CW3E Hosts Student Outreach Event at Scripps Pier Featuring Radiosonde Launch and Art-Science Integration
April 29, 2026
The Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E) via Dr. Subin Yoon in collaboration with Dr. Sasha Gershunov (Scripps Institution of Oceanography), Dr. Alexander Weyant (Scripps Institution of Oceanography), and Dr. Suma Bhanu Battula (University of Alabama) hosted a half-day outreach event at Scripps Institution of Oceanography on Saturday, April 4 for students from the Conservation Leadership Program. This UCSD program is currently in its first phase – a 12 week ocean literacy course that equips high school students with interdisciplinary skills in environmental science, policy, and community engagement to prepare them for leadership roles in conservation and sustainability. The event welcomed approximately 20 students and CLP instructors Alberto Rivera, Sonya Timko, Cesar Bustos Bracamontes, and Evan Yoon for an interactive introduction to atmospheric science, observational methods and their application in climate studies, and the intersection of science and art.
The morning began with a guided tour of Scripps Pier, where students learned about the various pier-based observations and coastal research programs hosted at the site. The discussion highlighted some of CW3E’s research efforts including atmospheric rivers, and the importance of data collection. A key highlight of the event was the radiosonde launch, which provided students with a firsthand look at different observational approaches, from the stationary long-term surface monitoring weather stations to targeted atmospheric sampling that CW3E is involved in. Event hosts emphasized the importance of these observations in improving forecast models, understanding long-term climate trends, and supporting operational decision-making.
Following the pier activities, students walked towards Nierenberg Hall to learn more about the Scripps Science-Art Collaboration Project. The students first stopped at the Oscar Romo Atmospheric Rivers’ art display behind Nierenberg Hall where Sasha built upon the discussion on atmospheric rivers through the art installation. Sasha guided the students through several other art displays housed at Nierenberg Hall. This session explored the relationship between environmental science and visual storytelling, emphasizing how scientific data and observations can be translated into creative mediums to engage broader audiences.
In the final session, Subin and Alexander presented an overview of hydrometeorological observations, spanning from historical methods to modern techniques, with highlights of CW3E’s observational networks and field campaigns. They also discussed challenges associated with the collection and use of observational data. The session included an introduction to interpreting radiosonde Skew-T plots, as well as live tracking of the radiosonde launched earlier that morning. Presenters also highlighted resources where students can access global radiosonde data and trajectories, along with CW3E observational data. Lastly, Alex shared a brief case study comparing temperatures in San Diego in May 2026 to historical observations from the 1940s, demonstrating how these datasets are used in research studies.
Overall, the event demonstrated the value of integrating hands-on observations, scientific research, and interdisciplinary perspectives to enhance understanding of atmospheric and climate science. It also provided students with practical insight into how observational data are collected and used to inform forecasts, research, and real-world decision-making.
