March 2, 2006, Opening Ceremonies for MILAGRO in Mexico City

Summary

March 2 ceremonies in Mexico City initiated the Megacity Initiative: Local and Global Research Observations (MILAGRO) Campaign to be conducted in and downwind of Mexico City during March 1 through March 31. The field study is being conducted to address megacity (>10 million population) emissions of gases and aerosols to the atmosphere and their impacts on climate. The goal of MILAGRO is to conduct measurements of trace gases and aerosols, and to study the atmospheric processes leading to the formation of secondary aerosols from precursor gases, and the transport and transformations of these gases and aerosols on local, regional, and global scales. The ceremony included the inauguration of a Special MILAGRO Poster Exhibition. Participation in this event included representatives from 3 U.S. agencies that are sponsors of MILAGRO, Ann-Marie Schmoltner from the National Science Foundation, Rickey Petty from the Department of Energy s Office of Science, and Bruce Doddridge from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Mexican participants include collaborators from the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), the Metropolitan Environmental Commission, officials from the governments of the Federal District (Mexico City), the states of Mexico, Hidalgo and Veracruz will be participating. Dr. Adrian Fernandez, the President of the National Institute of Ecology (and the deputy Minister of SEMARNAT), served as the Master of Ceremony.