NWS Student Career Experience Program

For any meteorology student who is interested in operational meteorology, the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) through the National Weather Service (NWS) is an experience that should be considered. SCEP is a great opportunity for a student to work in a Weather Forecast Office (WFO) alongside operational NWS meteorologists, and learn the ins and outs of the weather service, and obtain permanent employment. As a SCEP, you are a temporary federal employee, working shifts and learning duties that are required of the weather service employees. Within each WFO, there are opportunities to shadow the forecasters, assess severe weather events, participate in community outreach, work alongside forecasters on separate projects, and also work on projects of your own, as well as work shifts.

After a competitive application process, if selected for a SCEP position, the student is assigned to a WFO that is close to the specific university of attendance. Scheduling is done per the specific office and the student’s schedule. Typically, a student will work full time at the office during semester breaks and either part time, or leave without pay, during the semester. This schedule will continue until the student graduates from his or her university, resigns from the program, or is let go. Before graduation, the student is required to work 640 hours at his or her WFO to be eligible for conversion.

Upon graduation, as long as the student is eligible, there is a greatly increased likelihood that the student will be converted to a permanent employee with the NWS. Although employment is not guaranteed, the great majority of SCEP students who graduate from their universities successfully do move on to an entry level position. The conversion is not competitive, unlike the SCEP application process, and is aided by the NWS’s SCEP coordinator and specific WFO. A significant portion of the NWS’s entry level positions are actually filled by SCEP graduates.
Since the application process is very competitive, many students will take positions as student volunteer at a WFO before applying in order to increase the chances of SCEP selection. This position is unpaid, but provides valuable experience and insight into the NWS and operational meteorology, and is highly recommended.

The application for SCEP is typically due in February, and questions about the process can be forwarded to: nws.scep-reply@noaa.gov. Additional details regarding NOAA opportunities, including the SCEP, may be found at the Chicago-Romeoville NWS WFO website. Finally, NIU students may want to discuss the SCEP experience with Ms. Rose Sengenberger, a current student who was awarded a SCEP during 2010-11. Congrats Rose!

Scholarship Season

The Meteorology Program at NIU would like to bring to your attention several amazing scholarship opportunities. Please consider applying for these prestigious scholarships if you meet the criteria.

• The American Meteorological Society administers a variety of scholarships. Details regarding the scholarships, as well as applications, may be found on the AMS's site.
• The National Weather Association administers a few scholarships. Information is available on the NWA's scholarship application page.
• Sophomores are encouraged to apply for the incredible NOAA Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship [$16,000 plus internship in NOAA facility].
• NOAA also has a very nice scholarship under the Educational Partnership Program.
• NASA has a variety of scholarships and internships available as well.
• Though the application for 2011 is not available at this time, please consider applying for the National Weather Center's Research Experience for Undergraduates Program. See a prior student's experience here.
• The National Center for Atmospheric Research annually awards phenomenal research-based internships through the Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science (SOARS) program.
  

Current NIU Meteorology students should routinely check the "Meteorology Today" board in the Davis 2nd Floor hallway for additional opportunities (e.g., scholarships, internships, jobs) and updates.

If you have any questions regarding the application process after you have read the necessary application materials, feel free to ask Drs. Ashley, Bentley, Changnon, or Song. We look forward to helping you acquire one (or more!) of these scholarships.

Dr. Changnon named as 2010 Board of Trustees Professor

Congrats to NIU Meteorology's Dr. Changnon, who has been named as a 2010 Board of Trustees Professor. Established in 2007, the professorship recognizes faculty members who have achieved a consistent record of excellence in teaching, academic leadership, scholarship or artistry, and service and outreach. Special emphasis is placed on the recognition of those who have earned widespread acclaim for their scholarship or artistry and continue to engage students in their research and professional activities.

Any student interested in meteorology would covet an opportunity to intern with the weather guru of gurus, Tom Skilling.

Fortunately for NIU meteorology undergraduates, Professor David Changnon has an in. Over the past decade, he has supplied WGN-TV’s famous weatherman with more than 50 interns who have assisted Skilling with his broadcasts and Chicago Tribune weather page.

“It’s hard to put into words what it means to work with Tom Skilling,” says senior Robert Clavey II, who was encouraged by Changnon to apply for the internship. “I’m learning so much in my time at WGN that I cannot thank Dr. Changnon enough for the opportunities he offered me.”

When it comes to experts in weather and climate, Changnon has used his many contacts nationwide to make hands-on experience a hallmark of the NIU meteorology program, for which he serves as undergraduate adviser.

In the mid-1990s, Changnon won a grant to develop an applied climatology course that has resulted in students working alongside professionals, winning internships and landing jobs. During the course, students conduct research that helps businesses such as Allstate Insurance, Del Monte Foods and United Airlines make better-informed, weather-sensitive decisions.

And, yes, they help with daily weather forecasts, too, not only on WGN-TV but also at TV stations in Rockford and downstate Illinois.

“Professor Changnon is the leading advocate for including hands-on applied climatological work experience as part of an undergraduate degree program in atmospheric science,” says Julie Winkler, a professor of geography at Michigan State University. “He has developed perhaps the only truly applied climatology course offered at a U.S. academic institution.

“What a remarkable learning experience for these undergraduate students,” she adds.

Changnon himself is one of the nation’s leading scholars in applied climatology, focusing on the human and societal impacts of climate and climate change. He has researched trends in snowstorms, flooding, droughts, cyclone frequency and heat waves. He also has shown how businesses can benefit from long-term seasonal forecasts and documented the impact of climate change on agriculture, as well as the impact of changing agricultural practices on climate.

Amazingly, nearly 40 percent of his published articles, some of which have gained widespread media attention, were co-authored by students. They credit him with connecting textbooks to their life experiences and inspiring their meteorology careers.

“Without his guidance, patience and encouragement, I know I would not be where I am today in my own career,” says Tamara Houston, who as a student co-authored research with Changnon. She now works as a physical scientist for NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center.

Changnon also is known for service to his profession and to NIU. He has participated as a reviewer for the International Panel for Climate Change and served on the American Meteorology Society’s undergraduate degree-experience committee. Active in many faculty teams at NIU, he recently led a task force on curricular innovation, exploring ways to improve teaching.

“David Changnon represents the epitome of a fully engaged professor,” says Andrew Krmenec, chair of the Department of Geography, which oversees the meteorology program.

Adds colleague Lesley Rigg, “Every time I look in his office, he is with students. Every time I am amazed by the passion of a lecturer in a classroom, it is Dave’s voice I hear. And every time a professor is rallying the cause of student research and mentored learning in a faculty meeting, it is Dave. He is by far one of the most inspirational, demanding and creative teachers and researchers on campus.”

Text from Northern Today, 22 March 2010.

Undergrad Research Experiences: The Case of MET 431 (Applications in Climatology)

NIU’s Meteorology Program strives to develop valuable student “preprofessional” experiences through student participation in a variety of activities, including: faculty research projects through National Science Foundation grants and the Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program, forecasting for the campus student newspaper and television station, operating the DeKalb-area National Weather Service Cooperative Weather Station, serving the community as severe weather watchers, conducting weather awareness seminars in local schools, and through internship experiences with the NWS and various weather-sensitive organizations in northern Illinois.

One of the unique “preprofessional” experiences that Meteorology Program students can take advantage of during their tenure at NIU is the annual “Applications in Climatology” course taught by NIU Presidential Teaching Professor Dr. David Changnon. “Applications in Climatology” (MET 431) is a senior capstone course where students work in groups of two to four on applied climate research projects for regional decision makers. Real issues from both the private and public sectors are addressed by student/faculty teams to produce tangible results for the sponsoring organization. Dr. Changnon has published two articles that highlight the uniqueness of this course: "Design and Test of a "Hands-On" Applied Climate Course in an Undergraduate Meteorology Program" (Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, Volume 79, pages 79-84) and "Improving Outreach in Atmospheric Sciences: Assessment of Users of Climate Products" (Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, Volume 85, pages 601-606). In addition, a number of projects completed by MET 431 students have appeared in top international research journals over the last ten years. Undergraduate research experiences, like those enabled through courses like MET 431, are a hallmark of the NIU Meteorology Program. Skills learned during these experiences empower our students, helping them gain a “leg up” in the job market.

This past fall, 16 students (10 undergraduate meteorology majors and 6 geography graduate students) participated on five applied climate research projects. The teams worked with external decision makers from weather-sensitive sectors that included utilities, agri-business, transportation, risk management. On December 4, 2009, the five groups presented their research findings to a broad audience that included other NIU students, NIU MET faculty, climate scientists, and weather-sensitive decision makers. Below is a brief description of this year’s projects. If you have any questions regarding these projects feel free to contact David Changnon (MET student advisor and teacher for MET 431/531) at dchangnon@niu.edu or by phone at (815) 753-6835.

Company Sponsor: ABF Freight Systems, Inc.
Student Team: Daniel Bocklund, Jason Foster, and Charles Richie II
Title of Project: Winter precipitation event impacts on a line haul transportation service center.

Abstract: In response to a request from the regional branch manager of a line haul ground transportation center owned by ABF, Inc., an investigation into Midwestern regional winter weather synoptic conditions was initiated. This was done in order to effectively inform the client of synoptic conditions which have negative impacts on the ground transportation industry in hi area of responsibility, and also to develop a more timely decision making paradigm. Using surface climate data from first order meteorological reporting stations in the area of interest, as well as dates provided by the client on which cancellations occurred, several synoptic patterns were revealed. The storms most often causing these cancellations contained snow and freezing rain, two of the client’s main concerns.

Two synoptic patterns, those involving Colorado Lows and occasionally an Alberta Clipper, created hazardous winter weather conditions that impacted one or more line hauls. Trips to South Bend, IN, were more frequently impacted because lake-effect snowfall created further limitations on driving conditions in Northwest Indiana. This synoptic setup reveals the need for the ability to make rapid decisions based on the nature of the storms, and was used to develop a better understanding of conditions preceding the events for the client. This allowed the facilitation of the decision making tools needed by the client on a timelier basis, and helped address the client’s concerns and needs stated in his initial request.

Company Sponsor: Chesapeake Energy Corporation
Student Team: Ryan Oates, Nick Vercellotti, and Tom Walsh
Title of Project: Determining the temporal relationship of sudden stratospheric warming events to the occurrence of cold weather outbreaks in Chicago, Illinois.

Abstract: Predicting cold weather outbreaks around major metropolitan areas is of utmost importance to many different sectors of our economy. In an attempt to better understand when these outbreaks occur, the temporal relationship between near record cold weather in Chicago and sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) events in the polar vortex was investigated. A time series analysis of SSW data and temperature records from Chicago O’Hare Airport dating back to 1979 was conducted to identify SSW events and determine if and when Chicago was impacted by mean daily temperature anomalies of a 5-day average of -10°F or greater. A relationship between SSW events and cold air outbreaks was found for 40% of all Chicago cold air outbreaks. There were 93 cold events identified as opposed to only 67 SSW events. Only 25% of the time there was no cold event related to a SSW event. Most of the SSW events occurred in late winter (January – March), a total of 57, as opposed to only 16 in early winter. While a direct connection cannot be made over lag time, certain connections can be made to frequency of SSW events over a given period of year. Demonstrating the relationship between SSW and cold air outbreaks in Chicago should assist operational meteorologists in predicting future cold outbreaks.

Company Sponsor: Hintzsche Fertilizer, Inc.
Student Team: Robert Clavey and Tyler McDowall
Title of Project: Developing a climatological guidebook for a north-central Illinois agri-business

Abstract: This study analyzed climate data for DeKalb, IL, in order to provide Hintzsche Fertilizer information with which to supplement their agronomic consulting services for clients across northern Illinois. The focus of this study was to analyze growing degree units, precipitation, freeze date, and corn yield data in order to develop a climatological guidebook. Relationships between annual corn yield anomalies and seasonal growing degree units and precipitation totals were weak suggesting that a stronger relationship might exist for climate factors at shorter temporal scales (e.g., month or week). A further emphasis was placed on the climate anomalies associated with the 2009 growing season in northern Illinois in the form of a case study. Three weather-related aspects of the growing season, a wet planting period, an unusually cool summer, and wet harvest period were examined and their impacts on the corn crop yields discussed.

Company Sponsor: T-Storm Weather
Student Team: Dan Hansen, Joe Larsen, Kyle McAdams, and Kelly Rose Ortega
Title of Project: Correlating El Niño sea surface temperature anomalies with Midwest U.S. growing season temperature and precipitation anomalies.

Abstract: Temperature and precipitation anomalies can affect the development and potential yields of crops in the Midwest United States. T-Storm Weather is a company that provides weather forecasts to users in the agricultural community. Because monthly and seasonal climate anomalies and related long-range climate outlooks are so important to crop development, it is thought that the signature of large scale climate phenomena can be used to help develop these forecasts. El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is one of these phenomena and involves sea surface temperatures (SST) in the tropical Pacific Ocean. This study related winter ENSO region 3.4 SST anomalies to monthly climate division temperature and precipitation anomalies in the Midwest United States during the growing season (April-September) in an attempt to provide a growing season forecasting tool useful to this company and its agricultural users. Findings of the study show that little correlation exists between precipitation anomalies and SST anomalies for the studied months. However, relatively strong positive correlations exist between temperature anomalies and SST anomalies for the months of July, August, and September. Contingency table analysis showed that relationships vary across months and climate divisions.

Company Sponsor: Xcel Energy
Student Team: James Ball, Yi-Yin Chang, Rick DiMaio, and Andy King
Title of Project: Wind tunnel failure: An examination of high wind events on the Cedar Creek, Colorado wind farm.

Abstract: High wind events (>59 mph) can be detrimental to wind energy production in the High Plains region. This paper advances the methodology for identifying meteorological conditions that cause high winds. Data from the Cedar Creek wind farm is used for identification of four dates, which experienced turbine failures and six dates that approached failure. In addition, six high wind events in the Boulder region were analyzed to determine possible influences of Chinook winds on turbine failure at Cedar Creek. Results reveal that slowly, progressive mid-latitude cyclones over the western High Plains and the presence of moderately strong anti-cyclones west of the continental divide contribute to a majority of wind turbine failures. Decision trees were developed and tested as thoroughly as possible as the limited data of high wind events allow. Further analysis of surface and upper air data may prove beneficial in predicting high winds in real-time scenarios.