Dr. Charles B. Pyke, Forensic Meteorologist and Climatologist, is the Principal Scientist and Primary Expert Witness of American Weather & Hydrology, LLC.  He is highly familiar with weather, sunrise, sunset, moon phase, and other meteorological and astronomical phenomena all over North America.  Dr. Pyke and most of our other meteorologists and climatologists accept forensic cases anywhere in the United States and Canada, and will testify in any jurisdiction therein. 

Our services range from simple data compilation to comprehensive analysis of complex hydrometeorological phenomena, with comparison to historical averages, frequency analysis, and reconstruction--leading to expert testimony in depositions and court trials.  Included are:

• Weather:

  Rain, snow, wind, lightning strikes, hail, fog, wet or icy roads / walkways.

Tornadoes, hurricanes, typhoons. 

Temperature, humidity - including extremes and rapid changes.

El Niño, La Niña, Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO).

Coastal damage:  storm surges, high waves.

Blowing dust and sand, mud storms (rain or snow falling through blowing dust).

Blowing snow (including blizzards).

Smoke, falling ash - from large forest and brush fires or local sources.

Fire weather:  conditions favorable to spread of urban, brush, or forest fires.

Air quality / air pollution - air transport modeling, toxic torts.

Global warming / cooling; sea level rises.

Aircraft icing and turbulence, thunderstorms, low ceilings and visibility.

Drought, rainfall / snowfall deficits.

Climatic normals and departures from normal of rainfall, snowfall, wind, or temperature.

Frequency analyses of rainfall, snowfall, wind, or temperature.

Documentation of public weather forecasts issued for given dates.

• Sun, moon, and light:

  Sunrise / sunset / twilight / sun's position / sun glare.

  Moonlight / moonrise / moonset / moon phase.

  Light levels - natural and artificial.

  • Possibly enhanced by refraction from clouds and/or by glare from haze.

  • Possibly reduced by fog or smoke.

   

• Resulting in, contributing to, or affecting:

  Accidents, illness, death.

Airline flight delays or cancellations.

Avalanches.

Beach erosion - local sand scouring.

Beach erosion - widespread, associated with El Niño and other ocean-wide or global phenomena.

Cancellation of sports events, concerts, or other outdoor activities.

Construction delays.

Crop or livestock loss.

Damage to exposed interior structural elements by rain intrusion during construction or renovation.

Decomposition of bodies - processes and rates.

Deterioration of organic and inorganic substances.

Death / destruction of, or threat to, endangered species.

Evidence in criminal cases.

Fires and rapid fire spread.

Fishing industry - major fluctuations in yield because of El Niño and La Niña-induced migrations or population increases / decreases of fish and shellfish.

Floods and mud flows.

Food spoilage.

Frostbite, hypothermia; other cold-related health problems.

Heat stroke, heat exhaustion; other heat-related health problems.

Insect growth and reproduction - especially important in homicide cases.

Insurance claims.

Landslides, slope failures.

Mold, fungus, or rot.

Personal injury.   

Power interruptions or outages.   

Property damages, losses, or devaluation.

Roof leaks or collapses.   

Slip and fall.   

Structural damage or deterioration.

Toxic or radioactive gas and/or liquid diffusion, spread, or fallout.     

Tree and plant growth.     

Water contamination (contamination of or by water) - above or below ground.

Water damage (damage by water) - above or below ground.

Water seepage - above or below ground.