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Jason Senkbeil

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Bio Summary
01/21
Jason C. Senkbeil
University of Alabama
Department of Geography
Box 870322
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
jcsenkbeil@ua.edu
205-348-4942 (office)
205-348-2278 (fax)
​
Education
 
2007 Ph.D. Geography, Kent State University
 
Dissertation:  The Spatial and Temporal Role of Irrigation on Daily Warm Season Precipitation in the Great Plains 1950 - 2005.
Cognate Field:  Geology
Advisor:  Dr. Scott C. Sheridan
 
2003 M.S. Geosciences, Mississippi State University
 
Thesis:  The Sensitivity of Tree Growth to ENSO and Climatic Variables in Coastal Alabama.
Concentration:  Operational Meteorology
Advisor:  Dr. John C. Rodgers III
 
2000 Secondary Teacher Certification, University of Texas at Austin
           
1998 B.S. Geography, University of South Alabama
            Minor:  Geology

Funded Grants and Contracts
Role:  CO-PI
Sherman-Morris K. and J.C. Senkbeil, 2019-2021   
Award # NA19OAR4590219:  Geospatial Threat Personalization and its Influence on Warning Risk Perception and Protective Actions. Office of Weather and Air Quality, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Vortex SE Program
$57,612 (UA)

Role:  CO-PI
Senkbeil J.C., K. Sherman-Morris, D. Griffin, 2017 - 2019    
Award # NA17OAR4590199:  Improving Accessibility and Comprehension of Tornado Warnings for the Deaf, Blind, and Deaf-Blind.  Office of Weather and Air Quality, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Vortex SE Program
$146,915 (UA) $115,000 (MSU) 
 
Role:  CO-PI
Senkbeil J.C., J.M. Collins, R. Ersing.  2017-2018    
NSF RAPID # 1760235:  Social and Geophysical Influences on Evacuation Decision Making for Hurricane Irma.  Geography and Spatial Sciences Program, National Science Foundation
$39,111 
 
Senkbeil J.C.  2013  URS Corp. Hurricane Sandy MAT Technical Support.  end December 1st 2013 (Contract)
 
Role:  PI
Senkbeil J.C. and D.M. Brommer.  2011
NSF RAPID # 113894:  Tornado Hazard Perception and Warning Communication Prior to the 4/27/11 Tuscaloosa Tornado.  Geography and Spatial Sciences Program, National Science Foundation
$35,041 
 
Senkbeil J.C.  2011  URS Corp. Alabama and Missouri MAT Technical Support.  end July 1st 2012 (Contract)
 
Senkbeil J.C.  2011  URS Corp. Joplin, Mo Tornado Mitigation Assessment Team.  end June 1st  2012 (Contract)    
 
Senkbeil J.C.  2011  URS Corp. Alabama Tornado Mitigation Assessment Team.  end May 13th 2012 (Contract)    
. 
Senkbeil J.C.  2011  URS Corp. Alabama Tornado Pre Mitigation Assessment Team.  end May 1st 2012 (Contract)
 
Senkbeil J.C. 2011  URS Corp.  K-12 Severe Weather Policy end May 13th 2012  (Contract)    
 
Role:  PI  (Internal)
Senkbeil J.C.  2011
University of Alabama RGC:   Assessing Hurricane Hazard Perception in the United States.  May 2011 – May 2013
$4,500
 
Role: CO-PI
Brommer D.M., J.C. Senkbeil, P.G. Dixon, M.E. Brown, and K Sherman-Morris, 2008
NSF SGER # 0852549 :  Primary Meteorological Variables Influencing Hurricane Evacuation Decisions:  A Case Study of Hurricane Gustav.  Geography and Regional Science Program, National Science Foundation, 1 September 2008 – 1 September 2010.  $5,780 
 
Role: CO-PI
Brown M.E., P.G. Dixon, K Sherman-Morris, J.C. Senkbeil, D.M. Brommer, 2008
GRI:  Meteorological Variables Responsible for Personal Evacuation Decisions.  Geospatial Resources Institute, 1 September 2008 – December 2008 . $2,200 
 
Senkbeil J.C., 2006-2007
The Spatiotemporal Role of Irrigation on Warm Season Precipitation in the Great Plains 1950 - 2005.  Dissertation Fellowship Grant, Kent State University.  $11,000
​
Invited Presentations/Discussions
2021 National Weather Association June Webinar Panelist. Improving Tornado Communication for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Audiences

2019  Georgia State University Colloquium Series. Improving the Communication of Severe Weather and Hurricane Forecasts.  April 18th, 2019.

2016 National Weather Association Central Alabama Chapter. Evaluating the predictive capability of a Tornado Watch Scale using past events.
 
2016 University of Alabama Colloquium Series.  Evaluating the predictive capability of a Tornado Watch Scale using past events.
 
2015 UA Center for Advanced Public Safety Lunch and Learn Speaker Series.  Ideas for Implementing a New Tornado Watch Scale.
 
2013  Alabama Museum of Natural History Science for the Public Series.  Tornado Hazards and Recommended Actions. 
 
2012  University of Alabama Colloquium Series.  Tornado hazard perception and preparedness:  Suggestions for improving warning communication and safety recommendations.  November 2nd, 2012.
 
2012  Footprints of Disaster:  A Symposium and Exhibition to Commemorate the April 2011 Tornado Tragedy:  Safe Shelter and Situational Awareness.  April 27th, 2012.
 
2012  Kent State University Colloquium Series.  Tornado hazard perception and preparedness:  Suggestions for improving warning communication and safety recommendations.  March 30th, 2012.
 
2011 National Weather Association Annual Conference, Birmingham, AL
Broadcast Meteorology Workshop
Shelter Seeking Plans of Tuscaloosa Residents for a Future Tornado Event
 
2011 Alabama Mining Institute Conference
Tuscaloosa, AL
Climatic Influences on Drought in Alabama
 
2008 Alabama Mining Institute Conference
Tuscaloosa, AL
Global Warming:  A Brief Objective Review of the Scientific Consensus
 
2008 University of Alabama
Department of Geography Colloquium Series
A Post Landfall Hurricane Classification System for the United States
 
2007  New College University of Alabama
Guest Panelist/Discussant for Chris Mooney’s Storm World. 
 
2005 Northeast Ohio Chapter of the American Meteorological Society.
Techniques and Methods of the Kent State University National Collegiate Weather Forecasting Team.
 
2003 Northeast Ohio Chapter of the American Meteorological Society.
A Review of the Events of Hurricane Isabel from Oriental, N.C.
 



Media Appearances
2020, USA Today 08/27/20. Record Setting Season Puts Coastal States at Risk of a Hurricane Landfall.
 
2019, CBS 42 Birmingham. Weather Wednesday. Improving Accessibility and Comprehension of Tornado Warnings for the Deaf and Deaf-Blind Community.
 
2019, CBS 42 Birmingham. Misconceptions About Damage Caused by Tropical Systems August 1st, 2019.

2019, CBS 42 Birmingham. How Safe is Your Safe Place? April 26th, 2019.

2018, NBC News. Panama City Bears Brunt of Michael’s Destructive Force. October 10th, 2018.
 
2018, Associated Press. Hurricane Rating System Fails to Account for Deadly Rain. September 18th, 2018.
 
2018, Forbes. Why Rainfall is Hurricane Florence’s Biggest Danger, Not Its Category. September 14th, 2018.
​
2018, June 1st National Public Radio (NPR). Lessons from Hurricane Irma: When to Evacuate and When to Shelter in Place

2017 Palm Beach Post.  2017 hurricane season was intense, deadly.  November 23rd, 2017.
 
2017 Scientific American https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/sa-visual/visualizing-uncertain-weather/
 
2016 AL.com http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2016/11/drought_means_a_stunningly_cle.html 
 
2016 Mashable.com http://mashable.com/2016/10/10/north-carolina-floods-hurricane-scale/#quO9FRLAyPqm
 
2016 Wired.com   https://www.wired.com/2016/07/150-mph-typhoon-winds-mean-disaster-right-well-not-necessarily/
 
2013 8 Year Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina- Fox 6 Birmingham August 28th, 2013
 
2013 Most Dangerous Tornado Cities- CBS 42 Birmingham April 30th, 2013. 
 
2012 Hurricane Sandy-  NBC 13 Birmingham October 30th, 2012.  Was the storm worse than expected?
 
2012 Hurricane Isaac-  Graduate students profiled in The New York Times, CBC, The Guardian, Yahoo, MSNBC, and also featured on The Weather Channel 
 
2012  WERC 105.5 radio Birmingham, AL.  Discussing The Footprints of Disaster Symposium of April 27th, 2012.  April 24th, 2012.
 
2012  Montgomery Advertiser Article,  Report:  State Lacks Climate Change Plan, Water Supply Could be Affected.  April 23rd, 2012 
 
2012  Discovering Alabama Series, Tuscaloosa, AL. Tornado Safety Public Service Announcement.   Alabama Public Television April 2012.
   
2012  Discovering Alabama Series, Tuscaloosa, AL.  Tornado.  A short documentary of the April 27th, 2011 event.  Alabama Public Television April 2012.
 
2011 Discovering Alabama Series, Tuscaloosa, AL.  The Events of April 27th, 2011.  Webinar streamed to Alabama high school students.  November 2011
 
2011 Birmingham News Article.  Tornado warnings too often ignored, National Weather Association hears in Hoover.  October 17th, 2011.
 
*2009+ – Current.  Numerous appearances on WVUA TV discussing seasonal weather, severe weather, hurricanes, environmental hazards, and climate change/variability.

Current and Past Students
Cooper Corey, B.S. Environmental Science University of West Florida
​
Kimberly Brothers, B.S. Geography University of Alabama
Thesis: Analyzing the Spatial Footprint of Notable Hurricanes

Jake Reed, B.S. Geosciences Mississippi State University
Thesis: Public Perception and Comprehension of the Extended Forecast Graphic in Television Weather Broadcasts.

Walker Skeeter, B.S. Geography Salisbury State University
Thesis:  Surface and Synoptic Conditions Associated with Extreme Rainfall Events in the SE USA.
 
Shaikh Abdullah Al Rifat, B.S. Urban and Rural Planning Khulna University Bangladesh
Thesis:  Factors Influencing Inland Property Damage from Gulf of Mexico Tropical Cyclones
 
Michelle Saunders, B.S. Geography Salisbury State University
Thesis:  Perceptions of Hurricane Hazards in the Mid-Atlantic Region
 
Morgan Willis (Terry), B.S. Geography University of Alabama, M.S. Geography University of Alabama
Thesis:  Lightning and Storm Mode in Northern and Central Alabama
 
Meganne Rockman, B.A. Geography University of Alabama, M.S. Geography University of Alabama
Thesis:  The Role of Hurricane Track and Intensity on Evacuation Decision Making of Pensacola, FL Residents
 
Jonathan Mason, B.S. Geography University of Alabama, M.S. Geography University of Alabama
Thesis:  Proposing a Tornado Watch Scale.

Courtney Stokes (Thompson), B.A.  Telecommunications and Film University of Alabama, M.S. Geography University of Alabama
Thesis:  The Influence of Social Media and Other Modes of Communication Before and After the Tuscaloosa Tornado.  
 
Jaclyn Brown, B.S. Environmental Science University of Alabama, M.S. Geography University of Alabama
Currently:  GIS technician Garmin Kansas City, Mo
(Non-Thesis)
 
Cory Rhodes, B.S. Geography University of South Alabama, M.S. Geography University of Alabama
Thesis: Characteristics of Tornadoes Associated with Land-Falling Gulf Coast Tropical Cyclones.  

Laura Radford, B.S. Geography University of Alabama.  M.S. Geography University of Alabama
Thesis:  New Tropical Cyclone Warning Graphics:  Preferences, Comments, and Suggestions.  Defended March 9th, 2012

Ian Comstock, B.S. Geography Indiana State University.  M.S. Geography University of Alabama
Thesis:  A classification scheme for landfalling tropical cyclones based on precipitation variables derived from GIS and ground radar analysis.  

Current and Past Professional Memberships
Association of American Geographers
Climate Specialty Group and Hazards Specialty Group
Southeastern Division Association of American Geographers
American Meteorological Society

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