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| Derek Arndt |
Acting State Climatologist
Oklahoma Climatological Survey
Derek Arndt joined OCS in 1994 as a graduate student, and became a full-time
Climate Information Group staffer in 1996. His research and service efforts center
around using the best data and latest science to help Oklahomans make better
climate- and weather-sensitive decisions.
To supplement the CIG service mission,
Derek writes the "OCS/Mesonet
Ticker", a daily e-publication of OCS. It was originally launched in 1998
to provide updates during a severe flash-drought. Since then, the Ticker has
evolved to present developments in science, research, emerging climate issues
and interesting weather phenomena to a wide audience. Ticker subscribers range
from 2nd-grade students to media outlets to college professors to members of
the U.S. House of Representatives.
Derek is the state's voice for the U.S. Drought
Monitor. His Oklahoma drought tools have evolved during recent drought episodes
to provide a comprehensive on-line monitoring center for Oklahoma's citizens
and decision-makers.
During
his first years at OCS, Derek worked on much of the foundation of the Oklahoma
Mesonet's quality assurance system. He also implemented many of the Mesonet's
first pest and disease models for agriculture. In recent years, he has lectured
for many of OCS's award-winning educational outreach programs, where participants
range from public safety officers to K-12 teachers to energy industry decision-makers.
Derek provided leadership for OCS's "Mesonet
2002" international symposium of June 2002. In 2003, he completed five
years of research support for the implementation of the world's first "smart" geothermally
heated bridge, designed to prevent preferential bridge-deck icing.
Derek holds
a B.S. and M.S. in Meteorology from the University of Oklahoma. His M.S. Thesis, "The Lasting Effects of Mesoscale Convective Systems
Over Eastern Oklahoma in 1994", dealt with land-atmosphere interaction
and the distribution of surface energy processes. His primary research interests
are applied climatology, particularly concerning drought and land-atmosphere
interaction.
Today, Derek's projects include an update to the "Climate Atlas of Oklahoma",
originally authored in 1995 by Howard Johnson and Claude Duchon. Derek's most
recent web efforts involve weaving Oklahoma Mesonet data into traditional weather
products, including forecasts, guidance products and climatological normals.
This type of context will be necessary for full inclusion of regional mesonet
data into the national mainstream. |
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