UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — There’s no certainty in predicting the weather. But one thing is certain: Penn State’s commitment to gathering historic weather data.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) recently honored Penn State's weather data center — now housed next to the Walker Building, which is home to the Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science — as a 100-year weather/climate monitoring site.
Penn State has gathered data since 1882, but WMO only recently began awarding the 100-year distinction.
William Syrett, an associate teaching professor in meteorology at Penn State, has been responsible for the data for the past 28 years. He said it’s an honor to be lauded for a commitment to data that’s among the fundamental building blocks for climate science. Syrett said the data needs to be accurate and continuous in order to validate climate science.
“To be associated with something known as the gold standard in observing sites is humbling,” Syrett said. “I’m honored to be a part of that. It’s a small part, because there are just so many people knowledgeable about the weather here to make sure that this site is the gold standard.”
Members of the National Weather Service (NWS) including Chris Stachelski, regional cooperative observing and climate services program manager for the NWS Eastern Region in Bohemia, New York, and meteorologist Aaron Tyburski presented the award in Penn State's Joel N. Myers Weather Center. Syrett, joined by members of the weather team, accepted the award. Previous Penn State weather station managers Jon Merritt and Fred Gadomski, as well as the former and present state climatologists, Paul Knight and Kyle Imhoff, also attended.
Stachelski said Penn State was honored for its service to weather data but also for its dedication to producing meteorologists.
“Penn State has had a long-term commitment to this program, and I would argue this is the most prominent cooperative weather observing site in the commonwealth,” Stachelski said. “It’s a dedicated site, but it’s also the cornerstone for so many meteorologists over the years. And just based on the commitment for that, I really thought Penn State was really due to get recognized for its work in support of the observing program, in addition to all the other support that this program has done for meteorology.”
Catch a feature of the award presentation on Sept. 28 on Penn State's daily "Weather World” program.