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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)
Research Topic: Understanding the energy balance during different types of snowmelt events across the Northern Hemisphere
M.S. Geoscience (In Progress)
M.S. Climate Change (2025)
B.S. Meteorology (2017)
Research Topic: 21st-century projections of variations in the atmospheric environments causing extreme precipitation
Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate Students
Carly Crockett
Carly Crockett
B.S., Meteorology (In Progress)
Minor in Agriculture
Certifications in Geographic Information System & Emergency Management Disaster Science (IP)
Research Topic: Natural disasters in Kentucky
B.S., Meteorology (In Progress)
Certification Emergency Management
Disaster Science (IP)
Research Topic: Snowfall phenology and snow-to-liquid ratios
Zach Fuquay
Zach Fuquay
B.S., Meteorology (In Progress)
Certification Emergency Management
Disaster Science (IP)
Research Topic: Atmospheric and energetic conditions during snowmelt
Ryan Hiler
Ryan Hiler
B.S., Meteorology (In Progress)
Minor in Broadcasting
Research Topic: Atmospheric and energetic conditions during snowmelt
Preston Wells
Preston Wells
B.S., Meteorology (In Progress)
Certification in GIS (IP)
Research Topic: Rain-on-snow and snow cover ablation
Lab Alumni
Lab Alumni
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 & ESGS (2024)
Research Topic: Kentucky precipitation variability and atmospheric conditions
Where are they now? Enrolled in the Florida State University Atmospheric Sciences graduate program on an AMS Graduate Fellowship
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 (In Progress)
Research Topic: Snowfall variations in the central Great Plains
Where are they now? Still enrolled at WKU pursuing their undergraduate degree.
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.
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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