Department of Geography and Planning

Dr. Baker Perry

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Education

B.A., Comparative Area Studies, Duke University, 1996
M.A., Geography, Appalachian State University, 1998
Ph.D., Geography, UNC Chapel Hill, 2006

Social Media

Twitter:  @BakerPerry1
Instagram: @mtnclimate

Research

Dr. Perry’s research interests include alpine precipitation, snow and ice, glacier-climate interactions, and climate change. Mountain regions serve as a focus, with specific interests in the Himalayas, Andes, and Appalachians. His current research is organized around three major topics:

1. Meteorological Research on Mt. Everest: Recent research activities include installation of a network of meteorological stations – including the two highest in the world – in the Khumbu Himal (Everest) region of Nepal as part of the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Everest Expedition in April/May 2019. The network will greatly improve climber safety on the main climbing routes on the south side of Mt. Everest through real-time meteorological monitoring and bias correction of numerical model output. The highest stations in particular have enabled the first in-situ characterization of the climate at the highest points on Earth and will improve paleoclimatic reconstructions from nearby ice cores. Recent publications include:

  • Pelto, M., P. Panday, T. Matthews, J. Maurer, L.B. Perry. 2021. Observations of winter ablation on glaciers in the Mount Everest Region in 2020-2021. Remote Sensing 2021: 13(14) 2692. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13142692

  • Perry, L.B., T. Matthews, H. Guy, I. Koch, A. Khadka, A.C. Elmore, D. Shrestha, S. Tuladhar, S.K. Baidya, S. Maharjan, P. Wagnon, D. Aryal, A. Seimon, A. Gajurel, P.A. Mayewski. 2020. Precipitation characteristics and moisture source regions on Mt. Everest in the Khumbu, Nepal. One Earth 3(5): 594-607. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2020.10.011

  • Perry, L.B., S.E. Yuter, T. Matthews, P. Wagnon, A. Khadka, D. Aryal, D. Shrestha, A. Tait, M.A. Miller, A. O’Neill, S.R. Rhodes, I. Koch, T.G. Sherpa, S. Tuladhar, S.K. Baidya, S. Elvin, A.C. Elmore, A. Gajurel, P.A. Mayewski. 2020. Direct observations of a Mount Everest Snowstorm from the World’s Highest Surface-Based Radar Observations. Weather, Early Online View. https://doi.org/10.1002/wea.3854

  • Matthews, T., L.B. Perry, I. Koch, I, D. Aryal, A Khadka, D. Shrestha, K Abernathy, A.C. Elmore, A. Seimon, A. Tait, S. Elvin, T. Subash, S.K. Baidya, M. Potocki, S.D. Birkel, S. Kang, P.A. Mayewski, and National Geographic and Rolex’s Perpetual Planet Extreme Expedition to Mt. Everest Team. 2020. Going to extremes: installing the world’s highest weather stations on Mount Everest. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 101: E1870-E1890. https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-19-0198.1

  • Matthews, T., L.B. Perry, T.P. Lane, A.C. Elmore, A. Khadka, D. Aryal, D. Shrestha, S. Tuladhar, S.K. Baidya, A. Gajurel, M. Potocki, P.A. Mayewski. 2020. Into Thicker Air? Oxygen availability at humans’ physiological frontier on Mount Everest. iScience 23(12):  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2020.101718

  • Mayewski, P.A. L.B. Perry, T. Matthews, S. Birkel. 2020. Climate change in the Hindu Kush Himalayas: Basis and Gaps. One Earth 3(5): 551-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2020.10.007

  • Mayewski, P.A., A. Gajurel, S.E. Elvin, P. Athans, T. Dinley, P. Sherpa, A.C. Elmore, J. Ghimire, L.B. Perry, T. Matthews, S. Birkel, S. Guilford, M. Hubbard, A. Putnam, T. Seimon, A. Seimon, S. Ghimere, A. Tait. 2020. Pushing climate change science to the roof of the world. One Earth 3(5): 556-560. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2020.10.021

Video highlighting weather stations on Mt. Everest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqJ7LQ8KGMc

2. Precipitation-Climate-Glacier Interactions in the Tropical Andes Mountains: Research priorities include investigating precipitation patterns and processes across the Andean region, investigating the atmospheric influences on oxygen stable isotopes and trace elements preserved in high-elevation snowfall, and decoding multi-centennial climate histories from tropical Andean ice cores. This work was supported by two grants from the National Science Foundation and currently by National Geographic and Rolex. As part of these projects, Dr. Perry has installed comprehensive precipitation monitoring stations on the Quelccaya Icecap in Peru at 5,650 m and at the Chacaltaya Observatory at 5,160 m in Bolivia. Along with Dr. Gino Casassa and other Chilean partners, Dr. Perry installed the highest weather stations in the Americas at 6,505 m on Tupungato Volcano in the Chilean Andes in 2021. Selected recent publications are available below:

Video highlighting our Andes research and partnership with the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation: https://youtu.be/ISmN0MPR83U

Media on research and education activities in Peru and Bolivia: https://today.appstate.edu/2019/03/15/peru

3. Snowfall Patterns and Processes in the Southern Appalachian Mountains: Research activities include investigation of multiscale atmospheric processes influencing snowfall formation, from the hemispheric (e.g., Arctic Oscillation and El Niño-Southern Oscillation) to the cloud microphysical (e.g., snow particle type and degree of riming, moist layer temperature and thickness). Dr. Sandra Yuter (NCSU), Dr. Douglas Miller (UNCA), Stephen Keighton (NOAA-NWS), and the Northwest Flow Snowfall Discussion Group are important partners in this ongoing project. A comprehensive snow and precipitation monitoring station was installed at 1,875 m asl on Roan Mountain, NC, in 2012. Recent publications include the following:

Teaching

Dr. Baker Perry inspires students to reach new heights in Appalachian Today

2021-22 Academic Year Courses

Introduction to Physical Geography (GHY 1010)
Global Climate Change (GHY 1011)
Research Themes in Geography (GHY 5000)

Recent Master’s Theses Supervised

O’Neill, A. 2021. Analytical Hierarchical Modeling of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Potential in the Khumbu Region, Nepal. Committee: L.B. Perry (Chair), M. Sugg, S. Shu.

Ita Vargas, T. 2019. Synoptic Patterns Associated with Wet Season Onset in the Tropical High Andes of Southern Peru and Bolivia. Committee: L.B. Perry (Chair), M. Sugg, I. Moreno.

Jonaitis, J. 2018. Spatiotemporal Patterns of ENSO-Precipitation Relationships in the Tropical High Andes of Southern Peru and Bolivia. Committee: L.B. Perry (Chair), A. Seimon, P.T. Soulé, C.S. Thaxton.

Guy, H. 2018. Identification of a Regionally Coherent Subseasonal Signal of Stable Isotopes in Tropical Andean Precipitation. Committee: L.B. Perry (Chair), A. Seimon, B. Konecky.

Eck, M.A. 2017. Winter Climate Variability in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, 1910-2017. Committee: L.B. Perry (Chair), P.T. Soulé, J.W. Sugg, D.K. Miller.

Endries, J.L. 2017. Radar-Observed Characteristics of Precipitation in the Tropical High Andes of Southern Peru and Bolivia. Committee: L.B. Perry (Chair), S.E. Yuter, A. Seimon.

Recent First-Authored Student Oral Presentations

Ita Vargas, T. L.B. Perry, J.A. Jonaitis, H. Guy. 2019. Synoptic Patterns Associated with Wet Season Onset in the Tropical High Andes of Peru and Bolivia. Annual Meeting of the American Association of Geographers, Washington, D.C.

Jonaitis, J.A., L.B. Perry, A. Seimon, C.S. Thaxton, M.F. Andrade-Flores, M. Rado, T. Ita Vargas. 2018. Spatiotemporal Differences of ENSO-Precipitation Relationships in the Tropical Andes of Southern Peru and Bolivia. Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Division of the American Association of Geographers, Johnson City, TN.

Eck, M.A., L.B. Perry. 2018. Understanding Winter Temperature and Snowfall in the Anomalous Southern Appalachian Mountains: A 2017-18 Winter Review. 75th Eastern Snow Conference, College Park, MD.

Guy, H., A. Seimon, L.B. Perry, M. Rado, R. Winkelmann, M. Andrade. 2017. Storm-scale variations of water isotopes in the tropical Andes and implications for improving ice core paleoclimate reconstructions. International Congress on Climate Change and Its Impacts, Huaraz, Peru.

Eck, M., L.B. Perry. 2017. Winter Climate Variability and Trends in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, 1895-2017. 74th Annual Eastern Snow Conference, Ottawa, Canada.

Burton, E.J., L.B. Perry, A. Seimon, J.L. Endries, S. Arias, M. Rado, N. Montoya, J.H. Thaggard. 2016. Synoptic Patterns Associated with Heavy Snowfall Events on the Quelccaya Icecap of Peru. Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Division of the American Association of Geographers, Columbia, SC.

Endries, J.L., L.B. Perry, S.E. Yuter, A. Seimon, M. Andrade-Flores, G. Mamani, M. Bonshoms, F. Velarde, R. Winkelmann, M. Rado, N. Montoya, S. Arias. Looking Vertically: Vertical Structure and Character of Precipitation in the Tropical High Andes of Bolivia and Southern Peru. Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Division of the American Association of Geographers, Columbia, SC.

Montpellier, E.E., L.B. Perry, I. Moreno, M. Andrade-Flores, J.L. Endries, A. Seimon, F. Velarde, M. Rohrer, C. Huggel. 2016. ENSO-Precipitation Relationships in the Central Andes. Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Division of the American Association of Geographers, Columbia, SC.

Cooper, C.M., L.B. Perry, A. Seimon. 2014. An Integrated Approach to Andean Precipitation Research through Citizen Science and Study Abroad Initiatives in the Tropical Andes. Southeastern Division of the Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, Athens, GA.

Sugg, J.W., C.M. Fuhrmann, L.B. Perry, D.K. Hall, C.E. Konrad. 2014. Intraregional Variation in Fractional Snow Cover across the Southern Appalachian Mountains. 71st Eastern Snow Conference, Boone, NC.

Recent First-Authored Student Poster Presentations

Guy, H., L.B. Perry, M.A. Eck, S. Rhodes, S.E. Yuter. Observations of Snow Particle Characteristics during Snow Events in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. 75th Eastern Snow Conference, College Park, MD.

Ita Vargas, T., L.B. Perry, H. Guy, J. Jonaitis. 2018. Synoptic Patterns Associated with Early and Late Onset and End of the Wet Season in the Southern Peruvian Andes. 75th Eastern Snow Conference, College Park, MD.

Guy, H., A. Seimon, L.B. Perry, M. Rado, M. Andrade. 2018. Subseasonal Variability of Stable Water Isotopes in Tropical Andean Precipitation. Annual Meeting of the European Geophysical Union, Vienna, Austria.

Jonaitis, J., L.B. Perry, A. Seimon, M.F. Andrade, M. Rado, H. Guy, T. Ita Vargas. 2018. Spatiotemporal Variability of Precipitation in the Tropical Andes of S. Peru and Bolivia during the 2015-16 Strong El Niño. Annual Meeting of the American Association of Geographers, New Orleans, LA.

Endries, J.L., L.B. Perry, S.E. Yuter, A. Seimon, M. Andrade-Flores, G. Mamani, M. Bonshoms, F. Velarde, R. Winkelmann, M. Rado, N. Montoya, S. Arias. 2017. Vertical Structure and Character of Precipitation in the Tropical High Andes of Bolivia and Southern Peru. Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society, Seattle, WA.

Thaggard, J.H., L.B. Perry, S. Arias, E.J. Burton, M. Rado, N. Montoya, A. Seimon. 2016. Observations from New Meteorological Stations on the Quelccaya Icecap and Quisoquipina Glacier, Cordillera Vilcanota, Peru: 2014-2016. Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Division of the American Association of Geographers, Columbia, SC.

Burton, E.J., L.B. Perry, A. Seimon, J.L. Endries, M. Rado, S. Arias. 2016. Synoptic patterns associated with snowfall events on the Quelccaya Icecap of Peru during the 2014-15 wet season. 73rd Eastern Snow Conference, Columbus, OH.

Cooper, C.M., L.B. Perry, A. Seimon, M. Rado, A. Tupayachi. 2016. Citizen science climate observations in data scarce regions of the tropical Andes. Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers, San Francisco, CA.

Burton, E.J., L.B. Perry, A. Seimon, J.L. Endries, M. Rado, S. Arias. 2016. Synoptic patterns associated with snowfall events on the Quelccaya Icecap of Peru during the 2014-15 wet season. National Conference of Undergraduate Research, Asheville, NC.

Burton, E.J., L.B. Perry, M. Bonshoms, G. Mamani, N. Quispe. 2015. Vertical structure, melting layer heights, and antecedent upstream air trajectories associated with precipitation events in the central Andes of Peru. 72nd Eastern Snow Conference, Sherbrooke, Quebec.

Poremba, R.J., L.B. Perry, A. Seimon, D.T. Martin, A. Tupayachi. 2015. Meteorological characteristics of heavy snowfall events in the Cordillera Vilcanota, Peru. 72nd Eastern Snow Conference, Sherbrooke, Quebec.

Poremba, R.J., L.B. Perry, A. Seimon, D.T. Martin, A. Tupayachi. 2014 Monthly and annual patterns from new meteorological stations in the Cordillera Vilcanota, Peru. 71st Eastern Snow Conference, Boone, NC.

Student Honors and Awards

2018    Heather Guy – Graduate Student Poster Award at Appalachian State University’s Celebration of Student Research and Creative Endeavors

2017    Montana Eck – Master’s Student Honors Paper Award at the Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Division of the American Association of Geographers

2017    Montana Eck – Three -Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition at Appalachian State University

2017    Montana Eck – Graduate Student Poster Award at Appalachian State University’s Celebration of Student Research and Creative Endeavors

2017    Heather Guy – Graduate Student Poster Award at Appalachian State University’s Celebration of Student Research and Creative Endeavors

2017    Jason Endries – Student Poster Award at the Robert Houze Symposium at the Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society

2015    Eric Burton – Undergraduate Student Poster Award at Appalachian State University’s Celebration of Student Research and Creative Endeavors

2014    Johnathan Sugg – Appalachian State University Outstanding Thesis Award

2012    Johnathan Sugg – David Hewitt Miller Student Poster Award at the 70th Eastern Snow Conference

2012    Ginger Kelly – Appalachian State University Outstanding Thesis Award

Title: Professor
Department: Geography and Planning

Email address: Email me

Phone: (828) 262-7597

Office address
Rankin Science West 296

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