Jeff Kimpel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James F. "Jeff" Kimpel
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| Born | April 18, 1942 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
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| Died | February 22, 2020 (aged 77) |
| Education | Denison University (1964) University of Wisconsin–Madison (PhD, 1973) |
| Known for | Director of NSSL |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Meteorology |
| Institutions | University of Oklahoma (OU); National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) |
| Influences | Edwin Kessler |
James F. "Jeff" Kimpel (born April 18, 1942 – died February 22, 2020) was an American scientist. He studied weather, especially severe storms. He held important leadership roles at the University of Oklahoma (OU) and was the director of the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jeff Kimpel was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He went to Denison University and earned a degree in psychology in 1964. After college, he served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was recognized for his service with a special award called the Bronze Star Medal.
After his military service, Kimpel continued his education. He went to the University of Wisconsin–Madison. There, he earned his Ph.D. in meteorology in 1973. Meteorology is the study of Earth's atmosphere and weather.
Career at the University of Oklahoma
In 1973, Jeff Kimpel joined the faculty at the University of Oklahoma (OU). He quickly became a leader in the field. In 1981, he was named the director of the School of Meteorology. This school teaches students about weather and climate.
Later, in 1987, he became the dean of the College of Geosciences. A dean is a senior leader in a university. He also served as a senior vice president for the university. In 1992, he became the provost of the Norman campus. A provost is a very high-ranking academic officer.
Leading the National Severe Storms Laboratory
From 1997 to 2010, Jeff Kimpel was the third director of the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL). NSSL is a famous research center. It focuses on understanding and predicting severe weather like tornadoes and thunderstorms.
During his time at NSSL, Kimpel oversaw many important projects. He helped develop a special weather radar called the Hazardous Testbed. He also worked on phased array Doppler radar. These advanced radars help scientists see storms more clearly. This helps forecasters warn people about dangerous weather.
Kimpel was also known for bringing different groups together. His efforts led to the creation of the National Weather Center (NWC). The NWC is a large building in Oklahoma. It brings together many weather-related organizations. This helps them work together to improve weather forecasting and research.
Awards and Recognition
Jeff Kimpel was highly respected in the weather community. In 1989, he was elected as a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society (AMS). This is a special honor for scientists who have made big contributions to meteorology. In 2000, he became the president of the AMS.
He also served on important boards and committees. These included the Board of Trustees for the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). He also advised the National Science Foundation (NSF) on atmospheric sciences.
Retirement and Legacy
Jeff Kimpel retired from NSSL in 2010. He passed away on February 22, 2020. His work greatly improved how we understand and predict severe storms. He helped make people safer from dangerous weather.
See also
- David Atlas
- Donald W. Burgess
- Leslie R. Lemon
- Roger Lhermitte
