Dr. Andrew Mercer is a meteorologist whose previous research has involved using artificial intelligence and advanced statistics to model weather phenomena.  He used advanced resampling statistics techniques to compare and contrast the dynamics of synoptic storms that occur over the three primary synoptic storm tracks.  Andrew’s Ph.D. research involved the classification of tornado outbreaks from non-tornadic outbreaks using statistics and artificial intelligence methods, particularly support vector machines.  He also utilized statistical analysis techniques to create synoptic composites of each severe weather outbreak type.  His current research interests lie in the integration of artificial intelligence into all facets of the geosciences. 

When not at work, Andrew enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, playing basketball, and working with computers.  He is also a big fan of the Utah Jazz and the Oklahoma Sooners.  He has done a little storm chasing while in Oklahoma and hopes to return to chase again someday.

Education

Ph.D.  (Meteorology), The University of Oklahoma, 2008

M.S.  (Meteorology), The University of Oklahoma , 2005

B.S.  (Meteorology), The University of Oklahoma, 2002

Experience

Present, Assistant Professor of Meteorology – Mississippi State University

January 2003 – April 2009 – Research Assistant, Cooperative Institute of Mesoscale Meteorological Studies – Norman, OK

May 2009 – July 2009 – Lecturer,  School of Meteorology – Norman, OK

June 2008 – December 2008 – Adjunct Instructor, Dept. of Science and Engineering – Oklahoma State University – Oklahoma City, OK

December 2003 – February 2008 – Forecaster/Assistant Shift Supervisor – Weatherbank, Inc. -  Edmond, OK

August 2002 – May 2003 – Teaching Assistant, School of Meteorology – Norman, OK

Refereed Publications

Shafer, C. M., A. E. Mercer, M. B. Richman, L. M. Leslie, and C. A. Doswell, 2012:  An Assessment of Areal Coverage of Severe Weather Parameters for Severe Weather Outbreak Diagnosis.  Wea. Forecasting, 27, 809-831.  [Abstract]

Mercer, A. E., C. M. Shafer, C. A. Doswell, L. M. Leslie, and M. B. Richman, 2012:  Synoptic composites of tornadic and nontornadic outbreaks.  Monthly Weather Review, 140, 2590-2608.  [Abstract] [Featured on ScienceNews website]

Dixon, P. G., and A. E. Mercer, 2012: Reply to “Comments on ‘Tornado Risk Analysis: Is Dixie Alley an Extension of Tornado Alley?’” Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 93, 408–410. [Abstract]

Mercer, A. E., L. M. Leslie, and M. B. Richman, 2011:  Identification of severe weather outbreaks using kernel principal component analysis.  Complex Adaptive Systems Conference, Chicago, IL, Procedia Comp. Sci., 231-236.

Dixon, P. G., A. E. Mercer, J. Choi, and J. S. Allen, 2011: Tornado Risk Analysis: Is Dixie Alley an extension of Tornado Alley? Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 92, 433–441. [Abstract][Featured in several national and international media outlets]

Shafer, C. M., Mercer, A. E., Leslie, L. M., Richman, M. B., and C. A. Doswell, 2010:  Evaluation of WRF model simulations of tornadic and nontornadic outbreaks occurring in the spring and fall. Monthly Weather Review, 138, 4098-4119. [Abstract]

Mercer, A. E., C. M. Shafer, C. A. Doswell, M. B. Richman, and L. M. Leslie, 2009:  Objective classification of tornadic and non-tornadic severe weather outbreaks.  Mon. Wea. Rev., 137, 4355–4368. [Abstract] [Featured in the "Papers of Note" section of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.]

Shafer, C. M., A. E. Mercer, C. A. Doswell, M. B. Richman, and L. M. Leslie, 2009:  Evaluation of tornadic and nontornadic outbreaks when initialized with synoptic scale input.  Mon. Wea. Rev., 137, 1250-1271.

Mercer A. E., M. B. Richman, H. B. Bluestein, and J. M. Brown, 2008: Statistical modeling of downslope windstorms in Boulder, Colorado. Wea. Forecasting: 23, 1176-1194.

Mercer, A. E., and M. B. Richman, 2007:  Statistical differences of quasigeostrophic variables, stability, and moisture profiles in North American storm tracks.  Mon. Wea. Rev., 135, 2312-2338.

Other Publications

Richman, M.B. and A.E. Mercer, 2012: Identification of intraseasonal modes of variability using rotated principal components. Chapter 12. Atmospheric Model Applications, I. Yucel, Ed., Intech, 273-296. [PDF]

Top 5 Conference Presentations

Mercer, A. E., C. M. Shafer, C. A. Doswell, L. M. Leslie, and M. B. Richman, 2008:  Composites of tornadic and non-tornadic severe weather outbreaks.  19th Conference on Probability and Statistics, AMS Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana. (poster)

Mercer, A. E., C. M. Shafer, C. A. Doswell, L. M. Leslie, and M. B. Richman, 2008:  Statistical modeling of tornadic and non-tornadic severe weather outbreaks.  19th Conference on Probability and Statistics and 6th Conference on Artificial Intelligence Applications to Environmental Science, AMS Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana. (oral)

Mercer, A. E., M. B. Richman, H. B. Bluestein, and J. M. Brown, 2008:  Application of statistical models to Boulder windstorm prediction.  13^th Conference on Mountain Meteorology, Whistler, British Columbia. (oral)

Mercer, A. E., C. M. Shafer, C. A. Doswell, L. M. Leslie, and M. B. Richman, 2008:  Composite analysis of severe weather outbreaks.  24th Conference on Severe and Local Storms, Savannah, Georgia. (poster)

Mercer, A. E., C. M. Shafer, C. A. Doswell, L. M. Leslie, and M. B. Richman, 2007:  A principal component analysis of tornado outbreaks.  23rd Conference on IIPS, AMS Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas. (oral)