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NASA REQUEST

Scientists enthuse about benefits

26/06/2012
Apinya Wipatayotin

Scientists have expressed disappointment over the delay in the government's response to Nasa's request to use U-tapao airport as a base for a climate study.

Thailand stood to lose a great chance to improve its atmospheric knowledge if Nasa cancelled the project or moved it elsewhere, they said.

Serm Janjai, who is among four Thai scientists on the Southeast Asia Composition, Cloud, Climate Coupling Regional Study (SEAC4RS), as it is known, said the country's credibility would suffer if the delay cost Thailand the chance to host the study.

"If we lose this opportunity, we will lose our chance forever. Nasa will move elsewhere," Mr Serm, a lecturer of Silpakorn University's science faculty, said.

He said Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Taiwan had agreed to work with Nasa on atmospheric studies in 2005.

In September 2011, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) signed a memorandum of understanding with Nasa to undertake the SEAC4RS.

The airborne study would focus on the composition of the atmosphere over Southeast Asia.

They included the Asian monsoon circulation impact on the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere composition, and the biomass burning impact on atmospheric composition, radiation and clouds.

The study would run over August and September.

Mr Serm said the US initially wanted to use an airport in Surat Thani but later found that U-tapao airport base was the most appropriate due to its longer runway. The US made its request to use U-tapao early this year.

Narisara Thongboonchoo, an engineering lecturer of the King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang who worked on a Nasa atmosphere study project in the US in 2001 and 2004, insisted the project was scientific and there was no political agenda behind it.

It was impossible for the US to use the project to spy on Thailand as many scientists from across the world were working on the project.

If it took part, Thailand would obtain data on chemical exposure to the atmosphere over Map Ta Phut industrial estate in Rayong to deal with pollution there.

"Please do not link the study to politics. America is very fair. It even lets us know what kind of equipment will be taken aboard the planes," she said.

"The project can help Thai scientists develop their knowledge on atmosphere and greenhouse gas pollution impacts against cloud forming and climate change," she said.

She said Nasa will conduct about 20 flights from U-tapao during the study.

The data will be used to create a model to forecast climate change impacts caused by the greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere.

Nasa will also suffer a great loss if the request is not approved by the government. It has spent a lot of money on the project. Each flight will cost it 45 million baht. 

"Worse than that, Thailand will destroy the chance for other Asean members such as Singapore, Cambodia and Indonesia to gain access to world-class scientific research and study," she said

She said Nasa planned to conduct a study on storms and monsoon forming in the first week of August.

If the government approves its request now, the study would have to be postponed until the middle of August.

(Source: Bangkok Post, NASA REQUEST, Scientists enthuse about benefits, 26/06/2012, Apinya Wipatayotin, link) 


Climate Science Vocabulary 

climate - the general weather conditions usually found in a particular place สภาพอากาศ
climate change - big and long-lasting changes in the earth's weather over decades to hundreds or even millions of years (See Wikipedia)

climatology - the study of climate, scientifically defined as weather conditions averaged over a period of time (See Wikipedia)

greenhouse gases - gases that stop heat from escaping from the earth's atmosphere which causes the temperature of the earth to rise over time (greenhouse effect), carbon dioxide is one important greenhouse gas (See Wikipedia)

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the agency of the US government that is responsible for the country's space program and related research (See Wikipedia)

atmosphere (noun) - the air around the earth or another planet (See Wikipedia and Wikipedia's Atmosphere Portal)
atmospheric (adjective)
atmospheric knowledge

troposphere - the troposphere is the lowest portion of Earth's atmosphere. It contains approximately 80% of the atmosphere's mass and 99% of its water vapor and aerosols (See Wikipedia)
upper troposphere

stratosphere - "the second major layer of Earth's atmosphere, just above the troposphere, and below the mesosphere. It is stratified in temperature, with warmer layers higher up and cooler layers farther down. This is in contrast to the troposphere near the Earth's surface, which is cooler higher up and warmer farther down" (See Wikipedia)
lower stratosphere

forecast - a statement about what will happen in the future based on information available now พยากรณ์
forecast climate change impacts

emissions - amounts of gas, heat, light, etc. that are sent out into the air; gases released into the air (from cars, factories, etc) การปล่อยออกมา
greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere

base - a place from where an activity can be planned and done from ฐานที่มั่น
a base for climate study
use airport as a base for climate study

disappointment - being unhappy because something that was going to happen did not happen
expressed disappointment

delay - to make something happen at a later time than originally planned or expected  การเลื่อน
delay in response
delay in the government's response

Scientists have expressed disappointment over the delay in the government's response to Nasa's request to use U-tapao airport as a base for a climate study.

enthusiasm (noun) - being excited and full of energy about something
enthuse (verb) 
enthusiastic (adjective) 

benefits - goods things that can happen from an activity or project ผลประโยชน์

scientists enthuse about benefits

opportunity - a situation when it is possible to do something that you want to do (See glossary)
lose opportunity

a chance to - an opportunity to
lose a chance to - lose an opportunity to
lose a great chance to - lose a very good opportunity to

improve - to make better ทำให้ดีขึ้น

cancel - stop some activity or project that is happening now
cancelled the project

elsewhere - another place
moved the project elsewhere - moved the project to another place

Thailand stood to lose a great chance to improve its atmospheric knowledge if Nasa cancelled the project or moved it elsewhere, they said.

credibility - believability; the degree to which something can be believed or trusted ความน่าเชื่อถือ,ความน่าไว้วางใจ
credibility would suffer - people would not believe them or trust them anymore

host - to provide what is necessary to carry out a special event จัดงาน ทำหน้าที่เป็นเจ้าภาพ, เป็นผู้จัดรายการ
host the study - provide a place (facilities) for a study to happen at

Serm Janjai, who is among four Thai scientists on the Southeast Asia Composition, Cloud, Climate Coupling Regional Study (SEAC4RS), as it is known, said the country's credibility would suffer if the delay cost Thailand the chance to host the study. "If we lose this opportunity, we will lose our chance forever. Nasa will move elsewhere," Mr Serm, a lecturer of Silpakorn University's science faculty, said. He said Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Taiwan had agreed to work with Nasa on atmospheric studies in 2005.

memorandum - an informal legal agreement ข้อตกลง
memorandum of understanding (MOU) - a temporary written agreement between two organizations that explains how they plan to do business with each other in the future and what their relationship will be (See Wikipedia)

sign a memorandum of understanding
signed a memorandum of understanding with Nasa

undertake - to do รับภาระ
undertake a project - do a project

In September 2011, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) signed a memorandum of understanding with Nasa to undertake the SEAC4RS.

airborne - in the air far above the ground (like an airplane)
airborne study

composition - the way that something is formed form separate parts การรวมตัวกัน การประกอบเข้าด้วยกัน
composition of the atmosphere
lower stratosphere composition

focus on - the main thing something is concerned with ให้ความสำคัญ

focus on the composition of the atmosphere

The airborne study would focus on the composition of the atmosphere over Southeast Asia.

circulation - moving around an area or space (example: the room is very hot and stuffy because there is no circulation of air into and out of the room)

monsoon - the season of heavy rain during the summer in hot Asian countries; heavy seasonal winds and rain ฤดูมรสุม มรสุม (See Wikipedia) 
monsoon circulation

impact - an effect or influence ผลกระทบ
impact on the upper troposphere

biomass
biomass burning
biomass burning impact on atmospheric composition, radiation and clouds

radiation

They included the Asian monsoon circulation impact on the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere composition, and the biomass burning impact on atmospheric composition, radiation and clouds.

run over - when some event or activity happens over a period of time

The study would run over August and September.

initially - at first; at the beginning ในเบื้องต้น  ในระยะต้น

runway - the long place where airplanes land and take off 
longer runway

Mr Serm said the US initially wanted to use an airport in Surat Thani but later found that U-tapao airport base was the most appropriate due to its longer runway. The US made its request to use U-tapao early this year.

insisted - say firmly that something must happen or is true, and will not change mind
insisted the project was scientific

agenda - list of goals to achieve in the future
political agenda
there was no political agenda behind it

spy (noun) - a person who secretly collects and reports information about the activities of another country or organisation สายลับ, สายสืบ
spy on (verb)

Narisara Thongboonchoo, an engineering lecturer of the King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang who worked on a Nasa atmosphere study project in the US in 2001 and 2004, insisted the project was scientific and there was no political agenda behind it. It was impossible for the US to use the project to spy on Thailand as many scientists from across the world were working on the project.

exposure - not covered or protected from harm, might be harmed or suffer damage
chemical exposure

data - facts or information used for making calculations or decisions ข้อมูล
data on chemical exposure
obtain data on chemical exposure

If it took part, Thailand would obtain data on chemical exposure to the atmosphere over Map Ta Phut industrial estate in Rayong to deal with pollution there.

link - to connect เชื่อม
link study to politics

do not link the study to politics
please do not link the study to politics

"Please do not link the study to politics. America is very fair. It even lets us know what kind of equipment will be taken aboard the planes," she said.  

conduct - to do; to do something in an organised way; to carry out
conduct experiment 
conduct flights

conduct a study
conduct a study on storms and monsoon forming

"The project can help Thai scientists develop their knowledge on atmosphere and greenhouse gas pollution impacts against cloud forming and climate change," she said. She said Nasa will conduct about 20 flights from U-tapao during the study. The data will be used to create a model to forecast climate change impacts caused by the greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere.

access - the ability to get something; gain entry to and use or see something สิทธิหรือโอกาสในการใช้ ได้รับสิทธิ์หรือโอกาสในการใช้
gain access to world-class scientific research and study

postponed - delayed; decided that something will be done at a later time เลื่อนออกไป
postponed until the middle of August

Nasa will also suffer a great loss if the request is not approved by the government. It has spent a lot of money on the project. Each flight will cost it 45 million baht. "Worse than that, Thailand will destroy the chance for other Asean members such as Singapore, Cambodia and Indonesia to gain access to world-class scientific research and study," she said. She said Nasa planned to conduct a study on storms and monsoon forming in the first week of August. If the government approves its request now, the study would have to be postponed until the middle of August.

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