April 30 through May 4 2007 is Air Quality Awareness Week across the United States. Scroll over the links
below to see the public information statements from The National Weather Service in Wilmington. Click on the
images to learn more about topics or visit The
Air Quality Awareness Week web site to learn more.
Monday Information
Tuesday Information
Wednesday Information
Thursday Information
Friday Information
Tuesday Information
Wednesday Information
Thursday Information
Friday Information
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
800 AM EDT MON APR 30 2007
THIS WEEK MARKS THE BEGINNING OF OZONE SEASON FOR MANY AREAS IN THE UNITED
STATES.
EACH DAY OF AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK WILL FEATURE A UNIQUE TOPIC
RELEVANT TO EDUCATION AND PREPAREDNESS.
TODAY WE HIGHLIGHT TWO TYPES OF AIR POLLUTION: OZONE AND PARTICLE
POLLUTION...
THESE ARE TWO COMMON POLLUTANTS FOUND IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
OZONE IS A COLORLESS ODORLESS GAS. IT IS THE SAME GAS THAT IS FOUND IN THE
OZONE LAYER...HIGH IN THE EARTH'S STRATOSPHERE...WHERE IT PROTECTS US FROM
THE SUN'S ULTRAVIOLENT ENERGY. BUT AT GROUND LEVEL WHRER WE LIVE...OZONE
POLLUTION IS UNHEALTHY TO BREATHE.
PARTICLE POLLUTION...OR AIRBORNE PARTICLE POLLUTION...CONSISTS OF MICROSCOPIC
PARTICLES IN THE AIR. DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE...IT CAN BE A PROBLEM IN THE
WINTER OR SUMMER. LIKE OZONE...PARTICLE POLLUTION IS NOT HEALTHY TO
BREATHE. THE PARTICLES ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO HAZE WHICH BLURS THE VIEW IN
MANY CITIES AND NATIONAL PARKS.
TOMORROW WE WILL LEARN HOW THESE POLLUTANTS FORM AND CREATE POOR AIR
QUALITY CONDITIONS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK...VISIT US ON THE WORLD
WIDE WEB AT HTTP://WWW.AIRQUALITY.NOAA.GOV
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
800 AM EDT MON APR 30 2007
THIS WEEK MARKS THE BEGINNING OF OZONE SEASON FOR MANY AREAS IN THE UNITED
STATES.
EACH DAY OF AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK WILL FEATURE A UNIQUE TOPIC
RELEVANT TO EDUCATION AND PREPAREDNESS.
TODAY WE HIGHLIGHT TWO TYPES OF AIR POLLUTION: OZONE AND PARTICLE
POLLUTION...
THESE ARE TWO COMMON POLLUTANTS FOUND IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
OZONE IS A COLORLESS ODORLESS GAS. IT IS THE SAME GAS THAT IS FOUND IN THE
OZONE LAYER...HIGH IN THE EARTH'S STRATOSPHERE...WHERE IT PROTECTS US FROM
THE SUN'S ULTRAVIOLENT ENERGY. BUT AT GROUND LEVEL WHRER WE LIVE...OZONE
POLLUTION IS UNHEALTHY TO BREATHE.
PARTICLE POLLUTION...OR AIRBORNE PARTICLE POLLUTION...CONSISTS OF MICROSCOPIC
PARTICLES IN THE AIR. DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE...IT CAN BE A PROBLEM IN THE
WINTER OR SUMMER. LIKE OZONE...PARTICLE POLLUTION IS NOT HEALTHY TO
BREATHE. THE PARTICLES ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO HAZE WHICH BLURS THE VIEW IN
MANY CITIES AND NATIONAL PARKS.
TOMORROW WE WILL LEARN HOW THESE POLLUTANTS FORM AND CREATE POOR AIR
QUALITY CONDITIONS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK...VISIT US ON THE WORLD
WIDE WEB AT HTTP://WWW.AIRQUALITY.NOAA.GOV
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
800 AM EDT TUE MAY 01 2007
...THIS IS AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK...
THIS WEEK MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE OZONE SEASON FOR MANY AREAS IN THE
UNITED STATES. TODAY WE HIGHLIGHT THE CAUSES OF POOR AIR QUALITY...
YOUR AIR QUALITY CAN VARY...DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH AIR POLLUTION IS
PRODUCED IN YOUR COMMUNITY...HOW MUCH POLLUTION IS CARRIED INTO YOUR
COMMUNITY BY THE WIND...AND BY WEATHER CONDITIONS.
OZONE FORMS WHEN TWO GROUPS OF KEY POLLUTANTS...NITROGEN OXIDES AND
VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS…COOK IN THE SUN. FOR EXAMPLE...PARTICLE
POLLUTION CAN BE DIRECTLY EMITTED IN SMOKE FROM A WOODSTOVE...BUT A LOT OF
PARTICLES FORM WHEN GASES REACT IN THE AIR. NITROGEN OXIDES AND SULFUR
DIOXIDES CONTRIBUTE TO PARTICLE FORMATION.
THESE OZONE AND PARTICLE FORMING POLLUTANTS COME FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF
SOURCES...INCLUDING CARS...TRUCKS...BUSES...POWER PLANTS...AND INDUSTRIES.
NATURAL SOURCES SUCH AS WILDFIRES AND DUSTSTORMS CONTRIBUTE TO PARTICLE
POLLUTION. TREES AND OTHER VEGETATION ALSO EMIT ORGANIC COMPOUNDS THAT
CONTRIBUTE TO PARTICLE AND OZONE POLLUTION.
WEATHER PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN THE LEVELS OF OZONE AND PARTICLE POLLUTION IN
IN YOUR COMMUNITY. SUNLIGHT AND HEAT PROMOTE OZONE FORMATION. LIGHT WINDS
AND TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS CAN KEEP POLLUTION CONCENTRATED NEAR THE
GROUND. DEPENDING ON ITS DIRECTION, THE WIND CAN BRING IN MORE
POLLUTION…SOMETIMES FROM HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY. GEOGRAPHY CAN AFFECT
POLLUTION LEVELS TOO. MOUNTAIN RANGES CAN PREVENT POLLUTION FROM
DISPERSING.
TOMORROW WE WILL LEARN ABOUT THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF POOR AIR QUALITY.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK...VISIT US ON THE WORLD
WIDE WEB AT HTTP://WWW.AIRQUALITY.NOAA.GOV
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
800 AM EDT TUE MAY 01 2007
...THIS IS AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK...
THIS WEEK MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE OZONE SEASON FOR MANY AREAS IN THE
UNITED STATES. TODAY WE HIGHLIGHT THE CAUSES OF POOR AIR QUALITY...
YOUR AIR QUALITY CAN VARY...DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH AIR POLLUTION IS
PRODUCED IN YOUR COMMUNITY...HOW MUCH POLLUTION IS CARRIED INTO YOUR
COMMUNITY BY THE WIND...AND BY WEATHER CONDITIONS.
OZONE FORMS WHEN TWO GROUPS OF KEY POLLUTANTS...NITROGEN OXIDES AND
VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS…COOK IN THE SUN. FOR EXAMPLE...PARTICLE
POLLUTION CAN BE DIRECTLY EMITTED IN SMOKE FROM A WOODSTOVE...BUT A LOT OF
PARTICLES FORM WHEN GASES REACT IN THE AIR. NITROGEN OXIDES AND SULFUR
DIOXIDES CONTRIBUTE TO PARTICLE FORMATION.
THESE OZONE AND PARTICLE FORMING POLLUTANTS COME FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF
SOURCES...INCLUDING CARS...TRUCKS...BUSES...POWER PLANTS...AND INDUSTRIES.
NATURAL SOURCES SUCH AS WILDFIRES AND DUSTSTORMS CONTRIBUTE TO PARTICLE
POLLUTION. TREES AND OTHER VEGETATION ALSO EMIT ORGANIC COMPOUNDS THAT
CONTRIBUTE TO PARTICLE AND OZONE POLLUTION.
WEATHER PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN THE LEVELS OF OZONE AND PARTICLE POLLUTION IN
IN YOUR COMMUNITY. SUNLIGHT AND HEAT PROMOTE OZONE FORMATION. LIGHT WINDS
AND TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS CAN KEEP POLLUTION CONCENTRATED NEAR THE
GROUND. DEPENDING ON ITS DIRECTION, THE WIND CAN BRING IN MORE
POLLUTION…SOMETIMES FROM HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY. GEOGRAPHY CAN AFFECT
POLLUTION LEVELS TOO. MOUNTAIN RANGES CAN PREVENT POLLUTION FROM
DISPERSING.
TOMORROW WE WILL LEARN ABOUT THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF POOR AIR QUALITY.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK...VISIT US ON THE WORLD
WIDE WEB AT HTTP://WWW.AIRQUALITY.NOAA.GOV
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
800 AM EDT WED MAY 02 2007
...THIS IS AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK...
THIS WEEK MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE OZONE SEASON FOR MANY AREAS IN THE
UNITED STATES.
TODAY WE HIGHLIGHTTHE HEALTH IMPACTS OF POOR AIR QUALITY...
YOU ARE EXPOSED TO AIRBORNE CONTAMINATION EVERY TIME YOU BREATHE
POLLUTED AIR. BUT WHEN YOU EXERCISE...WORK IN THE YARD...OR DO OTHER
STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES THAT MAKE YOU BREATHE HARDER AND FASTER...YOU INHALE
EVEN MORE POLLUTED AIR INTO YOUR LUNGS.
EXPOSURE TO HIGH LEVELS OF OZONE AND PARTICLE POLLUTION IS LINKED WITH A
NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT HEALTH PROBLEMS. CHILDREN...PEOPLE WITH LUNG
DISEASE...OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH HEART DISEASE TEND TO BE MORE
VULNERABLE. WHEN POLLUTION REACHES HIGH ENOUGH LEVELS...THE AIR CAN BE
UNHEALTHY FOR EVERYONE...ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE ACTIVE OUTDOORS. YOU CAN
HELP PROTECT YOURSELF SIMPLY BY CHANGING THE TIME OR INTENSITY OF YOUR
ACTIVITIES.
USE THE AIR QUALITY INDEX AND DAILY AIR QUALITY FORECASTS TO HELP YOU
DETERMINE WHEN YOU NEED TO MAKE CHANGES. THE AIR QUALITY INDEX IS A COLOR
CODED SCALE THAT TELLS YOU WHO NEEDS TO TAKE STEPS TO REDUCE EXPOSURE TO
OZONE OR PARTICLE POLLUTION. LOCAL AIR QUALITY FORECASTS ARE AVAILABLE AT
WWW.AIRNOW.GOV.
USE AIR QUALITY FORECAST GUIDANCE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/AQ TO FIND MAP
PROJECTIONS OF WHEN AND WHERE THE AIR YOU BREATHE IS EXPECTED TO HAVE HIGH
AMOUNTS OF POLLUTANTS.
TOMORROW WE WILL LEARN ABOUT TOOLS TO HELP YOU GET AIR QUALITY
INFORMATION.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK...VISIT US ON THE WORLD
WIDE WEB AT HTTP://WWW.AIRQUALITY.NOAA.GOV
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
800 AM EDT WED MAY 02 2007
...THIS IS AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK...
THIS WEEK MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE OZONE SEASON FOR MANY AREAS IN THE
UNITED STATES.
TODAY WE HIGHLIGHTTHE HEALTH IMPACTS OF POOR AIR QUALITY...
YOU ARE EXPOSED TO AIRBORNE CONTAMINATION EVERY TIME YOU BREATHE
POLLUTED AIR. BUT WHEN YOU EXERCISE...WORK IN THE YARD...OR DO OTHER
STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES THAT MAKE YOU BREATHE HARDER AND FASTER...YOU INHALE
EVEN MORE POLLUTED AIR INTO YOUR LUNGS.
EXPOSURE TO HIGH LEVELS OF OZONE AND PARTICLE POLLUTION IS LINKED WITH A
NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT HEALTH PROBLEMS. CHILDREN...PEOPLE WITH LUNG
DISEASE...OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH HEART DISEASE TEND TO BE MORE
VULNERABLE. WHEN POLLUTION REACHES HIGH ENOUGH LEVELS...THE AIR CAN BE
UNHEALTHY FOR EVERYONE...ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE ACTIVE OUTDOORS. YOU CAN
HELP PROTECT YOURSELF SIMPLY BY CHANGING THE TIME OR INTENSITY OF YOUR
ACTIVITIES.
USE THE AIR QUALITY INDEX AND DAILY AIR QUALITY FORECASTS TO HELP YOU
DETERMINE WHEN YOU NEED TO MAKE CHANGES. THE AIR QUALITY INDEX IS A COLOR
CODED SCALE THAT TELLS YOU WHO NEEDS TO TAKE STEPS TO REDUCE EXPOSURE TO
OZONE OR PARTICLE POLLUTION. LOCAL AIR QUALITY FORECASTS ARE AVAILABLE AT
WWW.AIRNOW.GOV.
USE AIR QUALITY FORECAST GUIDANCE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/AQ TO FIND MAP
PROJECTIONS OF WHEN AND WHERE THE AIR YOU BREATHE IS EXPECTED TO HAVE HIGH
AMOUNTS OF POLLUTANTS.
TOMORROW WE WILL LEARN ABOUT TOOLS TO HELP YOU GET AIR QUALITY
INFORMATION.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK...VISIT US ON THE WORLD
WIDE WEB AT HTTP://WWW.AIRQUALITY.NOAA.GOV
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
800 AM EDT THU MAY 03 2007
...THIS IS AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK...
THIS WEEK MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE OZONE SEASON FOR MANY AREAS IN THE
UNITED STATES.
TODAY WE HIGHLIGHT THE TOOLS AVAILABLE TO HELP YOU GET AIR QUALITY
INFORMATION...
OVER THE PAST DECADE…MORE STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES HAVE BEGUN AIR
QUALITY FORECASTING FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES. TODAY ABOUT 300 CITIES
NATIONWIDE ARE ISSUING AIR QUALITY FORECASTS BASED ON PREDICTED
CONCENTRATIONS OF KNOWN POLLUTANTS SUCH AS OZONE AND PARTICLE POLLUTION.
FOR THOSE LOCALITIES FORECASTING AIR QUALITY...NEW NOAA FORECAST GUIDANCE
IS IMPROVING FORECASTERS ABILITY TO PREDICT THE ONSET...SEVERITY...AND
DURATION OF POOR AIR QUALITY. IN ADDITION...NOAA PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE AIR
QUALITY PREDICTIONS ON WWW.WEATHER.GOV/AQ...WITH HOUR BY HOUR
INFORMATION FOR CITIET...SUBURBS...AND RURAL COMMUNITIES OVER THE EASTERN
UNITED STATES.
FOR UP TO DATE AIR QUALITY INFORMATION...THE EPA ENVIROFLASH TOOL PROVIDES
AIR QUALITY FORECASTS AND ACTION DAY NOTIFICATIONS FOR PARTICIPATING
COMMUNITIES VIA EMAIL OR PAGER NOTIFICATION. ENVIROFLASH PROVIDES INSTANT
INFORMATION THAT CAN BE CUSTOMIZED FOR EACH USERS NEEDS.
TOMORROW WE WILL LEARN ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO TO MAKE THE AIR CLEANER.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK...VISIT US ON THE WORLD
WIDE WEB AT HTTP://WWW.AIRQUALITY.NOAA.GOV
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
800 AM EDT THU MAY 03 2007
...THIS IS AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK...
THIS WEEK MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE OZONE SEASON FOR MANY AREAS IN THE
UNITED STATES.
TODAY WE HIGHLIGHT THE TOOLS AVAILABLE TO HELP YOU GET AIR QUALITY
INFORMATION...
OVER THE PAST DECADE…MORE STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES HAVE BEGUN AIR
QUALITY FORECASTING FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES. TODAY ABOUT 300 CITIES
NATIONWIDE ARE ISSUING AIR QUALITY FORECASTS BASED ON PREDICTED
CONCENTRATIONS OF KNOWN POLLUTANTS SUCH AS OZONE AND PARTICLE POLLUTION.
FOR THOSE LOCALITIES FORECASTING AIR QUALITY...NEW NOAA FORECAST GUIDANCE
IS IMPROVING FORECASTERS ABILITY TO PREDICT THE ONSET...SEVERITY...AND
DURATION OF POOR AIR QUALITY. IN ADDITION...NOAA PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE AIR
QUALITY PREDICTIONS ON WWW.WEATHER.GOV/AQ...WITH HOUR BY HOUR
INFORMATION FOR CITIET...SUBURBS...AND RURAL COMMUNITIES OVER THE EASTERN
UNITED STATES.
FOR UP TO DATE AIR QUALITY INFORMATION...THE EPA ENVIROFLASH TOOL PROVIDES
AIR QUALITY FORECASTS AND ACTION DAY NOTIFICATIONS FOR PARTICIPATING
COMMUNITIES VIA EMAIL OR PAGER NOTIFICATION. ENVIROFLASH PROVIDES INSTANT
INFORMATION THAT CAN BE CUSTOMIZED FOR EACH USERS NEEDS.
TOMORROW WE WILL LEARN ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO TO MAKE THE AIR CLEANER.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK...VISIT US ON THE WORLD
WIDE WEB AT HTTP://WWW.AIRQUALITY.NOAA.GOV
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
800 AM EDT FRI MAY 04 2007
...THIS IS AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK...
THIS WEEK MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE OZONE SEASON FOR MANY AREAS IN THE
UNITED STATES.
TODAY WE HIGHLIGHT WHAT YOU CAN DO TO MAKE THE AIR CLEANER.
The Environmental Protection Agency AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
work constantly to make the air cleaner across the country through air quality standards
and rules to reduce pollution from power plants...industries...CARS...diesel
trucks…buses and construction equipment. But you have a role to play too. Any time you
use energy…whether it IS gasoline...diesel...electricity or wood...you contribute to air
pollution in your community and communities downwind.
SAVING ENERGY REDUCES POLLUTION…AND IT CAN SAVE MONEY. USE THE FOLLOWING
GUIDELINES TO HELP KEEP AIR CLEANER IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
YOU CAN HELP REDUCE POLLUTION IN YOUR COMMUNITY BY FOLLOWING THESE
GUIDELINES.THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WHEN OZONE IS
EXPECTED TO BE UNHEALTHY. Choose a cleaner commute...share a ride to work or use
public transportation. Combine errands and reduce trips. Delay using gasoline powered
lawn and garden equipment until later in the day or until days when the air quality is
better. Limit engine idling. Get regular engine tune ups and car maintenance
checks...especially the spark plugs.
YOU CAN HELP PREVENT OR REDUCE UNHEALTHY LEVELS OF PARTICLE POLLUTION
WITH THESE ACTIONS. Reduce or eliminate fireplace and wood stove use. Avoid using
gas-powered lawn and garden equipment. Avoid burning leaves…trash and other
materials. Replace your car air filter and oil regularly.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK...VISIT US ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB AT HTTP://WWW.AIRQUALITY.NOAA.GOV
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
800 AM EDT FRI MAY 04 2007
...THIS IS AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK...
THIS WEEK MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE OZONE SEASON FOR MANY AREAS IN THE
UNITED STATES.
TODAY WE HIGHLIGHT WHAT YOU CAN DO TO MAKE THE AIR CLEANER.
The Environmental Protection Agency AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
work constantly to make the air cleaner across the country through air quality standards
and rules to reduce pollution from power plants...industries...CARS...diesel
trucks…buses and construction equipment. But you have a role to play too. Any time you
use energy…whether it IS gasoline...diesel...electricity or wood...you contribute to air
pollution in your community and communities downwind.
SAVING ENERGY REDUCES POLLUTION…AND IT CAN SAVE MONEY. USE THE FOLLOWING
GUIDELINES TO HELP KEEP AIR CLEANER IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
YOU CAN HELP REDUCE POLLUTION IN YOUR COMMUNITY BY FOLLOWING THESE
GUIDELINES.THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WHEN OZONE IS
EXPECTED TO BE UNHEALTHY. Choose a cleaner commute...share a ride to work or use
public transportation. Combine errands and reduce trips. Delay using gasoline powered
lawn and garden equipment until later in the day or until days when the air quality is
better. Limit engine idling. Get regular engine tune ups and car maintenance
checks...especially the spark plugs.
YOU CAN HELP PREVENT OR REDUCE UNHEALTHY LEVELS OF PARTICLE POLLUTION
WITH THESE ACTIONS. Reduce or eliminate fireplace and wood stove use. Avoid using
gas-powered lawn and garden equipment. Avoid burning leaves…trash and other
materials. Replace your car air filter and oil regularly.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON AIR QUALITY AWARENESS WEEK...VISIT US ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB AT HTTP://WWW.AIRQUALITY.NOAA.GOV
Air Quality Index
Particle Pollution
How ozone is formed
National Weather Service
Weather Forecast Office, Wilmington NC
2015 Gardner Drive
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 762-4289
Page Author:
Web Master's E-mail: ilm.webmaster@noaa.gov
Page Last Modified: April 29, 2007
Weather Forecast Office, Wilmington NC
2015 Gardner Drive
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 762-4289
Page Author:
Web Master's E-mail: ilm.webmaster@noaa.gov
Page Last Modified: April 29, 2007