Benjamin Hatchett

Dr. Benjamin Hatchett is a Research Professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the Desert Research Institute (DRI). His research focuses on hydrometeorology and hydroclimatology, particularly in dryland and alpine regions across past, present, and future contexts. He is actively involved in projects related to snow drought dynamics, climate change impacts, and environmental risk communication. His work bridges gaps between scientific data and public understanding, such as improving heat risk messaging and visualizing probabilistic forecast information. Key affiliations include the Western Regional Climate Center and collaborations with state agencies like Nevada's Department of Transportation.

Research interests include snowpack evolution, rain-snow transition zone analysis, wildfire-climate interactions, and citizen science applications. Hatchett has contributed to developing real-time snow drought tracking tools and assessing the societal implications of climate extremes. His interdisciplinary approach integrates hydrology, atmospheric science, and public health to address challenges in climate adaptation and disaster resilience.