Ben Abell

Infobox Radio Presenter
name = Ben Abell

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imagesize =
caption =
birthname = Benjamin F. Abell
birthdate = c. 1932
birthplace =
deathdate =
deathplace =
station = KWMU-FM
timeslot = :09 after the hour (M-F)
style = Meteorologist
country = flagcountry|United States
web = [http://www.eas.slu.edu/People/faculty.html Benjamin F. Abell @ SLU.edu]

Benjamin F. Abellcite web| url = http://www.eas.slu.edu/People/faculty.html| title = Faculty at the department of earth and atmospheric sciences| accessdate = 2007-04-29| work = Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences| publisher = Saint Louis University] has been a professor of meteorology in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Saint Louis University (SLU) since 1962. He also volunteered as the sole meteorologist for St. Louis, Missouri NPR station KWMU-FM since the station began broadcasting in 1972cite web| url = http://publicbroadcasting.net/kwmu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1051296| title = KWMU meteorologist Ben Abell to retire| accessdate = 2007-04-29| last = Weber| first = Tom| date = 2007-03-09| work = kwmu NewsRoom| publisher = KWMU-FM] through early 2007. To recognize and preserve his contributions as an outstanding member of the St. Louis radio communitycite web| url = http://www.slu.edu/readstory/more/6392| title = SLU Professor Ben Abell Named to St. Louis Radio Hall of Fame| accessdate = 2007-04-29| last = Berry| first = Clayton| date = 2006-01-04| publisher = Saint Louis University] , Abell was a 2005-2006 inductee to the St. Louis Radio Hall of Fame.cite web| url = http://www.stlradio.com/hof-05-06.htm| title = ::St. Louis Radio - Broadcasting History, Articles about Broadcasting and Local Personalities::| accessdate = 2007-04-29| publisher = STL Radio Hall of Fame]

Ben Abell grew up in the Washington, D.C. area, and as a child began his fascination with weather when that area suffered severe flooding. He also gained firsthand experience of the consequences of weather working on his uncle's tobacco farm in the summers.cite web| url = http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9884056| title = Sun Sets on St. Louis Weatherman's Long Career| accessdate = 2007-04-29| last = Block| first = Melissa| authorlink = Melissa Block| date = 2007-04-27| format = streaming audio| work = All Things Considered| publisher = NPR]

Professional work

Abell received his Bachelor of Science degree from Saint Louis University in 1960, continuing with his master's degree in meteorology and statistics in 1965. Originally intending to work for the National Weather Service after graduation,cite web| url = http://www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=117488| title = Longtime Radio Meteorologist, SLU Professor Begins 'Phased Retirement'| accessdate = 2007-04-29| last = Roberts| first = Mike| authorlink = Mike Roberts| date = 2007-04-22| publisher = KSDK] Abell accepted a SLU offer for a position on staff at (then) Parks College in 1962. His primary research areas are severe local storms, climate change, tropical cyclones, and weather forecasting, while his primary teaching areas are climate and humankind in history, and mesoscale analysis and severe storms. As the undergraduate meteorology program director, he teaches some introductory courses in the department as well as serves as the primary contact for prospective and new meteorology students.cite web|url= http://www.eas.slu.edu/Programs/metug.html|title= Undergraduate Meteorology Programs|accessdate= 2008-03-07|last= Abell|first= Ben|authorlink= Ben Abell|work= Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences|publisher= Saint Louis University]

Volunteer forecasting

Abell began his stint as volunteer meteorologist for KWMU when the station began airing in 1972. Before accepting the position at KWMU, students from SLU were making the forecasts and broadcasts for the station, but would make the morning's forecasts the night before to avoid any early-morning engagements. After repeated requests from the fledgling broadcaster, and to better ensure correct and appropriate morning forecasts, Abell acquiesced and accepted the non-paying position as the station's meteorologist.cite web|url=http://www.kwmu.org/Programs/Slota/archivedetail.php?showid=2598|title=Ben Abell Tribute|accessdate=2007-06-23|last=Marsh|first=Don|date=2007-05-02|format=MP3|work=St. Louis on the Air|publisher=KWMU-FM]

Professor Abell is renown for his pragmatic stance on his forecasting, evidenced by his signature phrase: "I can't rule it out;" forthright with his listeners, Abell lays out the evidences he has for his forecast and the rationales for his conclusions. In addition to computer generated weather models, Abell draws upon "years and years and years of experience", and is more inclined to rely on his instinct as opposed to the computer when the two forecasts diverge.cite video |date2 = 2005-01-10 |title = Ben Abell |url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV6ozVWXe_g&eurl=http://livingstlouis.wordpress.com/2007/04/24/living-st-louis-video-ben-abell/ |medium = Television production |publisher = KETC |location = St. Louis, Missouri |accessdate = 2007-12-09]

Upon retiring from his 35-year volunteer position on April 27, 2007, Abell had provided the St. Louis area with more than 120,000 forecasts.cite news | first = Deb | last = Peterson | title = Breaking schmooze: Local ice cream man will be in national spotlight | url = http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/columnists.nsf/debpeterson/story/521B4B8234A896EE862572BC000AAC4E?OpenDocument | work = St. Louis Post-Dispatch | date = 2007-04-13 | accessdate = 2007-06-23 ] dead link|url=http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/columnists.nsf/debpeterson/story/521B4B8234A896EE862572BC000AAC4E?OpenDocument|date=January 2008

References