Objective

To enable the communication of meteorology and climate concepts, products, and services to the general public.

Education

8/00 to 5/02--The Pennsylvania State University

Masters of Science in Meteorology
Cumulative GPA 3.55/4.0
Thesis: Modeling the extratropical transition of Hurricane Irene (1999)

Bachelor of Science
Majors: Earth Science, Meteorology concentration; Geography
Minor: Mathematics
Bachelor of Arts
Major: English
Minor: History
Cumulative GPA 3.86/4.0: Magna Cum Laude
GRE: 560 V, 770 Q, 800 A

Work and Field Experience

5/02 to present--Meteorologist/Customer Liaison, Climate Services Division, National Weather Service

Serving as a liaison with the external community of NWS climate services customers. Assisting in establishing requirements for servicing the weather risk management, reinsurance, and other climate-sensitive industries and promotes and facilitating their implementation. Aiding in evaluating the effectiveness of climate products and services and recommending changes and improvements as well as developing NWS policy and procedures for private sector providors of climate services and for partnerships with constituent organizations and communities. Monitoring CSD budget activities.

Conducted research on the extratropical transition of Hurricane Irene (1999), using PSU-NCAR MM5 to model the lifecycle. Approaching the case both as a forecast problem, with operational applications in improving track and intensity change forecasts, and as a dynamical problem, examining such features as the potential vorticity anomaly and jet streak interaction.

Made and posted 3-day forecasts. Kept lab straightened and in order. Tutored students of Weather, Oceanography, Meteorology, Micrometeorology, Synoptic Meteorology, Physical Meteorology, and Dynamic Meteorology classes.

Troubleshot and maintained computers and network, assisted users with applications, taught workshops to lab users and other consultants, and monitored use of the lab.

Conducted research on "The Relationship between Spread and Skill in an Ensemble Forecast" under David Stensrud, research meteorologist at the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), using a computer model that applied ensemble forecasting to Lorenz's convective equations and calculated statistical analyses. Also attended lectures from various University of Oklahoma faculty and NSSL, Storm Prediction Center (SPC), and Center for the Analysis and Prediction of Storms (CAPS) staff members.

Used and maintained interactive television (ITV) equipment, including sound system, camera switches and focus, and VCR projection; administered classroom discipline, kept attendance records, tutored, and performed some grading; used copy and fax machines to transfer students' work to teachers.

Collected upper-air data for Dr. Mower's work on the Air Mass Transformation Model on Beaver Island, in Lake Michigan, using radiosondes. Collected surface data using sling psychrometer, thermometer, and hand-held digital anemometer.

Computer Skills

Software

Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Works, Microsoft Internet Explorer; Corel WordPerfect 8; Netscape Communicator; WS-FTP; Telnet, Pine, Pico, Emacs; Norton Utilities, McAfee Virus Scan; Adobe Photoshop 4.0 and 5.0, Adobe Acrobat Reader, GIMP, Macromedia Freehand, NCAR Graphics, GrADS; Maple V; McIDAS; GEMPAK; GARP

Microsoft Windows (all versions), MS-DOS, UNIX, Linux, Mac OS

Installation and configuration of IBM peripherals and components; maintenance and some troubleshooting of network laser printers; use of some network programs.

Fortran 77 and 90, C++, html

Refereed Publications

Prater, B.E., and J.L. Evans, 2002: Sensitivity of modeled tropical cyclone track and structure of Hurricane Irene (1999) to the convective parameterization scheme. Meteor. Atmos. Physics, 80, 103-115.

Non-Refereed Publications

Prater, B.E., 2002: Sensitivity of modeled tropical cyclone track and structure of Hurricane Irene (1999) to the convective parameterization scheme. Preprints of the 25th Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, San Diego, CA, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 440-441.

Tobey, B.E., 2000: The Relationship between spread and skill in an ensemble Forecast. Oklahoma Weather Center Research Experiences for Undergraduates 1999, 197-210.

Graduate Activities and Awards

AMS/NASA's Earth Science Enterprise Graduate Fellowship, 2000-01
NASA/Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium Fellowship, 2000-01
American Meteorological Society, Student Member, 1999-present
Chi Epsilon Pi Meteorology Honorary, 2000-present: Secretary/Historian (2001-02)

Undergraduate Activities and Awards

Mid-Michigan Meteorological Society, 1998-2000: Vice President (1999), Student Government Association Representative (2000), Member of the Year (1998)
Sigma Alpha Iota, International Music Fraternity for Women, 1996-present (continued membership as alumnae): Vice President of Membership (1997-98), Recording Secretary (1998-99), Vice President of Ritual (2000), Webmaster (1997-2000), Sister of the Month (March 1998, April 2000)
Student Government Association, 2000: Webmaster (2000), Teaching Standards Survey Committee Member of the Year (1999-2000)
Student representative, CMU College of Science and Technology Curriculum Committee
Gamma Theta Upsilon Geography Honorary
Golden Key National Honor Society

Undergraduate Scholarships and Academic Honors

Centralis Scholar, 1995-1999
Robert C. Byrd Scholarship, 1995-1999
Denzil E. Thornthwaite Memorial Scholarship, 1999-2000
Dean's List-- 5 semesters - semester GPA 3.5 or greater
President's List-- 4 semesters - semester GPA 4.0