WeatherBrains 360: Mine Boots up in 6 Seconds

WeatherBrains Episode 360 is now online (December 17, 2012). If you are crazy about weather, this is THE netcast audio program for you!

After encouraging his son to become a Geological Sciences major at Michigan State University (MSU), Robert Drost, our guest WeatherBrain, has paved his own way in the department. While his son has since graduated and now works as a geologist with an environmental organization, Drost has become a Ph.D. student in Julie Libarkin’s Geocognition Lab.

“I wasn’t necessarily interested in geology,” said Drost about his decision to come to MSU. “[My interests were] more on meteorology, severe weather and peoples’ interactions with weather.” However Libarkin’s lab, which studies how people perceive and understand the earth and its processes, was appealing because of its interdisciplinary features, explained Drost. Drost’s latest research has focused specifically on people’s reactions to tornado warnings. The project is multidisciplinary requiring knowledge about atmospheric science, geology, cognition, and social science.

In the fall, Drost presented his findings at the Geological Society of America’s annual conference. He will also give an oral presentation this March at the National Severe Weather Workshop Meeting. Drost is using these meetings to discuss the policy implications of his research: to create more effective severe weather warning systems.

Beyond tornado warnings, Drost is planning to expand his research to landslides, floods, earthquakes and volcanoes. A Michigan native, Drost spent 20 years working for General Motors and another six as the owner of a hobby shop and paintball store before coming to MSU. While he and his son have yet to do collaborative research, Drost said that he wouldn’t mind working on a project together in the future.

Also joining us for this episode is Dr. Jay Trobec. Jay works as Chief Meteorologist at KELO television in Sioux Falls, SD. Dr. Trobec has his undergraduate degree from St. John’s University, his Masters from Mississippi State in Geosciences, and his Ph.D. from South Dakota State University in Atmospheric, Environmental and Water Resources. He is a CCM and a CBM, and an AANG (all Around Nice Guy). Jay was on WeatherBrains Episode 254.

Other discussions in this weekly podcast include topics like:

• Extremes: 85 at Marathon, FL, and -12 at Alamosa, CO
• GFS and ECMWF shaping up for major Christmas storm
• Storms today along the East Coast from New England to Florida
• Some risk of severe storms Wednesday into Thursday across the Lower Mississippi River Valley
• One storm coming midweek to be followed by Christmas storm
• and more!

Our email bag officer is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners.

From The Weather Center:

WeatherBrains 101: Meteorology is one of the physical sciences, so it has a number of technical terms. But besides those scientific terms, there are often some common expressions that go along with weather elements. In this episode of 101, the professor takes a look at such common name, mackerel sky.

TWIWH: Bill Murray looks back at the week of December 17th.

Listener 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 360:

Geocognition Research Lab, Michigan State Univ.

KELO-TV Sioux Falls, SD

Skydaver’s Blog

Picks of the Week:

Robert Drost – talks about weather euphemisms

Nate Johnson – On-air Met Pops Button

Brian Peters – List of Weather Gifts from Amazon

Kevin Selle – James Spann Hearts Facebook

James Spann – Google Plus

Jay Trobec – Diagnostic Model for Winter Weather

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

Guest contact information:

Robert Drost – drostrob at msu dot edu

Category: WeatherBrains