Alan Moller facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Al Moller
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| Born | February 1, 1950 Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
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| Died | June 19, 2014 (aged 64) Ft. Worth, Texas, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Oklahoma |
| Known for | Storm spotter training, weather forecasting, photography |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Meteorology |
| Institutions | National Weather Service |
| Thesis | The Climatology and Synoptic Meteorology of Southern Plains' Tornado Outbreaks (1979) |
| Influences | Rex Inman, Yoshikazu Sasaki, Ken Crawford, Charles A. Doswell III, Ron Przybylinski, Harold E. Brooks, Galen Rowell |
| Influenced | Charles A. Doswell III, Roger Edwards |
Alan Roger Moller (born February 1, 1950 – died June 19, 2014) was an American weather expert, storm chaser, and photographer. He was famous for teaching people how to spot storms. He also helped connect everyday weather forecasting with scientific research.
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Growing Up and Learning About Weather
Al Moller was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 1, 1950. He grew up in Fort Worth and went to high school there. He loved learning about weather.
He studied meteorology (the science of weather) at the University of Oklahoma. He earned two degrees there in the late 1960s and early 1970s. After finishing his studies, he became a weather forecaster. He worked for the National Weather Service (NWS).
Helping People Spot Storms
Al Moller played a big part in creating the national Skywarn program. This program trains volunteers to spot severe weather like tornadoes. He helped make a training film called Tornadoes: A Spotter's Guide (1977). He also worked on a video called Storm Watch (1995). He even provided some of the amazing photos for these films.
Moller helped create the idea of an "integrated warning system." This system brings together different ways to warn people about storms. He trained many storm spotters in North Texas. He also traveled around the country to teach others. He was an amateur radio operator himself. He really valued the helpful information that amateur radio users shared during storms.
Chasing Storms for Science
Moller believed that storm chasing was very important. It helped forecasters and trainers understand storms better. He thought chasing storms was a great way to get pictures and videos. These images could then be used to teach people about storms and how to stay safe.
He loved taking photos of storms and skies. He also became a well-known nature and landscape photographer. Moller started chasing storms when he was a student. He was part of the first organized scientific storm chasing projects. These projects, like the NSSL/OU Tornado Intercept Project, began in the early 1970s. He also worked as a forecaster for Project VORTEX in 1994–1995. This was a big research project about tornadoes.
Moller shared his knowledge in many ways. He wrote for Storm Track magazine. He also wrote or helped write many scientific articles and papers. He was a respected member of the American Meteorological Society (AMS). The Texas Severe Storms Association (TESSA) honored him when he retired. They also created a scholarship in his name. It's called the Alan R. Moller Severe Weather Education and Research Scholarship.
Later Life
Al Moller developed a serious illness called early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He passed away on June 19, 2014, when he was 64 years old.
Outside of his work, Moller had many hobbies. He enjoyed drag racing and fast cars. He also liked baseball, traveling, western art, barbecue, and blues music.
Images for kids
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Al Moller
