New Mexico Gets Own State Climatologist

Date: Jan. 24, 1997
Editor: D'Lyn Ford  (505) 646-6528, dlford@nmsu.edu

LAS CRUCES -- After a lapse of nearly a decade, New Mexico again has a state climatologist responsible for providing statewide climate information.

Ted Sammis, a hydrologist with New Mexico State University's Agricultural Experiment Station, assumed the post last week. He was appointed by NMSU regents under an agreement with the state Department of Agriculture and NMSU's College of Agriculture and Home Economics.

Unlike a meteorologist, a climatologist does not provide weather forecasting or up-to-the-minute bulletins. Through a computerized collection system, Sammis can provide statewide weather data from the day before, as well as historical climate information and agricultural applications. His focus will be on how climate affects the environment, including the state's people, land, rivers and lakes.

"A climatologist is of prime importance to the agricultural sector of our state," said Rep. Bill Porter, a member of the House Agriculture and Water Resources Committee who was instrumental in the appointment.

Porter noted that in addition to weather, the state climatologist's responsibilities include water, an issue of prime importance in urban areas.

Sammis, who will devote about 40 percent of his time to climatology work, has been active in creating the New Mexico Climate Center on the World Wide Web (http://weather.nmsu.edu). The site includes weather data, lawn watering guides and hydrologic information about lakes and rivers. It also has computer weather applications to help farmers schedule irrigation, conserve water and manage pests and diseases.

"I see my job as serving as a coordinator in bringing the best information together so people can use it," Sammis said.

Sammis' appointment means New Mexico is no longer one of only a handful of states without a climatologist, which had been the case since 1988. The agreement that created the position includes no new funding.

"We'll do the very best job we can with our existing resources," said Gary Cunningham, associate dean and director of NMSU's Agricultural Experiment Station.