faculty portrait if available
Ken Leppert
Associate Professor
School of Sciences
HANN 302
318-342-1918
ULM logo

Ken Leppert, PhD
Associate Professor, Biology

Education

Ph D

2013, Atmospheric Science
University of Alabama in Huntsville

MS

2009, Atmospheric Science
University of Alabama in Huntsville

BS

2007, Atmospheric Science
University of Missouri - Columbia

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Leppert received his B.S. from the University of Missouri - Columbia and his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.  All three degrees were in Atmospheric Science.  In addition to his faculty position at ULM, Dr. Leppert is also an Ensign in the Navy Reserve.

Research Interests

My research interests include tropical cyclogenesis and intensification, tropical convection, tropical easterly waves, and remote sensing related to precipitation (especially lightning, passive microwave, and radar).  I have done extensive work with various satellite datasets and some NASA airborne data.  I also have some experience working with numerical modeling (Weather Research and Forecast Model) and radiative transfer code.

Recent Publications

Leppert II, K., Cecil, D. (2025). Variations in Simulated GMI Brightness Temperatures Due to Varying Particle Size Distribution Models and Hydrometeor Characteristics in a Severe Hailstorm (pp. 237-266). Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology.
Leppert II, K., DeLaune, C., Melo, G. Multi-Scale Characteristics Important for Tropical Cyclone Development from Tropical Easterly Waves over the Atlantic. Monthly Weather Review.
Cecil, D., Solomon, M., Mecikalski, R., Leppert II, K. (2024). Hydrometeor Identification Using GMI Passive Microwave Brightness Temperatures (pp. 749-764). Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology.
DeLaune, C., Leppert II, K., Melo, G. Multi-Scale Characteristics Important for Tropical Cyclone Development from Tropical Easterly Waves over the Atlantic. Monthly Weather Review.
Leppert II, K., Cecil, D. Variations in Simulated GMI Brightness Temperatures Due to Varying Particle Size Distribution Models and Hydrometeor Characteristics in a Severe Hailstorm. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology.
Leppert II, K., Cecil, D. (2019). Sensitivity of Simulated GMI Brightness Temperatures to Variations in Particle Size Distributions in a Severe Hailstorm (pp. 1905-1930). Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology.
Leppert II, K., Cecil, D. (2016). Tropical Cyclone Diurnal Cycle as Observed by TRMM (pp. 2793-2808). Monthly Weather Review.

Research Grants

Murphy, T. (Principal), Fricker, T. (Co-Principal), Leppert II, K. (Co-Principal), "Integrating Research and Education Through a Regional Meteorological Micronet" (Pending Funding Decision), Sponsored By Board of Regents, $95,280. (November 10 2020 - Present).
Sasek, T. (Principal), Case-Hanks, A. (Co-Principal), Tolson, K. (Co-Principal), Anderson, J. (Co-Principal), Leppert II, K. (Co-Principal), "School of Sciences on a Sphere" (Not Funded), Sponsored By BoR, $66,270. (October 24 2019 - Present).
Leppert II, K. (Principal), Nair, U. (Co-Principal), "Collaborative Research: Multi-scale Characteristics Important for Tropical Cyclogenesis from Tropical Easterly Waves over the Atlantic and East Pacific" (Not Funded), Sponsored By NSF, $91,423. (July 31 2017 - Present).
Murphy, T. (Principal), Leppert II, K. (Other), "Assisting Weather and Water Nowcasting and Forecasting Needs within the Lower Mississippi River Basin" (), Sponsored By USACE ERDC, $4,291,933. (April 01 2026 - March 31 2028).
Fricker, T. (Principal), Murphy, T. (Co-Principal), Leppert II, K. (Co-Principal), "Establishing a Monroe Micronet for Integrated Research and Education" (Not Funded), Sponsored By LABoR, $82,622. (January 01 2025 - 2026).
Leppert II, K. (Principal), "Multi-scale Characteristics Important for Tropical Cyclone Development from Tropical Easterly Waves over the Atlantic" (Funded), Sponsored By ULM, The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $26,953. (July 01 2020 - June 30 2023).
Murphy, T. (Principal), Fricker, T. (Co-Principal), Leppert II, K. (Co-Principal), "Deploying a JupyterHub Server to Support Education and Research at ULM" (Funded), Sponsored By Unidata, External to The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $15,044. (March 25 2022 - March 25 2023).
Fricker, T. (Principal), Murphy, T. (Co-Principal), Leppert II, K. (Co-Principal), "Installing a Plotter and Scanner in Hanna 333 to Improve School of Sciences Student Engagement and Research Opportunities" (Not Funded), Sponsored By ULM STAP Committee, The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $15,930. (January 20 2022 - March 03 2022).
Fricker, T. (Principal), Murphy, T. (Co-Principal), Leppert II, K. (Co-Principal), "Developing an Improved Geosciences Curriculum Through a Data Science Perspective" (Funded), Sponsored By Board of Regents, $29,780. (November 10 2020 - 2022).
Leppert II, K. (Principal), Nair, U. (Other), "Collaborative Research: Multi-scale Characteristics Important for Tropical Cyclogenesis from Tropical Easterly Waves over the Atlantic and East Pacific" (Not Funded), Sponsored By NSF, $94,402. (February 15 2019 - August 22 2019).
Murphy, T. (Principal), Chenoweth, S. (Co-Principal), Bhattacharjee, J. (Co-Principal), Leppert, K. (Co-Principal), "MRI: Acquisition of a Portable Doppler Wind Lidar for Atmospheric Science Research and Education" (Funded), Sponsored By NSF, $274,857. (February 05 2018 - February 04 2019).
Cecil, D. (Principal), Leppert II, K. (Supporting), Chronis, T. (Supporting), "Better Understanding GPM Radiometer Measurements Using Ground-Based Radar" (Funded), Sponsored By NASA, $209,433. (January 01 2016 - December 31 2018).
Leppert II, K. (Principal), "African Easterly Wave Cloud and Precipitation Structure and Implications for Tropical Cyclone Formation" (Funded), Sponsored By LaSPACE REA, $25,967. (February 15 2016 - February 14 2018).
Murphy, T. (Principal), "AWIPS-II Infrastructure Upgrade at the U. of LA at Monroe" (Funded), Sponsored By Unidata, $19,404. (March 2016).

Courses Taught

ATMS 1001INTRO TO WEATHER/CLIMATE I, 1 course(s)

ATMS 1003BASIC METEOROLOGY LAB I, 3 course(s)

ATMS 1004BASIC METEOROLOGY LAB II, 9 course(s)

ATMS 3000COMPUTER APPLICATION IN ATMS, 5 course(s)

ATMS 3003ATMOSPHERIC THERMODYNAMICS, 8 course(s)

ATMS 3005DYNAMIC METEOROLOGY, 9 course(s)

ATMS 3006DYNAMIC METEOROLOGY, 9 course(s)

ATMS 3010FUND OF CLIMATIC ANALYSIS, 5 course(s)

ATMS 3015PHYSICAL METEOROLOGY, 4 course(s)

ATMS 4008SATELLITE METEOROLOGY, 2 course(s)

ATMS 4011TROPICAL METEROLOGY, 6 course(s)

ATMS 4020NUMERICAL MODELING OF ATMOS, 1 course(s)

GEOS 1002NATURAL DISASTERS AND HAZARDS, 7 course(s)

GEOS 3032BROADCAST METEOROLOGY PRACT, 8 course(s)