Weather Nut
Research
meteorologist at Forrestal Campus is volunteer weather spotter
By Rosemary Gohd, The Princeton Packet Staff Writer, May 22, 1990
Reproduced from The Princeton Packet, May 22, 1990, LifeStyles Section: pages 13A and 16A.
Ron Stouffer checks the weather about as often as he brushes his teeth. Every morning he looks at his backyard rain gauge and at night he notes the day's temperatures readings. The Hamilton Square resident keeps a Compu-temp 5 digital temperature sensor on a nightstand by his bed. It looks like a small clock radio and records the maximum and minimum temperatures of each day. Before laying down to sleep, he inputs data of the day's weather in his home computer. The information is later sent to the Philadelphia office of the National Weather Service (NWS).
Mr. Stouffer receives no pay for this work. He does it for fun.
CALLING HIMSELF a “weather nut”. Mr. Stouffer earns a living as a research meteorologist at Forrestal campus in Plainsboro. He works in the climate studies research group in the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory of the U. S. Department of Commerce.
His work is chiefly related to understanding the climate, specifically the “greenhouse effect”. Dr. Syukuro Manabe of Princeton, who is internationally recognized in the field, leads the group.
Results of research by Mr. Stouffer and the group have been published in various trade publications and publicized in well-known magazines including “Newsweek” and “Time”.
Understanding the mysteries of “God’s creations” so intrigues Mr. Stouffer that he volunteers his expertise on his own time to the NWS. The 36-year-old is a volunteer weather spotter and coordinator of other weather spotters in Mercer County. The group includes his 12-year-old son, Matthew, wife Pat and father Jay.
A weather spotter can be any age. The only requirement is a love of the weather and attendance at a training seminar. The typical weather spotter is asked to call Mr. Stouffer or the NWS to report any unusual weather conditions in the area.
EIGHT YEARS AGO, a friend at the NWS told Mr. Stouffer Mercer County needed Spotters, so he volunteered. There are now literally hundreds of spotters in the county. The next training session is in the spring of 1991. Details typically are announced in local newspapers and on weather radios.
Since the region has fairly tame weather, Mr. Stouffer only gets about 50 phone calls a year from spotters. His job is to judge whether the caller is reporting anything truly significant. If so, Mr. Stouffer calls the NWS.
One of the most memorable calls came during a tornado. The spotter was crouching on the floor of his home as he reported strong winds pulling up trees outside the house. Skeptical. Mr. Stouffer asked the caller to go to the window and take a look.
When the caller complied, he reported seeing a large tree directly outside the window violently shaking. In the next breath it was gone, carried away by the wind, giving both men quite a fright.
There are also the less exciting, but equally memorable calls, such as the one from a frightened man who reported a simple dark cloud over Cranbury.
WHILE STORMS of any variety are easily the most exciting weather events, Mr. Stouffer enjoys every weather condition for its own beauty and power.
His enthusiasum is not self‑centered. He explains the weather at area elementary schools and shares his excitement with his family.
When a storm begins rumbling above, his wife and seven‑year‑old Laura run to the sofa ‑ not to hide under it, but to lean over the top and look out the picture window.
His office has a window, too, to watch weather by. A family man, Mr. Stouffer's tiny office barely has room to turn around in, yet is littered with family photographs and drawings by his children. An all-weather radio is within reach and a large computer dominates the metal desk.
Drinking water from a gray, plastic thermos on the desk, he says he does have other interests, such as jogging. Every day at lunch he keeps fit by running a slow and steady two or three miles around Forrestal Campus with his co-workers.
He also participates in a weekly, adult Bible study group at Windsor Chapel in Dutch neck and teaches Sunday School. When needed, he offers advice to church administrators on the use of their computer.
COMPUTER CONSULTING is a small sideline for him, but he gives the church advice for free. He is always willing to discuss things he enjoys., especially the weather.
“I tend to get caught up in it and bore people to death,” he says. “My wife has to thump me.”
Wind, rain and snow have always fascinated the meteorologist because of their natural beauty and mystery, he says. He entered Pennsylvania State University with the intention of becoming a weather broadcaster, but later the member of the Meteorological Honor Society learned to prefer research.
Not all of his college studies were in the classroom, and not all were sanctioned by the school.
While other alumni may fondly remember homecoming dances and football games, Mr. Stouffer recalls driving through the city and countryside at 90 miles an hour chasing thunderstorm clouds with his friends.
All lined up to watch natures storm show with
Mr. Stouffer are, from top, wife Pat, 12‑year‑old
Matthew, nine year old Becky, and seven‑year‑old Laura.
Ron Stouffer and his son Matthew check the
rain gauge in the family's backyard.
Staff photos‑Mark Czajkowski
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Written by : Ronald J Stouffer
Last Updated: 5/31/2002