WeatherBrains 864: Just Kids Solving Laplacian
WeatherBrains Episode 864 is now online (August 8th, 2022). If you are crazy about weather, this is THE podcast for you!
This was a special show discussing the Lakeland Weather Club and might set a record of the number of Guest WeatherBrains.
Our main Guest WeatherBrain might have more impact on the field of meteorology than almost any other person. He’s had a positive impact on the thousands of students he’s had. He was nominated by his former students and recognized with an AMS special award for his innovative leadership in teaching meteorology at the high school level while mentoring and inspiring his students. Jim Witt, welcome!
Joining us next is Dorna Schroeter. She is an administrator for the school system where The Club happened from 1962-1981 and is the historian for its amazing output. She wrote the article in WeatherWise magazine earlier this year about Lakeland.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Michael Steinburg makes an appearance on WeatherBrains with some great stories from The Club. He says he remembers it like yesterday and can’t remember anything since!
Also joining us is the Director of the Hurricane Research Division at the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorology Laboratories for NOAA. Dr. Frank Marks. He is a WB Alum, and it has been too long since he has joined us. He added some amazing context to the story.
Karl Silverman retired as a Lead Forecaster in the Space Flight meteorology group at Johnson Space Center. He was the youngest member ever allowed in The Club.
Greg Tripoli became the Chair of the Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He said that he knew he had been part of something special when he showed up to college and knew more than the seniors in the meteorology program.
Mr. G, Irv came and studied The Club for his school in the Bronx and replicated it successfully before being away to be the Chief Meteorologist on WCBS in New York City.
Jordan Alpert was the Chief at the Systems Development Branch of the Environmental Modeling Center of NCEP. He gained early experience in modeling in The Club.
Doug Fulle was the first student to matriculate from Lakeland that became a meteorologist. He shared his experiences as well.
- Background on Lakeland Weather Club (04:15)
- Advice on starting your own weather club (01:46:30)
- Should the definition of a supercell thunderstorm be clarified or changed? (01:56:00)
- The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:49:10)
- This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:52:20)
- National Weather Round-Up
- E-Mail Segment (01:53:20)
- and more!
Web Sites from Episode 864:
“How an Idea from Nature Changed Our World: The Story of Velcro” – by Dorna Schroeter
Picks of the Week:
Dr. Frank Marks – NOAA and Saildrone launch seven hurricane-tracking surface drones
James Aydelott – Foghorn
Jen Narramore – Olivia Newton-John passes away
Rick Smith – Out
Neil Jacobs – A novel method for objective identification of 3-D potential vorticity anomalies
Troy Kimmel – Out
Kim Klockow-McClain – First Drafts of Rock: “Head Over Heels” by Tears for Fears (w/ Kevin Bacon)
Bill Murray – Foghorn
James Spann – Tropical Cyclone Guidance Project
The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, Dr. Neil Jacobs, and Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating podcast about weather.
