Dec. 31, 2012 (South Lake Tahoe, Calif. / Nev.) – Chris Field, a 2007 Nobel Prize team winner and lead author of the study on the effects of global climate change will be the keynote speaker at Tahoe South’s Operation Sierra Storm Meteorologist Conference, Jan 10. (http://www.osstahoe.com/)

Field, was the Co-Chair for Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which shared the 2007 Peace Prize with former Vice President Al Gore. He’s the director of the Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution for Science at Stanford University and a 2009 Heinz Award recipient, recognizing extraordinary environmental achievement.

Endorsed by the National Weather Service and American Meteorological Society, the three-day conference combines ongoing education, topical and newsworthy discussions, networking opportunities and live broadcasts from news affiliates throughout the West Coast. Attendees include television meteorologists from Houston, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Diego, Sacramento, San Francisco and Reno.

This year’s conference will examine current and future climate change expectations, policy matters, Hurricane Sandy and avalanche forecasting, awareness and safety.

Field was part of the Nobel Prize winning team that assessed the scientific, technical, environmental, economic and social aspects of the vulnerability (sensitivity and adaptability) to climate change and the negative and positive consequences for ecological systems, socio-economic sectors and human health, with an emphasis on regional and cross-sectoral issues.

Other speakers include Rebecca Anderson, Principal Scientist, who will present research conducted from Arctic and Antarctica ice core drilling; Andy Anderson, Sierra Avalanche Center, with insight on avalanche observation and safety including current snow pack stability; and Bob Roberts, President and CEO of California Ski Industry Association, regarding the industry’s current and long-term efforts toward global warming.

Event sponsors include the National Weather Service, Reno; Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority; Heavenly Mountain Resort; Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority; MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa, Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Harveys Hotel & Casino, Embassy Suites Hotel & Ski Resort; Edgewood Tahoe, Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort, South Tahoe Express.

Field’s presentation will be open to the public, Thursday, Jan. 10, from 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. at Harveys Cabaret Theater. Limited free seating available, with RSVP required by 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7 at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SLT_OSS_RSVP.

For more information call (775) 588-2412, or e-mail Weidinger Public Relations at results@weidingerpr.com.

For real time updates on events, promotions, packages, conditions and events in Tahoe South, The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority is on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TahoeSouth, Twitter: www.twitter.com/SouthShoreTahoe, YouTube: www.youtube.com/LTVA. For Tahoe South information: 1-800-AT-TAHOE (1-800-288-2463) or www.tahoesouth.com.