Spatially distributed atmospheric boundary layer properties in Houston – A value-added observational dataset

Dr. Petra Klein

Professor, Executive Associate Dean

Michelle R. Spencer

Ph.D. Student

I started my PhD journey here at OU as a graduate research assistant in January 2022. My work includes investigating boundary layer interactions around Houston, TX and how the sea-breeze and air pollution may affect convection initiation surrounding the city. I focus on ground-based boundary layer profiler observations. Prior to OU, I received my M.S. in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where I focused on a modeling study investigating forecast uncertainty in high-shear low-CAPE environments in the southeastern United States relating to sea-surface temperature sensitivities. I earned my B.S. in Meteorology from the Metropolitan State University of Denver in December 2019.

Dr. Elizabeth N. Smith

Research Meteorologist

Elizabeth joined NSSL as a research meteorologist in January 2020, where she focuses on boundary-layer processes relevant to near- and pre-storm environments and convection initiation.

Dr. Joshua G. Gebauer

Research Scientist

Dr. Tyler M. Bell

Assistant Professor

Dr. Tyler Bell is an Assistant Professor in the School of Meteorology and School of Aviation at the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Bell earned his B.S. (2016), M.S. (2018), and Ph.D. (2021) in Meteorology from the University of Oklahoma. Prior to joining the faculty in Fall 2025, he served as a Research Scientist at the Cooperative Institute for High-Impact Weather Research and Operations from 2020 to 2025.

Lydia Bunting

Research Associate

I joined CIWRO as a research associate in July 2022, where I assist study of the atmospheric boundary layer through processing, analyzing, and organizing data collected by the instruments contained in the Collaborative Lower Atmospheric Mobile Profiling System (CLAMPS).