![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2023\/11\/111723_Weather-Station_06-576x1024.jpg\")
Cecil and Coelho operate the weather station.<\/p><\/div>\n
When he learned about the issues with coastal flooding in South Carolina, he was eager to apply his knowledge to similar problems.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really want to understand how floods happen and when they\u2019re going to happen,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The National Weather Service might issue a regional warning for heavy storms and flooding, but it\u2019s hard to know how those forecasts will play out locally.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe idea is that with my research I\u2019m contributing to the development of this flood forecast system,\u201d Coelho said.<\/p>\n
By using National Weather Service precipitation forecasts in the modeling system, Coelho and other researchers can more accurately predict flood risks from approaching storms.<\/p>\n
Cecil is double majoring in music and earth and environmental science. The music department drew her to Furman, but environmental science is driving her future.<\/p>\n
\u201cI fell in love with the department and the people,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She was delighted when Coelho joined the faculty her junior year, giving her the chance to explore new classes in hydrology.<\/p>\n
Connecting with Coelho and others in the department helped her pinpoint her own interests in environmental science. Cecil is working now on her senior thesis, with Coelho serving as her research advisor.<\/p>\n
The new weather station is part of a network of connected stations. Coelho and his students have access to data collected across the region and the country. Because weather can vary widely even within a few miles, the more stations and sensors in place, the better the precision of the research.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully that data is going to help us to develop enough research to keep expanding that network,\u201d Coelho said.<\/p>\n