I’ve delivered on-air weather forecasts and preparedness insights for 30 years to keep people safe and help them protect their quality of life. I now routinely report on changing weather systems that bring frequent and more intense weather conditions and impacts, especially in communities where decaying infrastructure, less green space, and limited HVAC lead to oppressive weather experiences. 

I see the American Meteorological Society as the pivotal actor in climate truth-telling for underserved communities, helping to close knowledge gaps that might foment unrest and thwart widespread climate action:

• Ferret out “climate deep fakes,” a burgeoning concern
• Develop frameworks for managing AI, optimizing its benefits, and minimizing its hazards
• Distribute educational tools to underserved communities and PreK–8 schoolchildren

Since the advent of digital imagery, the weather community has battled misattribution of deceptive weather images. Today, “deep fakes” are a serious concern for public figures who fear being digitally misrepresented. Climate professionals also could fall victim to deep fakes for biased climate agendas. The AMS has an opportunity to help identify distributors of false climate content with government agencies, watchdog groups, and reputable news outlets. 

The digital landscape for weather and climate analysis is further complicated by AI’s vast weather database, which dwarfs the existing repository of historical weather data, for use in such areas as agriculture, disaster avoidance, and geopolitical conflict. To ensure human interaction checks the use of AI-generated weather data, the AMS could develop frameworks for accurate AI weather prediction, as proposed in the AMS 2021 study, by establishing shared protocols with developers, government, and watchdog groups, while guarding against unintended AI outcomes such as misleading predictions that alter commodities markets, tides of war, or tourism industries, as examples. 

Importantly, the AMS could offer climate education to underserved communities and schoolchildren in partnership with community organizations, catalyzing robust civic engagement around climate, and diversifying the next generation of atmospheric scientists and climatologists. 

As a longstanding AMS member, I am humbled by this nomination for the AMS Council. I hope to serve the organization, supporting its unparalleled role to help save our planet and all people.

Andrew Humphrey serves as chief meteorologist at WHBQ FOX13 Memphis. Humphrey’s informative weather forecasts and updates for the Mid-South region, covering portions of four states and the Mississippi River, can be seen weekdays during the 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts.

Humphrey’s passion for weathercasting and storytelling began as a child in suburban Washington, D.C., where he was born and raised. He combined his love of math,
science and what he calls “the awesome power of nature” to choose his life’s work.

While still in school, Humphrey studied gravity waves and tropical deforestation at NASA in the U.S. and Brazil, and jet streaks at the National Weather Service. The AMS
certified broadcast meteorologist has covered major calamities during his career such as blizzards, earthquakes, hurricanes, thunderstorms, and tornadoes, keeping people safe with his street-level forecasts.

Before joining FOX13, Humphrey served as a meteorologist and station scientist for 20 years in Detroit at WDIV. Previously, he was chief meteorologist at FOX36 Toledo. He began his television career at NBC and FOX stations in Washington, and CNN, CNN International, NBC Europe and CNBC Europe, where he delivered weather forecasts for western Europe and North Africa.

He holds two degrees in meteorology, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor and a master’s degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he wrote his thesis on “The Behavior of the Total Mass of the Atmosphere.” He is the only MIT-trained television meteorologist in the world.

Humphrey also has been recognized for dedicated community service, promoting the importance of STEM literacy, education, and careers among K-12 students, with two Spirit of Detroit awards from the Detroit City Council, the Distinguished Service Award from The Boys & Girls Club and the Community Service Award from the National
Association of Black Journalists. He has taught weather and reporting at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor and Morgan State University. He is the founder and chair emeritus of the NABJ Digital Journalism Task Force and co-founder of the NABJ Weather and Climate Task Force.