David Wayne Phillips, CM (born 8 September 1944) is senior

climatologist Climatology (from Greek , ''klima'', "place, zone"; and , ''-logia'') or climate science is the scientific study of Earth's climate, typically defined as weather conditions averaged over a period of at least 30 years. This modern field of study ...

for

Environment Canada Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC; french: Environnement et Changement climatique Canada),Environment and Climate Change Canada is the applied title under the Federal Identity Program; the legal title is Department of the Environment ( ...

(Department of the Environment),

spokesperson A spokesperson, spokesman, or spokeswoman, is someone engaged or elected to speak on behalf of others. Duties and function In the present media-sensitive world, many organizations are increasingly likely to employ professionals who have receiv ...

for the

Meteorological Service of Canada The Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC; french: Service météorologique du Canada – SMC) is a division of Environment and Climate Change Canada, which primarily provides public meteorological information and weather forecasts and warnings ...

, and

author An author is the writer of a book, article, play, mostly written work. A broader definition of the word "author" states: "''An author is "the person who originated or gave existence to anything" and whose authorship determines responsibility f ...

Early life and education

Phillips was born and raised in

Windsor, Ontario Windsor is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, on the south bank of the Detroit River directly across from Detroit, Michigan, United States. Geographically located within but administratively independent of Essex County, it is the souther ...

, studied geography at the

University of Windsor , mottoeng = Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge , established = , academic_affiliations = CARL, COU, Universities Canada , former_names = Assumption College (1857-1956)Assumption University of Windsor (1956-1963) , type = Public universit ...

, graduating in 1967 with a BA.

Career

Phillips taught high school for a short time.Dempsey, Amy. "A man for all seasons", ''Toronto Daily Star'', January 16, 2015, extensive feature article on pages I1, I4, I5. Online version published a
"We hate the weather, we love Dave Phillips"
He was then hired by the Meteorological Branch of Transport Canada to conduct research on the

Great Lakes The Great Lakes, also called the Great Lakes of North America, are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes in the mid-east region of North America that connect to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence River. There are five lakes ...

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...

. The work involved using climatological data to answer questions about climatic records: farmers asking for frost-free seasons or temperature trends, urban planners assessing the location for an airport or about the climatology of the wind for tall-buildings and more general public queries. In the 1990s Phillips was filmed by the Weather Network, which created a series of 90-second trivia shorts about various weather topics entitled "Ask the Expert". Phillips studies climate and promotes awareness and understanding of weather and climate in Canada. As a weather historian he has collected and catalogued more than 35,000 weather stories. Each year since 1996 he has compiled a list and description of the year's most interesting weather stories. For nearly a decade he wrote the Weather-wise column in ''

Canadian Geographic ''Canadian Geographic'' is a magazine published by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, (RCGS) based in Ottawa, Ontario. History and profile After the Society was founded in 1929, the magazine was established the next year in May 1930 unde ...

'' magazine. Each year he creates a calendar based on weather trivia."Interview with climatologist David Phillips"
''Radio Canada International'', 2011. As of 2015, Phillips continues to make frequent appearances on national radio and television as a commentator on weather and climate matters.

Awards

*Alumni Award of Merit from the

(2012) * Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society * Fellow of the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society *Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada *

Patterson Medal The Patterson Distinguished Service Medal is awarded by the Meteorological Service of Canada The Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC; french: Service météorologique du Canada – SMC) is a division of Environment and Climate Change Canada, wh ...

for Distinguished Service to Meteorology in Canada *

Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (french: Médaille du jubilé de diamant de la reine Elizabeth II) or The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2012 to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's ...

*Twice the Public Service Merit Award *Honorary doctorates from the

University of Waterloo The University of Waterloo (UWaterloo, UW, or Waterloo) is a public research university with a main campus in Waterloo, Ontario Waterloo is a city in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is one of three cities in the Regional Municipality ...

and

Nipissing University , mottoeng = Spirit of Integrity , established = , former_names = Northeastern University (1960-1967), Nipissing College (1967-1992) , type = Public University , academic_affiliation = COU, CVU, Universities Canada , endowment ...

Order of Canada The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the ...

(2001) *

Camsell Medal The Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS; French: ''Société géographique royale du Canada'') is a Canadian nonprofit educational organization dedicated to imparting a broader knowledge and deeper appreciation of Canada—its people a ...

by the

Royal Canadian Geographical Society The Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS; French: ''Société géographique royale du Canada'') is a Canadian nonprofit educational organization dedicated to imparting a broader knowledge and deeper appreciation of Canada—its people ...

(1993)

Publications

Phillips has authored several books, ''The Climates Of Canada'' and two bestsellers ''The Day Niagara Falls Ran Dry'' and ''Blame It On The Weather''. Phillips published several essays in

The Canadian Encyclopedia ''The Canadian Encyclopedia'' (TCE; french: L'Encyclopédie canadienne) is the national encyclopedia of Canada, published online by the Toronto-based historical organization Historica Canada, with the support of Canadian Heritage. Available fo ...

. He is also the author of ''The Canadian Weather Trivia Calendar''. Among his work is the ''Climatic Severity Index'', a ranking of 150 locations in Canada for their most extreme weather.

References

External links

Weather guru says climate change will require lifestyle adaptation (2011)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Phillips, David 1944 births Canadian climatologists Canadian radio personalities Canadian television meteorologists Canadian science writers Living people Members of the Order of Canada Writers from Windsor, Ontario