Tribute to Allen Weber

by Matt Parker

May 19, 2005

As you can see, I am wearing my red NC State shirt today. I went to State, but I came to SRNL because of Allen Weber’s ties to NCSU. Allen officially retired from SRNL yesterday, and I wanted to take this opportunity to talk about him. I could try to highlight Allen’s career, but I would undoubtedly miss many of the details, and I hope that Allen will provide a presentation to the Palmetto Chapter on his career some day. Allen has had a very interesting career indeed.

Here are some of the highlights that I learned from Allen Weber during my professional career. Allen is my mentor and friend and, as I said, is the reason why I work at SRNL today. His ties to NC State were used to allow me to become involved in tracer studies back in the 1980s.

Practical applications of science

When I was a visiting graduate student at SRL (predecessor to today’s SRNL), a vendor was “allowed” to demonstrate their plume modeling wares. I say “allowed” because SRL had created its own plume modeling system, and there was really no way another system would even be considered for use at SRL. Anyway, during the demo, the staff of meteorologists (and the lowly graduate student) was asking questions about the software, etc. At this time in my college career, I was fully immersed in learning about atmospheric boundary layer theories and processes, so I was keenly interested in posing “smart” questions to the vendor. Well, Allen cut to the chase by asking, “What about the stable boundary layer?”. Of course! The stable boundary layer-----why didn’t I ask that? Every boundary layer meteorologist knows that the stable boundary layer is the hardest to model accurately. Allen’s pointed question was a real eye-opener for me---made me think about applying my book knowledge to a practical application.

Another example of an intriguing application that Allen pursued was related to the forecasting of wind gusts for SRS customers. Many site operations are wind sensitive and cannot be conducted if wind gusts pass certain thresholds. Well, Allen analyzed many years of SRNL’s surface wind observations and found that the maximum wind gust during a fifteen minute period was approximately a factor of two greater than the mean value. What a handy forecasting tool! If you expect the mean 15 minute wind to be 5 mph, then the gust value can be predicted to be about 10 mph. Another great example of a practical application of science by Allen Weber.

Networking

Allen taught me to get on the phone and talk with the experts. Allen would call Howard Bluestein at OU, or Bill Snyder at the EPA, Joe Schaefer at the SPC, or anybody for that matter if he needed an answer to a question. Didn’t matter who they were. These days, I highly value my networking activities, and I can directly trace this to Allen’s influence.

Thoroughness

More data! That’s Allen contention in all cases. What other data sources are available? We need to find them and analyze the additional “numbers” to see whether our thoughts and theories are correct. This applies even to a heavily instrumented place like the SRS. More often than not, these types of additional data analyses would lead to new trains of thought or to confirmation of our previous results.

Communications

Allen always treated me with respect---as an equal. Allen always encouraged constant dialogue with customers. You can never know too much about the customer’s needs. It doesn’t make any sense to make assumptions on behalf of the customer-----talk with them to learn what they need.

Allen is also complimentary but in a non-sugarcoated way. For example, recently, I told Allen that a lot of my site customers were calling for information and/or guidance. Allen said, “That’s because they respect your opinion” or something to that effect. That’s the kind of subtle compliment that can really make your day.

AMS

Back in the mid-1990s when I was considering pursuing my CCM, I had to only look to my colleague for guidance. Allen received his CCM designation in 1974, and he encouraged me to pursue mine. In 1997, I was awarded my CCM designation, and can credit Allen with strong support in this effort.

As many folks may know, Allen was the person that suggested that the Palmetto Chapter hold an annual Mini-Technical Conference. As we now know, after having 10 such events, this has been a great success for our Chapter and to meteorology/climatology in the State of South Carolina. We are fortunate to have this event on a continuing basis.

Allen, it has been a pleasure working with you during my career! I am sad to see you leave SRNL, but I am happy for you. You deserve all the happiness that retirement can bring. The good thing is that you are an officer with PAMS, so we know that you will remain active in the weather field in South Carolina!