Patricia Parker, PhD, CCM
Personal Profile
Patricia Parker has 15 years of experience in researching and analyzing past weather events. She received her B.S. in Meteorology from Millersville University and M.S. and Ph.D. in Geography and Climatology from the University of Delaware. She has loved weather since she was a kid, even naming her childhood pet Nimbus after her favorite cloud type. Her skill in presenting scientific information to non-scientists is rooted in her joy of sharing her passion for weather with others.
Since 2021, Patricia has held the Certified Consulting Meteorology (CCM) designation from the American Meteorological Society (AMS). The CCM designation is granted by AMS only to those who demonstrate a broad background in meteorology together with a detailed knowledge in a particular field of specialization. CCMs must demonstrate exemplary knowledge, skills, and character and are considered experts in the application of weather information to practical challenges. The CCM designation allows clients to select consultants with a greater confidence in the quality and reliability of the services they will receive.
Education
2013-2017
University of Delaware
Doctor of Philosophy in Climatology
Dissertation: Impacts of irrigation on land-atmosphere interactions in high-resolution model simulations
2010-2013
University of Delaware
Master of Science in Geography
Thesis: Simulating the impacts of the St. Louis urban center on mesoscale convective systems using the Weather Research and Forecasting model
2006-2010
Millersville University
Bachelor of Science in Meteorology
Minor in Mathematics
Relevant Professional Experience
2020 - Present
Assistant Research Scientist
University of Maryland, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC) & NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
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Conducted case study analysis of past weather events using observations and the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model
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Led and collaborated on research studies using NASA remote sensing data and models to better understand weather, climate, and the Earth system.
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Presented scientific information to diverse audiences, including briefing congressional staffers on NASA data for monitoring water resources and appearing on national television as subject matter expert to discuss NASA’s 2022 global temperature update
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Selected to serve on an international panel associated with the Global Water and Energy Cycle Exchanges (GEWEX) project, an activity of the World Meteorological Organization.
2017-2020
Postdoctoral Research Associate
University of Maryland ESSIC & NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
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Provided scientific and technical support to NASA GSFC’s Hydrological Science Laboratory
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Led and collaborated on projects related to urban impacts on weather, vegetation’s role in flash drought, irrigation effects on weather and heat stress, land surface model calibration, and the impacts of wet soils on landfalling tropical cyclones
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Conducted analysis of satellite remote sensing data (e.g., surface soil moisture, land surface temperature)
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Completed and analyzed model simulations using land surface and atmospheric models (e.g., NoahMP, WRF, NASA’s Land Information System, NASA’s Unified WRF).