Kevin Brinson
Assistant Research Professor and Delaware State Climatologist | University of Delaware
Newark, DE, UNITED STATES
Applied climatologist specializing in hydroclimatology, weather observation systems, and climate services.
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Biography
Kevin received a Bachelors in Atmospheric Science from the University of North Carolina at Asheville and has a Masters in Geography from the University of Delaware where he conducted research on precipitation variability. In his regular duties for DEOS, Kevin oversees the operation of a network of meteorological stations, including the support data systems for the network. Kevin assists the State Climatologist in disseminating climate data and information to the businesses and citizens of Delaware, as well as providing support and meteorological expertise to public officials during weather emergencies.
Industry Expertise (2)
Environmental Services
Education/Learning
Areas of Expertise (6)
Climate Data Analysis
Environmental Data Systems Management
Environmental Data Analysis
Operations
Applied Research
Budgeting and Fiscal Management
Media Appearances (6)
This won’t be Delaware’s wettest winter, but it will be close
Cape Gazette online
2024-03-08
With all the rain, I was curious just how wet this winter had been, so I reached out to Kevin Brinson, associate state climatologist and assistant research professor for the University of Delaware’s Department of Geography and Spatial Sciences. The short of it is, this winter – December, January, February – may not go down as the wettest winter period in the state’s history, but it won’t be far from it.
Real-time snow tracking helps DelDOT allocate resources, get homeowners reimbursed for plowing
Delaware First Media online
2024-01-19
Associate state climatologist and DEOS Director Kevin Brinson says the network has collected data for 15 years, tracking snow totals since the 2009-2010 winter season when the “Snowmageddon” brought 19.2 inches in early February 2010 and clocking an overall record total snowfall for the season.
Snow tracker
University of Delaware online
2024-01-18
Kevin Brinson, assistant research professor at UD in the Department of Geography and Spatial Sciences as well as the associate state climatologist and director of DEOS, said that having these automated sensors is a big advantage over manual, human snow observations because they can take measurements every five minutes.
Not a historic amount of rain, but it was still a lot
Cape Gazette online
2022-10-07
Kevin Brinson, director of the Delaware Environmental Observing System for the University of Delaware, said rain gauges for the Slaughter Beach area show 10 inches of rain from Sept. 30 to Oct. 5. That’s way more rain than the typical month, let alone the span of four or five days, he said.
This 'new normal' is about Delaware's climate
Delaware Public Media online
2021-05-07
NOAA's 30-year normals are used to compare a given day’s conditions to what’s considered typical for the area. They’re also used for long-term planning, says Kevin Brinson, associate state climatologist for Delaware.
Enlighten Me: First State farmers adapt to new climate ‘norms’
Delaware Public Media online
2020-05-14
Kevin Brinson, associate state climatologist for Delaware, says the change in the official climate normals is consistent with long-term trends in the state’s temperature records. He says six of the warmest years on record in Delaware happened between 2011 and 2020.
Articles (3)
Influence of synoptic weather conditions on atmometers on the Delmarva Peninsula, USA
Agricultural and Forest Meteorology2023 Reference evapotranspiration data from atmometers at three locations on the Delmarva Peninsula (USA) were compared to Penman-Monteith reference evapotranspiration (ETo) data across two growing seasons. Atmometer reference evapotranspiration (ETa) was found to underestimate ETo by 22.8% in 2016 and 30.4% in 2017. Stepwise linear regression was used to examine the relationship between both ET datasets and local meteorological conditions measured by Delaware Environmental Observing System (DEOS) mesonet stations that were co-located with the atmometers. Variability of ETa and ETo are well explained (R2 equal to 0.890 and 0.956, respectively) by a combination of meteorological variables, though the R2 in 2017 (R2 = 0.754) was notably lower than in 2016 (R2 = 0.890).
Toward the standardization of mesoscale meteorological networks
Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology2020 Although they share many common qualities in design and operation, mesonetworks across the United States were established independently and organically over the last several decades. In numerous instances, the unique ways each network matured and developed new protocols has led to important lessons learned. These experiences have been shared in informal ways among various network operators over the years to promote reliable operation. As existing networks begin to introduce new sensors and technologies, and as new networks come online, there is a common need for guidance on best practices. This paper aims to formally provide recommendations to improve and harmonize the various aspects of operating a “mesonet,” including siting, sensors, maintenance, quality assurance, and data processing.
A comparison of extreme precipitation event frequency and magnitude using a high‐resolution rain gage network and NOAA Atlas 14 across Delaware
International Journal of Climatology2020 Extreme precipitation events are arguably one of the most important natural hazards in many areas of the globe, impacting nearly every societal sector. In the Northeastern United States, extreme precipitation events have been shown to be increasing with several recent events garnering national attention (i.e., Ellicott City Maryland 2018; Tropical Storm Lee 2011). The NOAA Atlas 14 product is the nation's standard for estimating the magnitude and frequency of site‐specific extreme precipitation events, containing both precipitation frequency estimates, as well as associated confidence intervals. The Atlas uses surface stations, primarily from the National Weather Service Cooperative Observer Program, and statistical methodologies to provide point‐based precipitation exceedance probability estimates for several durations and potential recurrence intervals.
Research Grants (5)
“DNREC Real-Time Pond Level Monitoring Year 10”
Delaware Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Control $138,000
12/13/23-12/31/24
“DELDOT Snow Monitoring Yr. XII FY24”
Delaware Dept. of Transportation $99,158
10/12/23 – 6/30/24
“Improved Usability of the Delaware Irrigation Management System”
Delaware Dept. of Agriculture $35,000
10/1/23 – 6/30/24
"Life-Cycle Assessment Sustainability Framework for Transportation Infrastructure in Delaware"
Delaware Dept. of Transportation $10,637
9/26/23 – 9/25/25
“Implementation of an Operational Low-cost Flood Sensing System in Delaware,”
Delaware Dept. of Transportation $100,526
3/6/23 – 8/31/24
Accomplishments (1)
Special Service Award, National Weather Service (professional)
2015
Education (3)
University of Delaware: PhD, Climatology 2023
University of Delaware: MS, Geography 2006
University of North Carolina Asheville: BS, Atmospheric Science 2002
Affiliations (5)
- American Meteorological Society Measurements Committee : Committee Member
- American Association of State ClimatologistsAmerican Association of State Climatologists : Associate Member
- Delaware Environmental Institute Internal Advisory Board : Member
- Delaware Sea Grant Advisory Board : Member
- University of Delaware Climate Hub Advisory Board : Member
Links (5)
Event Appearances (5)
“Leveraging Mesonets to Develop Diverse Environmental Decision Support Systems"
(2024) 28th Conference on Applied Climatology Baltimore, MD
“Overview of an AASC Mesonet Recognition Program”
(2023) AASC Annual Meeting Nashville, TN
“Estimating Irrigated Water Usage in Delaware”
(2022) AASC Annual Meeting Durham, NH
“A Comparison of Extreme Precipitation Event Frequency and Magnitude Using a HighResolution Rain Gauge Network and NOAA Atlas 14 across Delaware”
(2019) AASC Annual Meeting Santa Rosa, CA
“Weather Decision Support in Agriculture in Delaware”
(2018) 24th Annual Mid-Atlantic Crop Management School Ocean City, MD
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