Derek Stratman, Meteorology Student & Intern, NOAA's Storm Prediction Center

Valparaiso University Senior meteorology student Derek Stratman of Jasper, Indiana performed cutting-edge weather research this summer as part of a national project aiming to improve severe storm forecasts through a prestigious scholarship program for the nation’s top undergraduate meteorology students.

Derek was among 100 meteorology majors in the United States selected as Hollings Scholars last year, which provided the opportunity to conduct research this summer as an intern at an agency of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. His internship took him to the NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, a location responsible for monitoring and forecasting severe thunderstorms, tornados, wildfires, winter storms and other hazardous weather conditions.

During the first two weeks of his internship, Derek participated in the 2008 Hazardous Weather Testbed Spring Experiment, which examined the capabilities of the center’s new storm scale ensemble to more accurately predict severe storms and protect lives and property in the United States. Following the experiment, he looked at the simulated reflectivity output from a Storm Scale Ensemble Forecast (SSEF) system – the computer model’s forecast of what Doppler radar scans would look like – and compared the areal coverage of the simulated reflectivity to the areal coverage of the current Doppler radar scans.

My research was a small part of a long process and tested the performance of the SSEF system. This is critical because eventually the SSEF will be implemented into operational meteorology, where forecasters will use the model to help make better weather forecasts.

In addition to working with weather researchers in Oklahoma, Derek presented his research findings to scientists at NOAA headquarters in Maryland in late July.

Before this summer, Derek hadn’t decided whether he wanted to pursue a career in meteorological research.

After experiencing it first hand all summer, I found that I love research and want to continue doing it well into the future, I also made so many personal contacts this summer with people working for NOAA and at the University of Oklahoma’s graduate program in meteorology that I feel comfortable about my future plans.

For more information about Valpo’s Department of Geography and Meteorology, visit www.valpo.edu/geomet.