\magnification=1200
\baselineskip=20pt
\nopagenumbers
\font\big=cmr12 scaled \magstep2

\centerline{\bf STANFORD UNIVERSITY}
\centerline{\bf DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS}
\centerline{\big DEPARTMENTAL SEMINAR}
\bigskip

\baselineskip=12pt
\centerline{4:15 p.m., Tuesday, October 12, 1999}
\centerline{Sequoia Hall Rm. 200}
\centerline{(Cookies at 3:45 in 1st Floor Lounge)}

\bigskip
\baselineskip=15pt
\centerline{\sl Doug Nychka}
\centerline{\sl Geophysical Statistics Project,}
\centerline{\sl National Center for Atmospheric Research}

\bigskip

\centerline{\bf CHALLENGES IN UNDERSTANDING THE ATMOSPHERE}
\centerline{\bf }
\bigskip


Atmospheric science provides a rich area for statistics due to the range of
temporal and spatial scales of geophysical processes.  This overview gives
examples of three different areas where statistics is important:
developing parameterizations and analyzing output of general circulation
models, combining data and model output for weather forecasts and using
model output to predict clear air turbulence. This range of problems also
suggest some new areas for statistical research in nonlinear times series,
high dimensional models, and flexible discriminant analysis.

\bye