Dr. Roni Avissar is an atmospheric scientist, helicopter pilot, and professor at the University of Miami. His research is crucial to the modern field of weather analysis. In a unique twist on the role weather plays in aviation, Roni conducts his field research using a specially-equipped helicopter, often flying extremely low to the surface to collect data. His work has been funded by NASA, NOAA, and the US Departments of Energy and Agriculture, among others.

In this conversation, I’ll speak with Roni about the turbulent world of weather forecasting, and our relationship as pilots to the natural world around us.