DRI / DIRECTORY / DAVID SIMERAL
David Simeral Profile Photo
David Simeral
Associate Research Scientist, Climatology
Phone 
775-674-7132
E-Mail 
David.Simeral@www-dev.dri.edu
Campus 
Reno Campus
Division 
Atmospheric Sciences

About David

David has been with the Desert Research Institute (DRI) and Western Regional Climate Center (WRCC) since 2003 as an Associate Research Scientist in Climatology. His professional interests cover a broad spectrum within the fields of climatology, meteorology, and physical geography with expertise in drought monitoring, mountain climatology, mountain geography, field-related campaigns collecting weather and climate data, snow science, and Geographic Information Systems.

David is one of ten national authors for the U.S. Drought Monitor (since 2012) and works in collaboration with the NOAA National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) Regional Drought Early Warning Systems (DEWS) on drought-related issues for the western United States. David works closely with other NOAA line offices on climate and drought coordination efforts (monitoring, science communications) including authoring the NOAA Pacific Region (Hawaiian Islands, U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands) Quarterly Climate Impacts & Outlook Report and serving on the NOAA Pacific Island Regional Climate Team as co-lead for the Observations, Monitoring, and Derived Data Working Group.

Other current activities include collaborative climate monitoring projects with the National Park Service (NPS) Inventory and Monitoring Program (I&M) overseeing operations and management of long-term climate monitoring networks and data management (data telemetry, data product development, data dissemination) for the Pacific Island and Mojave Desert I&M networks.

Education

Degree Year Institution Area
M.A. 2005 Northern Arizona University Physical Geography
B.S. 1994 Arizona State University Physical Geography

Keywords

climate, climate science, meteorology, drought, drought monitoring, climate observational networks, geography, GIS, meteorological instrumentation, mountain climatology, mountain meteorology, physical geography

 

Program(s)

 

Publications
2023
Simeral, D. B., McAfee, S., McEvoy, D. J., Bogle, H., Hu, T. (2023). Final Report: Evaluating Nevada’s Drought Monitoring Network to Improve Drought Early Warning and Response, Prepared for the NOAA National Integrated Drought Information System, California-Nevada Drought Early Warning System, August 31, 2023

Heim, R., Bathke, D., Bonsal, B., Cooper, E., Hadwen, T., Kodama, K., McEvoy, D. J., Muth, M., Nielsen-Gammon, J., Prendeville, H., Ramirez, R., Rippey, B., Simeral, D. B., Thoman, R., Timlin, M., Weight, E. (2023). A Review of User Perceptions of Drought Indices and Indicators Used in the Diverse Climates of North America, Atmosphere, 1794, 14 (12), 1-28. MDPI, December 6, 2023, 10.3390/atmos14121794

2021
Rippey, B., Fuchs, B., Simeral, D. B., Bathke, D., Heim, R., Svoboda, M. (2021). The Drought Monitor Comes of Age, Weatherwise, 74 (2), 29-37. Routledge, March 1, 2021, 10.1080/00431672.2021.1873000

2018
Hoekman, S.K., McEvoy, D. J., Simeral, D. B., Fremeau, P. G. (2018). Comparison of Ambient Temperatures from ‘Donor Report’ to Modern Day Ambient Temperature for the Same Geographic Areas, CRC Report – CM-138-16-2. Coordinating Research Council: Alpharetta, GA
https://crcao.org/reports/recentstudies2018/CM-138-16-2/CM-138-16-2%20Final%20Report_December2018.pdf

2016
Simeral, D. B., McCurdy, G. D., Redmond, K. T., Fearon, M. G., Sisson, E. L. (2016). Final Report & Recommendations for the Pacific Island Climate Monitoring Network, National Park Service, 1-78. Western Regional Climate Center

Brown, T. J., Simeral, D. B., McEvoy, D. J., Morton, C. G., Redmond, K. T., McCurdy, G. D. (2016). An Assessment of Climate Monitoring for Land Management Applications in the Great Basin, 1-58, Great Basin Landscape Conservation Cooperative: Reno, NV, CESU Project L13AC00262

2009
Redmond, K. T., Simeral, D. B., McCurdy, G. D. (2009). An Enhanced California Climate Monitoring System. California Energy Commission, Public Interest Energy Research Program

2007
Davey, C. A., Redmond, K. T., Simeral, D. B. (2007). Weather and Climate Inventory, National Park Service, Rocky Mountain Network, Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/ROMN/NRTR-2007/036 WRCC Report 2007-11, 1-109, National Park Service, U.S. Department of Interior: Fort Collins, CO

2006
Edwards, P. R., Simeral, D. B. (2006). Baseline Silver Concentrations in Freshwater and Snow in the Wyoming Weather Modification Project Target Area. Desert Research Institute, Division of Hydrologic Sciences: Reno, NV

Davey, C. A., Redmond, K. T., Simeral, D. B. (2006). Weather and Climate Inventory, National Park Service, Greater Yellowstone Network, Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/GRYN/NRTR-2006/001, 1-83, National Park Service, U.S. Department of Interior: Fort Collins, CO
https://wrcc.dri.edu/nps/reports/2006_07_31_gryninventory_final.pdf

Davey, C. A., Redmond, K. T., Simeral, D. B. (2006). Weather and Climate Inventory National Park Service Pacific Island Network, Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/PACN/NRTR-2006/003 WRCC Report 06-04 , 1-99, National Park Service, U.S. Department of Interior
https://wrcc.dri.edu/nps/reports/2006_08_11_pacninventory_final.pdf

Davey, C. A., Redmond, K. T., Simeral, D. B. (2006). Weather and Climate Inventory, National Park Service, Southern Colorado Plateau Network, Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SCPN/NRTR-2006/007 , 1-119, National Park Service, U.S. Department of Interior
https://wrcc.dri.edu/nps/reports/2006_09_21_scpninventory_final.pdf

Davey, C. A., Redmond, K. T., Simeral, D. B. (2006). Weather and Climate Inventory, National Park Service, Northern Colorado Plateau, Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR-2006/002, 1-97, National Park Service, U.S. Department of Interior

2005
Redmond, K. T., Simeral, D. B., McCurdy, G. D. (2005). Climate Monitoring for Southwest Alaska National Parks: Network Design and Site Selection, 1-92, Western Regional Climate Center: Reno, NV
https://wrcc.dri.edu/nps/reports/swanreportfinalrev.pdf

Conference Proceedings
2024
Simeral, D. B. (2024). Current Conditions & Drought Outlook. Intermountain West Drought Briefing – USDA Southwest Climate Hub, NOAA NIDIS: Virtual, January 9, 2024

Simeral, D. B., Wasser, M., McCurdy, G. D. (2024). Long-term climate monitoring in complex terrain of the tropical Pacific Islands: challenges, lessons learned, and observations from the field after a decade of in-situ monitoring in U.S. national parks in the Pacific Island region. 2024 Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting: Honolulu, Hawaii, April 16, 2024-April 19, 2024

Simeral, D. B. (2024). Importance of the U.S. Drought Monitor in Nevada. 2024 Southern Nevada Water Summit: Hosted by Representative Susie Lee (NV, 3rd District), Las Vegas, NV, August 14, 2024

Simeral, D. B. (2024). Intermountain West Drought & Climate Update. NOAA NIDIS Intermountain West Drought & Climate Outlook Webinar, September 17, 2024
https://www.drought.gov/webinars/intermountain-west-drought-climate-outlook-webinar-september-17-2024

2023
Simeral, D. B. (2023). Current Conditions & Drought Outlook. Southwest Drought Briefing – NOAA NIDIS, Drought Learning Network: Webinar, April 18, 2023-April 18, 2023

Simeral, D. B. (2023). The Making of the U.S. Drought Monitor, USDA Southwest Climate Hub, Drought Learning Network, NOAA NIDIS. Southwest Tribal Drought Conversation: Flagstaff, Arizona, April 26, 2023-April 26, 2023

Simeral, D. B. (2023). What did the drought recovery look like in Nevada for 2022-23?. Southwest Drought Learning Network Annual Meeting: USDA SW Climate Hub, NOAA NIDIS, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, Albuquerque, NM, September 27, 2023

2022
Simeral, D. B. (2022). U.S. Drought Monitor Overview. Drought in Nevada Workshop Series: Drought Outreach & Communications Strategies, Nevada Department of Water Resources & NOAA NIDIS: Webinar, February 9, 2022

Simeral, D. B. (2022). Drought Conditions & Climate Update. Southwest Drought Briefing – A Focus on Snowpack, USDA Southwest Climate Hub | NOAA NIDIS: Webinar, April 5, 2022
https://www.drought.gov/webinars/southwest-drought-briefing-focus-snowpack-april-5-2022

Simeral, D. B. (2022). Drought Conditions & Climate Status Update, U.S. Drought and Heat Webinar, NOAA NIDIS & NOAA NIHHIS: Webinar, July 21, 2022
https://www.drought.gov/events/2022-us-drought-and-heat-webinar-west

2021
Simeral, D. B. (2021). U.S. Drought Monitor Process. Alaska Drought Webinar Series: University of Alaska, Fairbank | Alaska Center for Climate Assessment & Policy, February 18, 2021
https://uaf-accap.org/event/adws-drought-monitor/

Simeral, D. B. (2021). Current Drought Conditions & Outlooks for the Southwest U.S.. Southwest Drought Briefing Webinar: USDA Southwest Climate Hub | NOAA NIDIS, January 22, 2021

Simeral, D. B. (2021). Climate & Drought Status Update. NOAA NIDIS Western Drought Crisis Webinar: Virtual, July 20, 2021
https://www.drought.gov/events/western-drought-crisis-webinar

Simeral, D. B. (2021). Western Drought Update. USDA Fall Data Users’ Meeting, Climate Information for Informed Decision Making, Session A: Virtual, October 14, 2021

Simeral, D. B. (2021). Western Regional Climate Center Overview & Update. Biennial U.S. Drought Monitor Forum: Virtual, October 21, 2021-October 22, 2021

Simeral, D. B. (2021). Western Drought Update. NOAA NWS AFS2 All Hands Meeting: Virtual, August 23, 2021

2020
Simeral, D. B. (2020). Climate Trends & Monitoring in the Southwestern U.S. (Keynote Speaker). Malpai Borderlands Group Science Conference: Rodeo, New Mexico, January 9, 2020

2019
Simeral, D. B. (2019). A synopsis of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Healthy Soils, Healthy Region Workshop: Pendleton, Oregon, March 12, 2019-March 14, 2019

Simeral, D. B. (2019). U.S. Drought Monitor – Process, Challenges, and Successes in Drought Monitoring in California & Nevada. NOAA NIDIS California-Nevada Drought Early Warning System Partner Meeting: Sacramento, California, November 18, 2019-November 19, 2019

2018
Simeral, D. B. (2018). U.S. Drought Monitor: A Behind the Scenes Look. Utah Drought Response Plan Workshop, Utah Department of Water Resources: Salt Lake City, UT, July 17, 2018-July 18, 2018
https://www.utahwaterconservationforum.org/DRPW-Agenda.pdf

Simeral, D. B. (2018). Drought Monitoring Toolbox. Utah Drought Response Plan Workshop, Utah Deptartment of Water Resources: Salt Lake City, UT, July 17, 2018-July 18, 2018
https://www.utahwaterconservationforum.org/DRPW-Agenda.pdf

Simeral, D. B. (2018). Drought Monitoring in the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands. Drought in the USAPI – Impacts, Resilience, and Management, USGS: University of Hawaii, Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, August 14, 2018-August 15, 2018

Simeral, D. B. (2018). An Inside Look at the U.S. Drought Monitor. Great Basin Climate Forum: Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV, December 6, 2018
https://www-dev.dri.edu/great-basin-climate-forum-series

2017
Simeral, D. B. (2017). Overview of the Western Regional Climate Center. Montana Mini Climate Summit: University of Montanta, September 7, 2017
https://climate.umt.edu/summit/

2016
Simeral, D. B. (2016). Pacific Northwest Drought Outlook. National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) Pacific Northwest Drought Early Warning System Kickoff Meeting: Portland, OR, February 2, 2016

Simeral, D. B. (2016). U.S. Drought Monitor: An Inside Perspective. USDA Surviving Drought Risk Management Workshop Series – California Cattleman’s Association 100th Annual Convention: Reno, NV, December 2, 2016

Simeral, D. B. (2016). U.S. Drought Monitor. Fall Forum with USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack: Climate Variability, Water, and Land Use: Arizona State University, September 14, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCQFAh1xa-g

2015
Simeral, D. B. (2015). U.S. Drought Monitor: An Inside Perspective. Geography Colloquium Series: University of Nevada, Reno, April 1, 2015

2014
Simeral, D. B. (2014). Overview of the Western Regional Climate Center & Climate Monitoring Program Development with the U.S. National Park Service in the Pacific Islands. Asia Pacific Academy of Sciences, Education, and Environmental Management: American Memorial Park, Commonwealth of Saipan, February 26, 2014

2012
Simeral, D. B. (2012). Near-Surface Air Temperature Patterns in Complex Terrain, San Francisco Peaks, Arizona. MTNCLIM: Estes Park, Colorado, October 1, 2012

Simeral, D. B. (2012). Topographic Influences on Near-Surface Temperature Regimes in Complex Terrain. Geography Colloquium Series: University of Nevada, Reno, May 2, 2012

Simeral, D. B. (2012). Topographic Influences on Near-Surface Temperature Regimes in Complex Terrain, San Francisco Peaks. U.S – International Association of Landscape Ecology Annual Meeting, Symposium: NASA-MSU Environmental sensors and loggers – New approaches to characterizing heterogeneity and applications in landscape ecology: Newport, Rhode Island, April 11, 2012

2010
Strachan, S., Simeral, D. B., Bird, B., Jasoni, R. L. (2010). Building Infrastructure: Climate Monitoring Transects in Nevada. Nevada NSF EPSCoR Climate Change Conference: Las Vegas, Nevada, February 2, 2010

2008
Redmond, K. T., Simeral, D. B. (2008). Improvements in Observations and Tools to Detect and Depict Climate Change and Variability in California. California Climate Change Conference: Sacramento, California

Simeral, D. B., Abatzoglou, J. (2008). Verification of Gridded Climate Data in Mountainous Terrain. MTNCLIM: Silverton, Colorado

2006
Sousanes, P., Redmond, K. T., Simeral, D. B., Keen, R. (2006). Monitoring Seasonal and Long-Term Climate Changes/Extremes in the Central Alaska Network. MTNCLIM: Mt. Hood, Oregon

Simeral, D. B., Borys, R. D., Wetzel, M. A. (2006). New Snow Density Across An Elevational Gradient in the Park Range of Northwestern Colorado. AMS 12th Conference on Mountain Meteorology: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Simeral, D. B., Borys, R. D., Wetzel, M. A. (2006). New Snow Density Across An Elevational Gradient in the Park Range of Northwestern Colorado. 74th Western Snow Conference: Las Cruces, New Mexico

Other
2018
Simeral, D. B. (2018). California-Nevada Climate & Drought Status Update. NOAA NIDIS California – Nevada Drought Early Warning System Drought & Climate Update Webinar: Reno, NV, July 23, 2018
https://www.drought.gov/drought/calendar/events/california-nevada-drought-climate-outlook-webinar-july-23-2018

Simeral, D. B. (2018). Southwest Drought Update & Seasonal Precipitation – Temperature Outlook. NOAA National Integrated Drought Information System – El Nino & the Southwest Drought Webinar, October 24, 2018

2017
Simeral, D. B. (2017). California-Nevada Drought & Climate Status Uptdate. NOAA California-Nevada Drought Early Warning System Drought and Climate Outlook Webinar: Reno, NV, September 25, 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yEA-0173Tw

Simeral, D. B. (2017). California-Nevada Drought and Climate Status Update. NOAA California-Nevada Drought Early Warning System Drought and Climate Outlook Webinar: Reno, NV, May 29, 2017

Simeral, D. B. (2017). Understanding the U.S. Drought Monitor. Montana Governor’s Drought & Water Supply Advisory Committee Meeting: Helena, Montana, October 2, 2017

2015
Simeral, D. B. (2015). Effects of Summer Precipitation and El Nino Outlook. Truckee Meadows Water Authority, Board of Director Meeting: Sparks, NV, September 16, 2015

Simeral, D. B. (2015). Nevada Drought Conditions Update & Outlook. National Weather Service, Reno NV Forecast Office Media Event

2005
Grubisic, V., Redmond, K. T., McCurdy, G. D., Simeral, D. B. (2005). A dense surface network for atmospheric observations in a mountain valley: Deployment and observations in the Sierra Rotors Project. AMS 13th Symposium on Meteorological Observations and Instrumentation: Savannah, Georgia