Roy at 544-0034.