Atmospheric Sciences Commons^™

Environmental Analysis Of Goes-R Proving Ground Convection Initiation Forecasting Algorithms, Jason M. Apke

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The enhanced temporal and spatial resolution of the GOES-R series will allow for the use of cloud top cooling based convection initiation (CI) forecasting algorithms. Two such algorithms have been created on the current generation of GOES satellites: theUniversityofWisconsincloud top cooling algorithm (UWCTC) and the University of Alabama-Huntsville’s satellite convection analysis and tracking algorithm (SATCAST). Preliminary analysis of algorithm products has led to speculation over pre-convective environmental effects on algorithm performance, which this study aims to examine. CI indications are used with objective segmentation tools to identify and cluster radar objects over theGreat Plainsbased on reflectivity quantitative and spatial thresholds. …

Umphlett Qci Dec 2013, Natalie A. Umphlett

HPRCC Personnel Publications

Highlights for the Basin

Temperature and Precipitation Anomalies

Soil Moisture

September Flooding in Colorado

Early October Blizzard

3-Month Precipitation and Temperature Outlooks

U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook

Planning And Drought, James C. Schwab

National Drought Mitigation Center: Publications

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1: Drought: The Problem.............................................. 1

Water Impacts ............................................................................... 2

Public Health Impacts ......................................................... 4

Environmental Impacts ..................................................... 5

Built Environment Impacts................................................ 6

Secondary Hazards ......................................................... 9

Economic Impacts ................................................................... 10

Drought as a Challenge for Planners .......................................... 13

Chapter 2: Drought: The Knowledge Base ................................................... 15

Spatial and Seasonal Patterns of Drought ................................................................ 16

Drought and Climate Changes .................................................................................. 19

Tracking Drought: Tools and Resources ................................................................... 20

Using the Drought Resources Toolbox...................................................................... 22

Droughtscape- Fall 2013, National Drought Mitigation Center

Droughtscape, Quarterly Newsletter of NDMC, 2007-

CONTENTS

Director’s Report ....................1

Kansas community drought planning workshop Nov. 5 ...... 2

Drought impacts webinars .....3

Drought outlook & summary ... 4

Late summer drought brings more agricultural impacts ....... 6

Plans help ranchers weather drought ................................. 10

NDMC contributions to U2U project ..................................12

Drought Management Database archives strategies................13

QuickDRI will help spot flash droughts................................ 14

NDMC Co-Hosts NASA work- shop......................................15

Wilhite leads Integrated Drought Management Program work....... 15

Speaking of drought ............ 16

Managing #Drought tweet chat transcript ..............................17

Updated USDM website ....... 17

Climate Change On The Prairie: A Basic Guide To Climate Change In The High Plains Region - Update, Lincoln, Ne

HPRCC Personnel Publications

Global Climate Change

Climate Change in the United States

Historical Climate Trends in the High Plains Region

Historical Climate Trends in the High Plains Region

High Plains Region Update: 2010-2012

New Tool: Climate Impact Reporter

Climate Change Projections and Possible Impacts

Climate Change Projections and Possible Impacts

Mesoscale Modeling And Satellite Observation Of Transport And Mixing Of Smoke And Dust Particles Over Northern Sub-Saharan African Region, Zhifeng Yang

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The transport and vertical distribution of smoke and mineral dust aerosols over the Northern Sub-Saharan African (NSSA) region have important implications for regional and global air quality and climate. This study employs ground-based and satellite observations, and numerical simulations conducted with a fully-coupled meteorology-chemistry-aerosol model, Weather Research and Forecasting model with Chemistry (WRF-Chem). The WRF-Chem simulation is for February 2008 and uses hourly dynamic smoke emissions from the Fire Locating and Modeling of Burning Emissions (FLAMBE) database derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) fire products. Model performance of smoke and dust simulation is evaluated using numerous satellite and ground-based …

Droughtscape- Summer 2013, National Drought Mitigation Center

Droughtscape, Quarterly Newsletter of NDMC, 2007-

CONTENTS

Director’s Report ....................1

July 25 webinar: Drought management database, NIDIS update..................................... 2

Republican River Basin workshops July 31, August 1.......... 3

Summer climate outlook, spring summary ................................. 4

Spring impacts: wildfire, water, agriculture and business.........6

Data help managers assess Nebraska groundwater declines after drought of 2012........... 10

Tadesse helps Mexico with Veg- DRI concept..........................14

Visiting scholar explores remote sensing of drought in forests....... 15

U.S. Drought Monitor Forum photo recap, details online............ 16

Workshop helps New Mexico ranchers cope with drought ........... 18

Alabama’s new drought plan......... 19

National Drought Forum report........... 19

Drought Impacts Community of Practice report …

An Examination Of The Mechanisms And Environments Supportive Of Bow Echo Mesovortex Genesis, George Limpert

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Low-level mesovortices are associated with enhanced surface wind gusts and high-end wind damage in quasi-linear thunderstorms. Although damage associated with mesovortices can approach that of moderately strong tornadoes, skill in forecasting mesovortices is low. The overarching goal of this work is to understand mesovortices and how they develop, to improve the skill in forecasting them. This was done by developing a climatology of mesovortices, which required a tracking algorithm, and numerical simulations were conducted to answer questions that could not be answered through the observational data. A climatology of mesovortices was constructed from 44 events during 2009 and 2010 to …

Droughtscape- Spring 2013, National Drought Mitigation Center

Droughtscape, Quarterly Newsletter of NDMC, 2007-

CONTENTS

Director’s report........................................................................................................1

First quarter climate summary and outlook ........................................................... 2

Impacts: Crop indemnities set records in 2012; water conflicts escalating ............ 4

International meeting recommends countries have drought policies ..................... 8

NDMC plays key role in international drought policy meeting ............................. 9

EDEN and VOAD guide helps build community drought capacity.....................10

Svoboda, other experts and policymakers focus on food and water security.......11

New Mexico ranching workshop set for May 29 in Socorro ................................. 12

Ranch planning updates: archived webinars, new publications ........................... 12

Tune in to the US Drought Monitor Forum, April 16-18.....................................13

Archived webinar looks at using drought …

Remote Sensing Of Surface Visibility From Space: A Look At The United States East Coast, Amy L. Kessner

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

While important for the management of air quality, human health and transportation, surface visibility data currently are only available through ground-based measurements, such as the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS), and therefore lack spatial coverage. In analogy to the recent work of using satellite-based aerosol optical depth (AOD) to derive surface dry aerosol mass concentration at continental-to-global scale for cloud-free conditions, this study evaluates the potential of AOD retrieved from the MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) for deriving surface visibility. For this purpose of evaluation, the truncated and discrete visibility data from daily weather reports are not suitable and the …

Regional Climate Trends And Scenarios For The U.S. National Climate Assessment Part 4. Climate Of The U.S. Great Plains, Kenneth E. Kunkel, Laura E. Stevens, Scott E. Stevens, Liqiang Sun, Emily Janssen, Donald Wuebbles, Michael C. Kruk, Devin Thomas, Martha Shulski, Natalie A. Umphlett, Kenneth G. Hubbard, Kevin Robbins, Luigi Romolo, Adnan Akyuz, Tapan B. Pathak, Tony R. Bergantino, J. Greg Dobson

HPRCC Personnel Publications

This document is one of series of regional climate descriptions designed to provide input that can be used in the development of the National Climate Assessment (NCA). As part of a sustained assessment approach, it is intended that these documents will be updated as new and well-vetted model results are available and as new climate scenario needs become clear. It is also hoped that these documents (and associated data and resources) are of direct benefit to decision makers and communities seeking to use this information in developing adaptation plans.

There are nine reports in this series, one each for eight …

Droughtscape- Winter 2013, Kelly Smith

Droughtscape, Quarterly Newsletter of NDMC, 2007-

CONTENTS

Director’s report...................................................................................1

Climatological overview of drought in 2012 ...................................... 2

Climatological overview of drought, Oct.-Dec. 2012.........................5

Impacts of drought in 2012 ................................................................. 6

Drought planning webinars scheduled for ranch advisors ..............10

UNL honors NDMC for exceptional service ...................................10

Report from the emerging community of drought planners ...........11

Feb. 6 webinar on drought simulations ............................................ 11

Climate Masters course starting ......................................................12

Climate Change in the Midwest book includes drought ................12

Video highlights from coverage of drought of 2012..........................13

U.S. Drought Monitor Forum 2013 .................................................. 13

UN’s High Level Meeting on National Drought Policy .................... 14

NDMC collaboration with India, Czech …

Metr 323: Physical Meteorology—A Peer Review Of Teaching Project Benchmark Portfolio, Jun Wang

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

Hands-on out-door activities are added into a course that is designed to teach students atmospheric physics ranging form solar light transfer to cloud and precipitation formation in the atmosphere. Statistical analysis and anonymous survey are conducted to benchmark the improvement in students' learning. Results show that these hands-on activities increase the student's interest and understanding in the course materials, and also improve the overall students' satisfaction for the course.

Metr 200: Weather And Climate—A Peer Review Of Teaching Project Benchmark Portfolio, Matthew S. Van Den Broeke

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This benchmark portfolio is meant to be an assessment of how well the objectives of METR 200 (Weather and Climate) are being attained by students in several classifications of academic major. Students from a wide range of backgrounds enroll in this course as a general science elective, and for many, it will be the only science course taken in college. Thus, it is important that course material be sufficiently accessible for all students, while providing meaningful information which will be applicable by students of all backgrounds once they leave the course. In this portfolio, an analysis will be presented showing …

Estimating Greenhouse Gas Emissions From A Waste Lagoon, Arturo I. Quintanar, Rezaul Mamood, Nanh Lovanh, Justin M. Rawley, Evi Becerra-Acosta, John H. Loughrin

HPRCC Personnel Publications

A cost-effective approach was used to investigate the relationship between emission of the greenhouse gases (GHG), namely, CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O and energy fluxes from a swine waste lagoon. Energy fluxes were calculated using the Penman method. The energy fluxes showed a diurnal pattern as expected of such fluxes. We found that air temperature and latent energy, lagoon surface temperature and solar radiation, as well as air temperature and wind speed can be used to predict for CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O emissions, respectively. Comparison of observed and predicted …

Climate Change: What Does It Mean For Nebraska?, Martha D. Shulski, Natalie A. Umphlett, Tapan B. Pathak, Kenneth G. Hubbard

HPRCC Personnel Publications

Because Nebraska’s location on the North American continent is far removed from large bodies of water, Nebraskans experience a strong continental type climate. As such, residents do not benefit from the moderating influence of the ocean, and temperatures can have wide swings from day to day and season to season. Typical characteristics for a continental climate at this latitude are large temperature variability with warm summers dominated by convective thunderstorms, and cold winters influenced by snow and wind from mid-latitude cyclones.