Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Mosler Speaks To Senior Group

Why do television stations employ meteorologists for their weather broadcasts?

According to Matt Moseler, the meteorologist for KATV Channel 7, it's because these are the only people who can understand the equipment used.

Moseler entertained at the Gurdon Senior Adult Center Thursday, June 22, telling those present how weather information is gathered.

He said the Doppler weather radar works along the same principle as the radar police officers use to gauge the speed of vehicles.

Doppler, a German scientist, he said, discovered how sound appears to expand and contrast, depending on whether it's coming toward a person or going away from them. This is most notable with trains.

Doppler figured a way this information could be used, hence the name "Doppler effect."

Moseler said the Doppler radar uses the frequency of raindrops to determine the movement inside a storm, whether it's coming toward the radar or moving away from it, along with any possible rotation inside the cell.

This information is used to predict the possibility of tornadoes before they form and touch the ground.

In the not-too-distant past, Moseler said, people were lucky to get a five minute warning before a severe storm hit. Today, though, with the Doppler radar meteorologists can give about 20 minutes advance notice of impending severe weather.

"TV is a great job, a way of making a living and paying my bills," he said. "I enjoy doing things like this, entertaining, having fun, but my family is number one in my life.

"My real job is being a good daddy. The world needs more good daddies."

Moseler shared stories about his three children, primarily talking about the baby of the family. He said she has him wrapped around her little fingers and can do no wrong.

He said the father's job is to provide moral leadership in the household, but this has been abdicated to mothers in most instances.

"We have a great responsibility to out children, helping them grow up to be the kind of people they need to be.

"While we have them under our instruction, we need to be actively instructing them."

He joked about himself, saying he isn't the typical television personality because he looks like a little boy and sounds like a little girl, while the average male TV personality has what Moseler calls "the Voice of God," a deep booming bass voice.

He performed a couple of songs and sold tapes, with the money to go to charity.

Moseler told the audience he is working on another tape with original music at this time.