U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-3rd District, grasped a hand-held sensor and listened attentively as it was explained to him how the device worked with a project to track biological, chemical and radioactive agents in the event of an attack.

Not only is it an effort Wamp is familiar with, but it's also one that he's been supportive of - vocally and in Congress.Dubbed DCNet, the project revolves around aluminum weather towers, each 30 feet tall, which help predict the airborne path of a release. These towers, which are more than standard meteorological stations, report not only wind speed and direction, but also the intensity of turbulence.

Marie Moffitt/Staff

U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-3rd District, left, talks with meteorologist Will Pendergrass of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration about a hand-held sensor that is part of a project that can track biological, chemical and radioactive agents in the event of an attack. The project involves aluminum weather towers and sensors, which were both developed in Oak Ridge. To date, 10 of these towers have been placed on federal buildings in the Washington, D.C., area.

To date, 10 of these towers - equipped with SensorNet sensors - have been placed on federal buildings in the Washington, D.C., area. The program is managed in Oak Ridge, and last week a new sensor tower was placed on the Department of Energy's Forrestal Building in the nation's capital.

Wamp, who was in Oak Ridge Tuesday to attend several DOE-related events, got an update on DCNet from meteorologist Will Pendergrass during a visit to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. NOAA developed the towers while the SensorNet technology - a high-tech network of sensors - was born at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

There is a push in Congress to put the sensors in New York City, officials said.

Paul Parson can be contacted at (865) 220-5533 or pparson@oakridger.com.

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