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{{Short description|American meteorologist (1947–2020)}}
{{Short description|American meteorologist (1947–2020)}}
{{Infobox scientist
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Les Lemon
|name = Les Lemon
| image = <!--(as myimage.jpg, no 'File:')-->
|image = <!--(as myimage.jpg, no 'File:')-->
| image_size =
|image_size =
| alt =
|alt =
| caption =
|caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1947|01|19}}
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1947|01|19}}
| birth_place = [[Greenville, South Carolina]]
|birth_place = [[Greenville, South Carolina]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2020|05|29|1947|01|19}}
|death_date = {{Death date and age|2020|05|29|1947|01|19}}
| death_place = [[Independence, Missouri]]
|death_place = [[Independence, Missouri]]
| resting_place =
|resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} -->
|resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} -->
| fields = [[Meteorology]]
|fields = [[Meteorology]]
| workplaces = [[National Severe Storms Laboratory]], [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps|NOAA Commissioned Corps]], [[National Severe Storms Forecast Center]], [[Lockheed Martin]], [[Unisys]], Basic Commerce & Industries, Paramax, [[Baron Services]], [[Warning Decision Training Branch|WDTB]]/[[Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies|CIMMS]], L.R. Lemon Meteorological Services
|workplaces = [[National Severe Storms Laboratory]], [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps|NOAA Commissioned Corps]], [[National Severe Storms Forecast Center]], [[Lockheed Martin]], [[Unisys]], Basic Commerce & Industries, Paramax, [[Baron Services]], [[Warning Decision Training Branch|WDTB]]/[[Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies|CIMMS]], L.R. Lemon Meteorological Services
| alma_mater = [[University of Oklahoma]]
|alma_mater = [[University of Oklahoma]]
| notable_students =
|notable_students =
| known_for = [[Weather radar|Radar]] research and teaching on convective storms
|known_for = [[Weather radar|Radar]] research and teaching on convective storms
| awards =
|awards =
| signature = <!--(filename only)-->
|signature = <!--(filename only)-->
| signature_alt =
|signature_alt =
| website = {{URL|http://www.stormeyes.org/LRLemon/}}
|website = {{URL|http://www.stormeyes.org/LRLemon/}}
| footnotes =
|footnotes =
| spouse =
|spouse =
| children =
|children =
}}__NOTOC__
}}__NOTOC__
'''Leslie R. Lemon''' (January 19, 1947 &ndash; May 29, 2020) was an American [[meteorologist]] bridging research and [[Weather forecasting|forecasting]] with expertise in [[weather radar]], particularly regarding severe convective storms. Lemon was, along with [[Charles A. Doswell III]], a seminal contributor to the modern conception of the [[supercell]] which was first identified by [[Keith Browning]],<ref name="supercell">{{cite journal |last=Lemon |first =Leslie R. |author2=C.A. Doswell |title=Severe Thunderstorm Evolution and Mesocyclone Structure as Related to Tornadogenesis |journal=Mon. Wea. Rev. |volume=107 |issue=9 |pages=1184–97 |date=Sep 1979 |doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1979)107<1184:STEAMS>2.0.CO;2 |bibcode = 1979MWRv..107.1184L |doi-access=free }}</ref> and he developed the [[Lemon technique]] to estimate updraft strength and thunderstorm organization (in highly [[Wind shear|sheared]] environments) also as a continuation of Browning's work.<ref name="Lemon technique">{{cite book |last=Lemon |first=Leslie R. |title=New severe thunderstorm radar identification techniques and warning criteria: a preliminary report |publisher=Techniques Development Unit, [[National Severe Storms Forecast Center]] |date=July 1977 |location=Kansas City, MO }}</ref><ref name="LT2">{{cite book |last=Lemon |first=Leslie R. |title=New Severe Thunderstorm Radar Identification Techniques and Warning Criteria |publisher=Techniques Development Unit, National Severe Storms Forecast Center |date=April 1980 |location=Kansas City, MO }}</ref>
'''Leslie R. Lemon''' (January 19, 1947 &ndash; May 29, 2020) was an American [[meteorologist]] bridging research and [[Weather forecasting|forecasting]] with expertise in [[weather radar]], particularly regarding severe convective storms. Lemon was, along with [[Charles A. Doswell III]], a seminal contributor to the modern conception of the [[supercell]] convective storm which was first identified by [[Keith Browning]],<ref name="supercell">{{cite journal |last=Lemon |first =Leslie R. |author2=C.A. Doswell |title=Severe Thunderstorm Evolution and Mesocyclone Structure as Related to Tornadogenesis |journal=Mon. Wea. Rev. |volume=107 |issue=9 |pages=1184–97 |date=Sep 1979 |doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1979)107<1184:STEAMS>2.0.CO;2 |bibcode = 1979MWRv..107.1184L |doi-access=free }}</ref> and he developed the [[Lemon technique]] to estimate [[updraft]] strength and thunderstorm organization (in highly [[Wind shear|sheared]] environments) also as a continuation of Browning's work.<ref name="Lemon technique">{{cite book |last=Lemon |first=Leslie R. |title=New severe thunderstorm radar identification techniques and warning criteria: a preliminary report |publisher=Techniques Development Unit, [[National Severe Storms Forecast Center]] |date=July 1977 |location=Kansas City, MO }}</ref><ref name="LT2">{{cite book |last=Lemon |first=Leslie R. |title=New Severe Thunderstorm Radar Identification Techniques and Warning Criteria |publisher=Techniques Development Unit, National Severe Storms Forecast Center |date=April 1980 |location=Kansas City, MO }}</ref>


== Early life ==
== Early life ==
Lemon's interest in severe storms was triggered in earnest after he witnessed the [[Fujita Scale|F5]] [[May 1957 Central Plains tornado outbreak sequence|Ruskin Heights tornado]] on May 20, 1957, which caused light damage to his family's home and severe damage very nearby.<ref name="WB1">{{cite episode |title = International Radar Expert |url = http://weatherbrains.com/weatherbrains/?p=1078 |series = WeatherBrains |credits = James Spann |display-authors = etal |airdate = 25 Jan 2010 |number = 209 |access-date = 19 March 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140320023726/http://weatherbrains.com/weatherbrains/?p=1078 |archive-date = 20 March 2014 |url-status = dead }}</ref> Lemon studied meteorology at the [[University of Kansas]] (KU) and the [[University of Oklahoma]] (OU), graduating with a B.S. from the University of Oklahoma in 1970.
Lemon's interest in severe storms was triggered in earnest after he witnessed the [[Fujita Scale|F5]] [[May 1957 Central Plains tornado outbreak sequence|Ruskin Heights tornado]] on May 20, 1957, which caused light damage to his family's home and severe damage very nearby.<ref name="WB1">{{cite episode |title = International Radar Expert |url = http://weatherbrains.com/weatherbrains/?p=1078 |series = WeatherBrains |credits = James Spann |display-authors = etal |airdate = 25 Jan 2010 |number = 209 |access-date = 19 March 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140320023726/http://weatherbrains.com/weatherbrains/?p=1078 |archive-date = 20 March 2014 |url-status = dead }}</ref> Lemon studied meteorology at the [[University of Kansas]] (KU) and the [[University of Oklahoma]] (OU), graduating with a B.S. from OU in 1970.


==Career==
==Career==
Lemon embarked on graduate school studies but being the [[Vietnam War|Vietnam era]] he wasn't able to continue and he joined the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps|NOAA Commissioned Corps]]. Afterward, in addition to developing the Lemon technique at the Techniques Development Unit (TDU) of the National Severe Storms Forecast Center (NSSFC) and his work on the supercell thunderstorm, Lemon was a major developer of the WSR-88D or "[[NEXRAD]]". In 1976 NOAA bestowed a Special Achievement Award for his co-discovery of [[tornado vortex signature]] (TVS).
Lemon embarked on graduate school studies but it was during the [[Vietnam War|Vietnam era]] so he wasn't able to continue, and he instead joined the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps|NOAA Commissioned Corps]]. Afterward, in addition to developing the Lemon technique at the Techniques Development Unit (TDU) of the [[National Severe Storms Forecast Center]] (NSSFC) and his work on the supercell storm, Lemon was a major developer of the WSR-88D or "[[NEXRAD]]". In 1976 NOAA bestowed a Special Achievement Award for his co-discovery of [[tornado vortex signature]] (TVS). In tandem with developing new radar analysis concepts Lemon was early in integrating [[mesonet]] data from NSSL to connect what was occurring at the surface with radar depictions.<ref name="Doswell blog">{{cite web |url = https://cadiiitalk.blogspot.com/2020/05/leslie-r-lemon-friend-and-colleague-has.html |title = Leslie R. Lemon - friend and colleague - has died |last = Doswell |first = Chuck |date = 30 May 2020 |website = Chuck's Chatter |access-date = 2024-03-16 }}</ref>


He has since taught widely on the subjects of radar and severe convective storms throughout the United States and internationally. At [[Lockheed Martin]], Lemon was a key developer of its [[microburst]] prediction radar. Lemon also worked at [[Unisys]] and other companies during his career and operated a forensic and consulting meteorology company.<ref>{{cite web |last = Lemon |first = L. R. |title = L. R. Lemon homepage |publisher = StormEyes |url = http://www.stormeyes.org/LRLemon/ |access-date = 2014-03-18 }}</ref>
He later taught widely on the subjects of radar and severe convective storms throughout the United States and internationally, leaving the public sector to work at various companies. At [[Lockheed Martin]], Lemon was a key developer of its [[microburst]] prediction radar. Lemon also worked at [[Unisys]] and other companies during his career and operated a forensic and consulting meteorology company.<ref>{{cite web |last = Lemon |first = L. R. |title = L. R. Lemon homepage |publisher = StormEyes |url = http://www.stormeyes.org/LRLemon/ |access-date = 2014-03-18 }}</ref>


Lemon was president of the [[National Weather Association]] (NWA) in 2001 and served on a [[National Academy of Sciences]] [[United States National Research Council|National Research Council]] (NAS NRC) committee on "Weather Radar Technology Beyond NEXRAD" that same year.
Lemon was president of the [[National Weather Association]] (NWA) in 2001 and served on a [[National Academy of Sciences]] [[United States National Research Council|National Research Council]] (NAS NRC) committee on "Weather Radar Technology Beyond NEXRAD" that same year.


He also has expertise in storm damage surveying and surveyed the first documented [[tornado]] in Romania while doing radar work there.<ref>{{cite journal |last = Lemon |first = Leslie R. |author2 = A. Stan-Sion (A. Bell)|author3 = C. Soci|author4 = E. Cordoneanu |title = A strong, long-track, Romanian tornado |journal = Atmos. Res. |volume = 67-68 |pages = 391–416 |date = Jul–Sep 2003 |doi = 10.1016/S0169-8095(03)00063-2 |bibcode = 2003AtmRe..67..391L }}</ref>
He was also an expert storm damage surveyor and surveyed the first documented [[tornado]] in Romania while doing radar work there.<ref>{{cite journal |last = Lemon |first = Leslie R. |author2 = A. Stan-Sion (A. Bell)|author3 = C. Soci|author4 = E. Cordoneanu |title = A strong, long-track, Romanian tornado |journal = Atmos. Res. |volume = 67-68 |pages = 391–416 |date = Jul–Sep 2003 |doi = 10.1016/S0169-8095(03)00063-2 |bibcode = 2003AtmRe..67..391L }}</ref>


== Death ==
== Death ==

Latest revision as of 20:44, 16 March 2024

Les Lemon
Born(1947-01-19)January 19, 1947
Greenville, South Carolina
DiedMay 29, 2020(2020-05-29) (aged 73)
Independence, Missouri
Alma materUniversity of Oklahoma
Known forRadar research and teaching on convective storms
Scientific career
FieldsMeteorology
InstitutionsNational Severe Storms Laboratory, NOAA Commissioned Corps, National Severe Storms Forecast Center, Lockheed Martin, Unisys, Basic Commerce & Industries, Paramax, Baron Services, WDTB/CIMMS, L.R. Lemon Meteorological Services
Websitewww.stormeyes.org/LRLemon/

Leslie R. Lemon (January 19, 1947 – May 29, 2020) was an American meteorologist bridging research and forecasting with expertise in weather radar, particularly regarding severe convective storms. Lemon was, along with Charles A. Doswell III, a seminal contributor to the modern conception of the supercell convective storm which was first identified by Keith Browning,[1] and he developed the Lemon technique to estimate updraft strength and thunderstorm organization (in highly sheared environments) also as a continuation of Browning's work.[2][3]

Early life

[edit]

Lemon's interest in severe storms was triggered in earnest after he witnessed the F5 Ruskin Heights tornado on May 20, 1957, which caused light damage to his family's home and severe damage very nearby.[4] Lemon studied meteorology at the University of Kansas (KU) and the University of Oklahoma (OU), graduating with a B.S. from OU in 1970.

Career

[edit]

Lemon embarked on graduate school studies but it was during the Vietnam era so he wasn't able to continue, and he instead joined the NOAA Commissioned Corps. Afterward, in addition to developing the Lemon technique at the Techniques Development Unit (TDU) of the National Severe Storms Forecast Center (NSSFC) and his work on the supercell storm, Lemon was a major developer of the WSR-88D or "NEXRAD". In 1976 NOAA bestowed a Special Achievement Award for his co-discovery of tornado vortex signature (TVS). In tandem with developing new radar analysis concepts Lemon was early in integrating mesonet data from NSSL to connect what was occurring at the surface with radar depictions.[5]

He later taught widely on the subjects of radar and severe convective storms throughout the United States and internationally, leaving the public sector to work at various companies. At Lockheed Martin, Lemon was a key developer of its microburst prediction radar. Lemon also worked at Unisys and other companies during his career and operated a forensic and consulting meteorology company.[6]

Lemon was president of the National Weather Association (NWA) in 2001 and served on a National Academy of Sciences National Research Council (NAS NRC) committee on "Weather Radar Technology Beyond NEXRAD" that same year.

He was also an expert storm damage surveyor and surveyed the first documented tornado in Romania while doing radar work there.[7]

Death

[edit]

Lemon died on May 29, 2020, at the age of 73. He is survived by his wife and three children.[8]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Lemon, Leslie R.; C.A. Doswell (Sep 1979). "Severe Thunderstorm Evolution and Mesocyclone Structure as Related to Tornadogenesis". Mon. Wea. Rev. 107 (9): 1184–97. Bibcode:1979MWRv..107.1184L. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1979)107<1184:STEAMS>2.0.CO;2.
  2. ^ Lemon, Leslie R. (July 1977). New severe thunderstorm radar identification techniques and warning criteria: a preliminary report. Kansas City, MO: Techniques Development Unit, National Severe Storms Forecast Center.
  3. ^ Lemon, Leslie R. (April 1980). New Severe Thunderstorm Radar Identification Techniques and Warning Criteria. Kansas City, MO: Techniques Development Unit, National Severe Storms Forecast Center.
  4. ^ James Spann et al. (25 Jan 2010). "International Radar Expert". WeatherBrains. Episode 209. Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  5. ^ Doswell, Chuck (30 May 2020). "Leslie R. Lemon - friend and colleague - has died". Chuck's Chatter. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  6. ^ Lemon, L. R. "L. R. Lemon homepage". StormEyes. Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  7. ^ Lemon, Leslie R.; A. Stan-Sion (A. Bell); C. Soci; E. Cordoneanu (Jul–Sep 2003). "A strong, long-track, Romanian tornado". Atmos. Res. 67–68: 391–416. Bibcode:2003AtmRe..67..391L. doi:10.1016/S0169-8095(03)00063-2.
  8. ^ "Leslie R. "Bucky" Lemon". Retrieved 2020-06-01.
[edit]
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