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Investigating the Role of Atmospheric and Climatic Variability in High-Impact Events
The Climate Research Lab (CRL) is led by Dr. Zachary Suriano in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences at Western Kentucky University. As a research group, we investigate high-impact meteorological and hydrological phenomena from climatological and geographic perspectives, creating a greater understanding of the climate system. Primary research interests include evaluating the role of atmospheric circulation in forcing hydroclimatic variability in regional climates and assessing the impact hydroclimatic variability has on people and the environment.
CRL Research Team
CRL Research Team
Dr. Zachary J. Suriano
Dr. Zachary J. Suriano
Associate Professor
Assistant Kentucky State Climatologist
Department of Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences
Western Kentucky University
Ph.D., Climatology, University of Delaware
M.S., Geography, University of Delaware
B.S., Environmental Science, University of Notre Dame
Graduate Students
Graduate Students
M.S. Geoscience (In Progress)
B.S. Civil Engineering (2025)
Thesis Topic: Compound hydrologic extremes within the Salt River Basin of Kentucky, USA
Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate Students
Jason Capouch
Jason Capouch
B.S., Meteorology (In Progress)
B.S., Disaster Science (In Progress)
Certification Emergency Management
Disaster Science
Research Topic: Intra-diurnal energetic conditions of rain-on-snow and snow cover ablation
Carly (Crockett) Neal
Carly (Crockett) Neal
B.S., Elementary Education (In Progress)
Certifications in Geographic Information System & Emergency Management Disaster Science
Research Topic: Natural disasters in Kentucky
Zach Fuquay
Zach Fuquay
B.S., Meteorology (In Progress)
Certification Emergency Management
Disaster Science
Research Topic: Atmospheric drivers of rain-on-snow and snow cover ablation
Jonah Hall
Jonah Hall
B.S., Meteorology (In Progress)
Certifications in Geographic Information System & Emergency Management Disaster Science
Research Topic: Variations and trend in mid-latitude cryospheric conditions
Ryan Hiler
Ryan Hiler
B.S., Meteorology (In Progress)
Minor in Broadcasting
Certification Emergency Management
Disaster Science
Research Topic: Rain-on-snow and snow cover ablation circulation, energetics, and trends
Caleb Parnell
Caleb Parnell
B.S., Meteorology (In Progress)
Minor in Computer Science
Research Topic: Hydroclimatic variability in the central US
Preston Wells
Preston Wells
B.S., Meteorology (In Progress)
Certification in GIS (IP)
Research Topic: Snowpack depletions during rain-on-snow and snow cover ablation and the role of precipitation variations and trends
Kaity Zirkelbach
Kaity Zirkelbach
B.S., Meteorology (In Progress)
Research Topic: Education and operationalization of weather data for the K-6 classroom
Lab Alumni
Lab Alumni
B.S., Meteorology & ESGS (2024)
Research Topic: Kentucky precipitation variability and atmospheric conditions
Where are they now? Salt Lake City, UT NWS Office
M.S., Geoscience (2025)
B.S., Meteorology (2023)
Thesis Research: Rain-on-snow Climatology and Hydrological Impacts in the Connecticut River Watershed
Where are they now? Employed by the State of Florida as a GIS technician
B.S., Meteorology (2025)
Research Topic: Synoptic climatology of central US snowfall
Where are they now? Enrolled in the M.S. HSS degree program at WKU on a research assistantship.
Charlie Loewy
Charlie Loewy
B.S., ESGS (2026)
Research Topic: Snowfall variations in the central Great Plains
B.S., Meteorology (2026)
Research Topic: Snowfall phenology
Where are they now? At the ORNL focused on the intersection of emergency management and meteorology.
CRL Facilities
CRL Facilities
We are located on the third floor of the Environmental Science & Technology (EST) building. The lab maintains a suite of high-end computational workstations equipped with hardware and software for efficient processing of large climatic datasets and running short model simulations. This includes MAC-, PC-, and Linux-based systems. The CRL also maintains a variety of snow observational equipment deployed locally during the winter.
Contact Information
Contact Information
Dr. Zachary Suriano
Department of Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences
Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd.
Bowling Green, KY 42101, USA
Office: EST 428, Phone: 270-745-4216, Email: zachary.suriano@wku.edu
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