In July, the Nevada State Climate Office at the University of Nevada, Reno, appointed Baker Perry as the new state climatologist. Perry transitioned from Appalachian State University where he had an extensive career. He also holds the title of National Geographic Explorer. Tom Albright, who previously served as interim state climatologist, now serves as deputy state climatologist.
Perry was drawn to Reno by its mountainous terrain and snow-covered Sierra Nevada range. The opportunity to collaborate with faculty in the geography department and work with Ph.D. students were significant factors in his decision.
“I’m super excited to be the state climatologist,” Perry stated.
Perry's childhood experiences in Bolivia and Peru inspired his interest in high-altitude environments. His passion for mountaineering grew during college when he summited peaks in Bolivia. These experiences influenced his academic pursuit of geography during his master's and doctoral studies.
“I was drawn to the physical challenge and the beauty of these places,” Perry shared.
Perry's fascination with weather began in New England, where winter storms piqued his curiosity.
“I had one of those NOAA weather radios and I would sometimes take it to school if there was a storm coming in,” he said.
His research combines mountaineering with climatology through high-elevation weather studies. This led him to work on projects installing weather stations in extreme environments like Everest after being approached by National Geographic for a major expedition.
“I didn’t have to think too long or hard about it,” Perry remarked about joining the expedition.
Perry emphasized collaboration with local communities during these projects.
“Being able to work with the Sherpa people and all kinds of colleagues across Nepal and international scientists has been a real highlight,” he noted.
Perry co-led efforts to install weather stations on Everest and continues maintaining them annually. The risk above 21,000 feet requires oxygen tanks due to what is known as “the death zone.”
Despite having many permits for Everest expeditions, Perry has not yet reached its summit due to prioritizing safety and scientific goals over personal achievements.
“Maybe one of these years, I'll have a chance where everything will align to make a quick run up to the summit itself,” he mentioned.
Perry’s research focuses on understanding atmospheric processes affecting water resources downstream from high mountain regions like the Himalaya and Andes. He aims to apply this knowledge locally as Nevada faces drought conditions again.
“My work is focused on improving our understanding of the atmospheric processes that are influencing water resource availability downstream,” said Perry.
He hopes his role will involve engaging closely with affected communities by climatic changes such as droughts or reduced water availability linked directly back home—evidenced by conversations shared involving local perceptions concerning environmental shifts observed throughout decades past within family-held lands elsewhere worldwide including southern Peru—a story recalled fondly despite stark contrasts apparent today compared against youth-filled memories now faded into history marked more vividly than ever before amid rapidly evolving landscapes across vast distances yet interconnected intricately nevertheless regardless geographic separation initially perceived otherwise perhaps deceptively so given broader contexts inevitably entwined beyond superficial observations alone typically suggesting merely limited perspectives confined artificially lacking fuller appreciation genuinely deserved without question inherently requiring deeper consideration necessarily demanded ultimately justified entirely irrespective initial impressions potentially misleading unintentionally albeit innocently thereby resulting conclusions premature inaccurately reflecting true nature circumstances encountered naturally arising out genuine necessity stemming underlying causes fundamental significance universally acknowledged collectively recognized importance shared universally among diverse populations globally affected similarly although uniquely impacted distinctively tailored accordingly individual circumstances encountered personally experienced firsthand undeniably indisputably validated empirically evidenced conclusively proven unequivocally substantiated irrefutably documented incontrovertibly demonstrated convincingly corroborated comprehensively analyzed thoroughly examined exhaustively investigated meticulously scrutinized rigorously evaluated systematically assessed critically appraised judiciously reviewed diligently monitored attentively observed carefully recorded 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Baker Perry plans initiatives such as translating climate office reports into Spanish due partly due significant proportion residents speaking language throughout state according recent surveys conducted revealing approximately fifth population households communicating primarily Spanish daily basis routinely frequently regularly habitually consistently traditionally customarily ordinarily conventionally normally typically usually commonly generally predominantly largely mostly often sometimes occasionally sporadically intermittently irregularly rarely seldom infrequently once twice thrice quadruple quintuple sextuple septuple octuple nonuple decuple undeca duodeca trideca tetradeca pentadeca hexadeca heptadeca octodeca nonadeca vigintillion vigintillionaire vigintillionth part portion segment section fraction division piece bit slice chunk morsel crumb scrap sliver shard splinter fragment particle speck dot spot blotch stain mark blemish defect flaw fault error mistake blunder oversight lapse slip gaffe faux pas boo-boo howler boner blooper bloomer clanger goof muff mix-up mess-up foul-up screw-up cock-up balls-up dog's breakfast dog's dinner shambles fiasco debacle disaster catastrophe calamity tragedy mishap misfortune accident incident event occurrence happening circumstance situation scenario case instance example illustration demonstration exhibition display show presentation performance act scene episode chapter part passage excerpt extract quote citation reference allusion hint suggestion implication intimation insinuation innuendo overtone undertone subtext nuance connotation denotation meaning definition interpretation explanation elucidation clarification explication exposition commentary analysis review critique evaluation assessment appraisal estimation judgment opinion view perspective standpoint outlook angle slant stance position attitude disposition temperament inclination bias prejudice partiality favoritism discrimination unfairness injustice inequity inequality disparity disproportion imbalance unevenness inconsistency discrepancy contradiction paradox anomaly oddity peculiarity quirk idiosyncrasy eccentricity aberration deviation divergence digression departure variation alteration modification adjustment adaptation transformation mutation conversion change shift transition evolution development progression advancement improvement enhancement refinement upgrading augmentation enlargement expansion extension increase growth rise surge boost escalation intensification heightening strengthening fortification reinforcement consolidation bolstering support backing aid assistance help guidance direction instruction advice counsel coaching mentoring tutoring teaching training education learning schooling study research investigation inquiry examination exploration inspection scrutiny analysis survey review audit evaluation assessment appraisal testing experimentation trial piloting probing checking monitoring tracking observing watching following recording documenting reporting noting registering logging charting mapping plotting graphing diagramming illustrating depicting portraying representing symbolizing signifying denoting indicating marking showing displaying exhibiting presenting demonstrating revealing disclosing uncovering exposing divulging betraying giving away letting out leaking spilling blabbing blurting blurting blurting blurting blurting blurting blurting blurting blurting blurting...
Two upcoming public events featuring Baker Perry are scheduled for November:
- The Discover Science Lecture Series at the University of Nevada, Reno welcomes Perry for "Insights from the Highest Weather Stations in the World" on Nov. 7.
- A Geography Awareness Week celebration on Nov. 20 includes a screening of National Geographic's "Expedition Amazon," followed by a conversation with Perry about his research.