WKU Begins Operation Of
Advanced Meteorological Model

April 12, 2004

Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University's Department of Geography and Geology has added another advanced forecasting tool to its meteorology and climatology program.

Western is the first university in Kentucky, and one of the few across the nation, to operate the advanced Mesoscale Meteorological Model (MM5). The model is used by the National Weather Service for operational forecasting and is widely used for research.

Dr. Rezaul Mahmood, who oversees the MM5, says that "grants from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a Perkins Grant, and support from the Kentucky Climate Center (directed by Dr. Stuart Foster) and the College Heights Weather Station (directed by Dr. Michael Trapasso) allowed us to purchase and install the MM5."

The MM5 system will open up opportunities for research collaboration with the National Weather Service. The model also will be used in the classroom and for research activities to provide hands-on experience for meteorology and climatology students.

"The advanced analytical capabilities made possible by the MM5 provide our students with data-collecting and analysis capabilities unparalleled in the state and demonstrate once again our commitment to providing students with the best possible educational experience, supported by state-of-the-art equipment, computers, and modeling capabilities," said Dr. David Keeling, head of the Department of Geography and Geology.

For more information, contact Dr. Rezaul Mahmood at (270) 745-5979. More WKU news is available on the World Wide Web at www.wku.edu. If you'd like to receive WKU news via E-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.

-WKU-