WeatherBrains 370: Off To A Slow Start!

WeatherBrains Episode 370 is now online (February 25, 2013). If you are crazy about weather, this is THE netcast audio program for you!

Due to some technical difficulties, our scheduled guest, Dr. Marshall Shepherd, President of the American Meteorological Society, was unable to get connected. So who knows where this show will go!

And at the last minute, our guest WeatherBrain, Dr. Marshall Shepherd, American Meteorological Society (AMS), was able to connect. He is a Full Professor conducting research, advising, and teaching in atmospheric sciences, climatology, water cycle processes and urban climate systems. He is also the Director of the UGA Atmospheric Sciences Program. Prior to joining the UGA faculty, Dr. Shepherd spent 12 years as a research meteorologist in the Earth-Sun Division at NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center. Dr. Shepherd was also Deputy Project Scientist for the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission, which launches in 2012. Dr. Shepherd is currently a member of NASA Precipitation Measurement Missions Science team. He conducts research on weather and climate systems using advanced satellites, experimental aircraft, radars, and sophisticated computer models. This research seeks to understand weather processes (i.e. thunderstorms, hurricanes, rainfall) atmospheric processes and to relate them to current weather and climate change.

Dr. Shepherd is also interested in innovative strategies to infuse research data into applications and outreach communities. For his work on urban effects on precipitation, Dr. Shepherd received the highest federal award given to the Nation’s young scientists and engineers. He was honored on May 4th 2004 at the White House with the Presidential Early Career Award for pioneering scientific research. Dr. Shepherd was also recently elected a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society. This honor is only given to two-tenths of one percent of the membership for outstanding scientific contributions in the atmospheric and related sciences. He was the recipient of the 2011 AMS Charles Anderson Award. He was also honored by Black Enterprise Magazine as one of their 2005 Hot List under 40 members, and The Network Journal magazine in 2005 as one of its “40 Under Forty”. Dr. Shepherd has over 60 publications in the peer-reviewed literature and is funded by NASA, USDA Forest Service, Department of Defense, NSF-PRISM, and the UGA Research Foundation to carry out his research. Shepherd also contributes to popular publications like Weatherwise and Earth Observation Magazine.

Special report from Matt Ernst from Lubbock on the blizzard in the Texas Panhandle.

Other discussions in this weekly podcast include topics like:

• Extremes: 88 at Orlando, FL, and -15 at Laramie and Shirley Basin, WY
• Blizzard in Texas Panhandle and surrounding area
• Tornado Watches along Central Gulf Coast and Lower Mississippi River Valley
• and more!

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

From The Weather Center:

WeatherBrains 101: In a continuing series on dual polarization radar, this week’s 101 segment looks at the detection of heavy rain. Dual polarization really shines in this area, but there are still some issues to be aware of.

TWIWH: Bill Murray looks back at the week of February 25th.

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 370:

Snowfall totals from Amarillo

American Meteorological Society

Washington Post article on weather commission

Deconstructing Super Storm Sandy

Picks of the Week:

Nate Johnson – Senior Research Project on Perception of Severe Weather Coverage

Bill Murray – NWA Central Alabama Chapter

Brian Peters – Blizzard video from Amarillo

Kevin Selle – 1. Jobstr 2. Nexus Weather Channel app

Marshall Shepherd – Precipitation Measurement Missions

James Spann – SPC Storm-Scale Ensemble of Opportunity

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.

Category: WeatherBrains