WASHINGTON, Oct 23, 2008 -- UPI

The U.S. Department of Energy says it has selected four proposals to receive total funding of $7 million to conduct climate research field studies.

The studies, officials said, will be conducted during 2010 to obtain data from various cloud types in an effort to improve the computer models that simulate climate change. Researchers will also gather data on the complex interplay between radiation, clouds and aerosols from three fixed research sites in key climate regimes around the world, plus two mobile facilities and aerial research platforms, Energy Department officials said.

The four research projects will be led by Robert Wood of the University of Washington, Johannes Verlinde of Pennsylvania State University, Jay Mace from the University of Utah and a joint Energy Department-National Aeronautics and Space Administration-led study focusing on the aerosol and ice nuclei properties of the upper troposphere.

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