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- Written by: NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
A new NASA mission, PolSIR — short for Polarized Submillimeter Ice-cloud Radiometer — will study high-altitude ice clouds, such as this cloud as seen from the International Space Station in 2008.
NASA has selected a new mission to help humanity better understand Earth’s dynamic atmosphere — specifically, ice clouds that form at high altitudes throughout tropical and subtropical regions.
The PolSIR instrument — short for Polarized Submillimeter Ice-cloud Radiometer — will study such ice clouds to determine how and why they change throughout the day.
This will provide crucial information about how to accurately simulate these high-altitude clouds in global climate models.
The investigation consists of two identical CubeSats — each small satellite is just a little over a foot tall — flying in orbits separated by three to nine hours. Over time, these two instruments will observe the clouds’ daily cycle of ice content.
“Studying ice clouds is crucial for improving climate forecasts — and this will be the first time we can study ice clouds in this level of detail,” said Nicola Fox, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Every NASA mission is carefully chosen to better understand our home planet.”
The award is for lifecycle costs no more than $37 million, which does not include launch costs.
The radiometer is an Earth Venture instrument — lower-cost instruments with a targeted research goal, which typically catch a ride along with another mission or commercial satellite in order to minimize launch costs.
The Earth Venture class also focuses on providing frequent flight opportunities, so innovative science investigations can be flown relatively quickly, generally within five years or less. Missions like this provide key targeted research opportunities, which help us improve our understanding of what’s driving change in the entire Earth system.
“Understanding how these ice clouds respond to a changing climate — and then, in turn, contribute to further changes — remains one of the great challenges to predicting what the atmosphere will do in the future,” said Karen St. Germain, who leads NASA’s Earth Sciences Division. “The radiometers, which measure the radiant energy emitted by clouds, will significantly improve our understanding of how ice clouds change and respond throughout the day.”
The mission is led by Ralf Bennartz, principal investigator at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, and by Dong Wu, deputy principal investigator at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
NASA Goddard will provide the project management team that builds the two instruments, while science operations will be conducted by the Space Science and Engineering Center at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. The two spacecraft will be built by Blue Canyon Technologies in Lafayette, Colorado.
For more information about NASA’s Earth science missions, visit https://www.nasa.gov/Earth.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The day will begin with the pancake breakfast hosted by the Lakeport Kiwanis Club and Rotary Club of Lakeport at the Silveira Community Center, located at 500 N. Main St.
From 7 to 11 a.m. they will serve a meal that includes a full pancake breakfast, including eggs, bacon, juice, and coffee.
The requested donation is $10 per person. All proceeds benefit the Lake County 4-H Club.
That will be followed by the city’s Memorial Day Parade, which begins at 11 a.m. and follows a route through downtown Lakeport.
Organizers urge everyone to arrive early for the parade as the streets will be closed along the parade route.
Be sure to bring your own seating.
For more information, contact the Lakeport Main Street Association at 707-263-8843 or
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Melinda Mildred Fred, 39, entered the not guilty plea in Lake County Superior Court on Tuesday morning, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.
Authorities said Fred fatally stabbed 36-year-old Christopher Aaron Burrows on May 16.
The District Attorney’s Office has charged Fred with murder, assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence.
Hinchcliff said the investigation is continuing and that they do not yet know what defense Fred will allege in the case. “We may not know until trial or closer to trial.”
He said a preliminary hearing has not yet been scheduled.
Fred will return to court at 1:30 p.m. June 13 in Department 3 for a bail review hearing.
Hinchcliff said Fred’s bail was set at $1 million at her May 18 arraignment.
At the June 13 bail review hearing, Hinchcliff expects Fred will try to get her bail reduced.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Clearlake Animal Control has more new dogs this week needing homes of their own.
This week the shelter has 51 adoptable dogs.
The dogs that are available for adoption include “Wendy,” a year and a half old female Doberman pinscher mix with a red and tan coat.
There also is “Koda Bear,” a 2-year-old male pit bull mix with a brown brindle coat. Staff said Koda Bear is a love bug who does well with other dogs, is playful, plays fetch, is neutered and up-to-date on vaccinations.
Another of this week’s featured dogs is “Waldo,” a 3- to 4-year-old pit bull terrier with a black and white coat. Staff said he is a sweetheart who loves to be with his people, and enjoys walking, playing fetch or just hanging out.
The shelter is located at 6820 Old Highway 53. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
For more information, call the shelter at 707-762-6227, email
This week’s adoptable dogs are featured below.
Email Elizabeth Larson at