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WeatherBrains 295: Spann Goes Flat

| September 20, 2011 @ 2:15 am | Reply

WeatherBrains Episode 295 is now online (September 19, 2011). If you are crazy about weather, this is THE netcast audio program for you!

Nolan Doesken, CoCoRAHSTonight’s Guest WeatherBrain is a life long weather enthusiast. Growing up in East Central Illinois, Nolan Doesken was fascinated with thunderstorms, snow, and freezing rain, but appreciated any and all aspects of weather and climate. He went on to study meteorology and oceanography at the University of Michigan in the early 1970s and then came back to get his Masters degree from the University of Illinois in Atmospheric Science in 1976. He went to work for the Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO, in 1977 and has been there ever since. He was appointed State Climatologist for Colorado in 2006 and recently served as the president of the American Association of State Climatologists from 2008-2010.

His work at the Colorado Climate Centers involves monitoring the climate of Colorado, managing observing networks, archiving data, doing research and providing data and climate expertise for individuals, businesses, educators and other organizations whose work and interests are affected by the variations and extremes of climate. Notable accomplishments include the publication of “The Snow Booklet: A guide to the science, climatology, and measurement of snow in the U.S.” in the 1990s and the creation of CoCoRaHS — the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network. CoCoRaHS, with thousands of volunteers nationally, has become a primary source of precipitation data across the country, complimenting the official NWS monitoring networks and helping promote weather and climate education across the country.

Other discussions in this weekly podcast include topics like:

  • Tropics relatively quiet with only one disturbed area
  • 23 degrees for the Nation’s low
  • Texas has had hottest summer on weather history
  • Record wildfires, too, but some rain in the last few days
  • Trivia quiz: Place with the same three letters?
  • and more!
  • Our mail bag has been getting some attention and Kevin puts it in perspective.

    From The Weather Center:

    WeatherBrains 101: Scatterometer? Surely that is a made up word. Well, actually it is the name for a very important element used in gaining weather information from data sparse areas. So this week our weather professor takes a look at what this does and why it is important.

    TWIWH: Bill Murray looks back at the week of September 20th. Eloise is one of the biggest hurricanes to occur during this week in weather history but had to compete with news of an attempt on President Gerald Ford.

    Listener SurveyListener Surveys: Okay, we continue to drive this topic into the ground, but we really do like to hear from you. Many thanks to everyone who has taken the time to fill out the Listener Survey. The survey takes just a minute or two to complete and provides us with an opportunity to learn where you are and hear your thoughts and comments on the show. Click here to take the survey.

    Web Sites from Episode 295:

    Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network

    Colorado Climate Center

    NWA WeatherFest at McWane Science Center

    Map of Fatalities from April 27, 2011, in Tuscaloosa, AL

    NWA 2011 National Conference

    Picks of the Week:

    JB Elliott – Graphics of the Texas Drought

    Bill Murray – Meteorological Musings

    Brian Peters – Maple Trees

    Kevin Selle – Probability Research in a Weather Game

    James Spann – State-by-State Guide to Fall Colors

    The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like JB Elliott, Kevin Selle, Bill Murray, and Brian Peters. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating netcast about weather.

    Category: WeatherBrains

    About the Author ()

    Brian Peters is one of the television meteorologists at ABC3340 in Birmingham and a retired NWS Warning Coordination Meteorologist. He handles the weekend Weather Xtreme Videos and forecast discussion and is the Webmaster for the popular WeatherBrains podcast.

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