Atmospheric Sciences Commons^™

From Debate To Design: Issues In Clean Energy And Climate Change Law And Policy, Leslie Parker, Jennifer Ronk, Rachel Maxwell, Bradford Gentry, Marijn Wilder, James Cameron

Yale School of the Environment Publications Series

A report on the work of the REIL Network 2007-2008

Characterization And Analysis Of Hailstorms In The Northern Great Plains, Thomas Sando

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

Hail is a meteorological occurrence that appears frequently during spring and summer across the Northern Great Plains. This paper first characterizes patterns associated with reported hail events occurring within a five-state region (North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska) from 2000-2006 using records taken from the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) Severe Storms database. Patterns of interest include the seasonality of hail activity for each state and across the region, observational bias in the reporting of hailstone size, and temporal trends in the number of hail reports across the region and in each state. This paper then explores a …

Diagnosis Of The July 6, 2002 Ogallala, Nebraska Flash Flood, David B. Radell, Mark R. Anderson, John W. Stoppkotte, James R. Mccormick

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Faculty Publications

During the early morning hours of 6 July 2002, a mesoscale convective system (MCS) traversed southwestern Nebraska and produced more than 40 cm of precipitation, resulting in a flash flood that closed Interstate 80 and caused one fatality near Ogallala, Nebraska. Regional climatology yields that this flash flood ranked first in precipitation amount for a 24 hour period over the past one hundred years. Synoptic and mesoscale features similar to other flash flooding events and conducive to extremely heavy precipitation were in place over the Central Plains, including a weak upper level ridge, high precipitable water values (180% of normal), …

Orographic Midlatitude Cyclone Modification: An Appalachian Study, Andrew Douglas Augustine

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Forecasting weather within cyclonic systems is increasingly complicated and problematic when the cyclone is modified as it passes over a mountain range. Although much study has been devoted to orographic effects, the degree of influence exerted upon midlatitude cyclones by the undersized Appalachian Mountains has not been fully established. The fundamental goal of this research was to investigate the relationships between the orography of the Appalachian region and three inherent properties exhibited by midlatitude cyclones traversing the region including intensity, movement speed, and heading. The methodology used in this study integrates GIS within a climatological analysis. Initially, a midlatitude surface …

Evaluating Spatial Variability Of Precipitation In Kentucky With Exploratory Data Analysis, Daniel Taylor

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Spatial variability of precipitation is examined over the state of Kentucky and surrounding areas. The study focuses on the analysis of monthly precipitation totals from the period of 1961-2000. The purpose of the study is to develop a set of indices to represent the spatial variability of the study area for a given month. Various exploratory data analysis methods such as variography, kriging, and cluster analysis were used. The study attempts to quantify the second order (local) effects of the spatial variation of precipitation as a means to provide insight into the prediction of precipitation randomness. This task can be …

A Recommendation For An Enhanced Fujita Scale (Ef-Scale)

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Background

National Weather Service (NWS) personnel who are responsible for rating tornadoes have expressed frustrations in applying the Fujita Scale in a consistent and accurate manner. Weak links in a structural system or a slow-moving storm sometimes lead to an overrating of a tornado event. Several technical articles suggest that wind speeds associated with some descriptions of damage are too high. For example, a 260 mph wind speed is not required to completely destroy a well constructed house and blow away the debris. The damage occurs at significantly lower wind speeds. Minor et al. (1977) and Phan and Simiu (2003) …

Satellite Evidence Of Hurricane-Induced Phytoplankton Blooms In An Oceanic Desert, S. M. Babin, J. A. Carton, T. D. Dickey, J. D. Wiggert

CCPO Publications

The physical effects of hurricanes include deepening of the mixed layer and decreasing of the sea surface temperature in response to entrainment, curl-induced upwelling, and increased upper ocean cooling. However, the biological effects of hurricanes remain relatively unexplored. In this paper, we examine the passages of 13 hurricanes through the Sargasso Sea region of the North Atlantic during the years 1998 through 2001. Remotely sensed ocean color shows increased concentrations of surface chlorophyll within the cool wakes of the hurricanes, apparently in response to the injection of nutrients and/or biogenic pigments into the oligotrophic surface waters. This increase in post-storm …

Atmospheric Water Vapor Lidar Measurements Using Analog And Photon Counting Techniques, Anuj Maheshkumar Shah

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Atmospheric water vapor measurements are essential for the understanding of Earth's weather and radiation budget, along with the water cycle. The remote sensing Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) technique is a commanding method used for water vapor measurements from aircraft, spaceborne, and ground-based platforms. The new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) water vapor DIAL system provides great feasibility due to the weight and size limitations. The system has significantly less weight, power consumption, and noise presence, thus making it great for UAV applications.

This thesis discusses a UAV water vapor DIAL system that was designed, developed, and evaluated. The research effort was …

New Evidence For Enhanced Ocean Primary Production Triggered By Tropical Cyclone, I. Lin, W. Timothy Liu, Chun-Chieh Wu, George T. F. Wong, Chuanmin Hu, Zhiqiang Chen, Wen-Der Liang, Yih Yang, Kon-Kee Liu

OES Faculty Publications

[1] New evidence based on recent satellite data is presented to provide a rare opportunity in quantifying the long-speculated contribution of tropical cyclones to enhance ocean primary production. In July 2000, moderate cyclone Kai-Tak passed over the South China Sea (SCS). During its short 3-day stay, Kai-Tak triggered an average 30-fold increase in surface chlorophyll-a concentration. The estimated carbon fixation resulting from this event alone is 0.8 Mt, or 2-4% of SCS's annual new production. Given an average of 14 cyclones passing over the SCS annually, we suggest the long-neglected contribution of tropical cyclones to SCS's annual new production may …

Wavelength Modulation Spectroscopy Of Water Vapor And Line Center Stabilization At 1.462 Μm For Lidar Applications, Colleen Marie Fitzgerald

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Wavelength modulation spectroscopy was employed to investigate water vapor absorption lines in the 1.462 µm wavelength region using an external-cavity diode laser. These measurements were necessary in the development of a lidar (light detection and ranging) instrument for differential absorption measurement of the concentration and movement of water vapor in the Earth's atmosphere. Differential absorption measurements require that the laser frequency remain stable throughout the duration of the measurement. To ensure this stability, the laser output wavelength is monitored and a feedback control loop set up to minimize laser line drift. Three lines were investigated in the 1.462 µm region. …

Estimating The Probability Of Severe Convective Storms: A Local Perspective For The Central And Northern Plains, Preston W. Leftwich Jr.

National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration: Technical Reports and Related Materials

Summary and Conclusions

A procedure to estimate probabilities of the occurrence of severe convective storms within local areas has been described. Probabilities were based on a simulated climatology and the relative frequency of severe convective events when a selected site was contained within an operational Outlook or Watch. Combined data from five local areas were used to develop a general model for local probabilities within the central and northern Plains region. Attachment of probabilities to specific products placed values within a framework familiar to both forecasters and "end-users." Application of results in an operational scenario demonstrated representative local probabilities and …

Fiber-Optic Coupled Lidar Receiver System To Measure Stratospheric Ozone, David Brent Harper

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A fiber-optic coupled lidar receiver system was constructed to determine ozone concentrations in the stratosphere. The system was used to make ground-based measurements of lidar returns from a UV DIAL system. A fiber-optic cable was used to couple the light from the receiver telescope to the light detector. Photon counting was implemented as the light detection technique. This technique allowed detection of 301 and 311 nm lidar returns up to 27.5 and 32.5 km respectively. A software application was developed to control the photon counting system and perform real-time data analysis of measured lidar returns. DIAL measurements of stratospheric ozone …

Inversion And Analysis Of Remotely Sensed Atmospheric Water Vapor Measurements At 940nm, Jack Cutler Larsen

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The understanding and acceptance of remotely sensed atmospheric data depends strongly on the steps taken to characterize experiment error and validate observations through comparisons to other independent measurements. A formal error analysis of the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II (SAGE II) water vapor operational inversion algorithm is performed and compared to previous results. Random measurement errors were characterized by segmented least-squares profile fitting of the slant path absorption which found the error to be uncorrelated in the stratosphere with estimated variances significantly smaller than expected from 18-30 km. Estimates of null space error were developed from radiosonde hygrometers in …

Health Effects Of Air Pollutants (Sulfur Dioxide, Ozone, And Carbon Monoxide), Robert A. Bethel

Air Quality Protection in the West (November 27-28)

19 pages (includes illustrations).

Contains references.

Urban Ambient Air Quality Trends, N. O. Gerald

Air Quality Protection in the West (November 27-28)

24 pages (includes illustrations and maps).

To The U.S. Department Of Transportation: Comments Of The Environmental Defense Fund On The Secretary Of Transportation’S National Transportation Policy, Robert E. Yuhnke

Air Quality Protection in the West (November 27-28)

20 pages.

Urban Air Quality Litigation Under The Clean Air Act: Past, Present And Future, David S. Baron

Air Quality Protection in the West (November 27-28)

20 pages.

Contains footnotes.

Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control: The Remaining Issues, Michael P. Walsh

Air Quality Protection in the West (November 27-28)

26 pages (includes illustrations).

Contains references.

Diminishing Views: Air Quality In Western National Parks, Christine L. Shaver

Air Quality Protection in the West (November 27-28)

17 pages.

Contains references.

Transboundary Air Pollution: The Legal Framework, Mark S. Squillace

Air Quality Protection in the West (November 27-28)

12 pages (includes illustrations).

Contains footnotes.

Strategies To Overcome Agency Recalcitrance Under The Federal Clean Air Act: The Acid Rain Litigation Experience, David R. Wooley

Air Quality Protection in the West (November 27-28)

12 pages.

Agenda: Air Quality Protection In The West, University Of Colorado Boulder. Natural Resources Law Center

Air Quality Protection in the West (November 27-28)

Conference organizers, session moderators and/or speakers included University of Colorado School of Law professor Mark S. Squillace.

Visibility, acid rain, air toxics, and urban air pollution are the topics of an upcoming Center conference on air quality in the West. The conference will be held at the School of Law in Boulder on November 27-28, 1989. Presentations will describe the nature and scope of the issues, the existing legal framework and experience with its implementation, and proposed changes in the law. Emphasis will be placed on air quality issues in the West and efforts underway to address these problems. Special …

Toxic Air Pollution: New Solutions To Old Problems, Devra Lee Davis, Curtis Moore

Air Quality Protection in the West (November 27-28)

12 pages.

Regional Air Quality Concerns In The West: Acid Deposition And Ozone, Kathy A. Tonnessen

Air Quality Protection in the West (November 27-28)

22 pages.

Contains 3 pages of references.

Climate Data Use And Users In Connecticut, P.A. Palley, D.R. Miller

Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station

No abstract provided.

Ua66/8 Visibility Chart For College Heights Weather Station, J. M. B., Wku Geography & Geology

WKU Administration Documents

Visibility chart created for the College Heights Weather Station. The chart measures 40" x 32" and is a series of concentric circles showing visible items up to 8 miles distant from the weather station. The inner most circles are at 1/4 and 1/8 mile intervals; 1/2 mile intervals through 3 miles and then 1 mile intervals to 8 miles. Features included on the chart are Pearce-Ford Tower, McDonald's restaurant, WBKO TV tower, Bowling Green-Warren County Hospital Water Tower, Bowling Green Water tower, Greenview Hospital, knobs and the Greewood Interchange

Thunderstorms And Tornadoes Of February 1, 1955, Jean T. Lee

National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration: Technical Reports and Related Materials

The purpose of this paper is to describe and illustrate some of the features that are of particular interest in the forecasting of one of the most death-dealing series of convective storms of the 1950s that occurred during the afternoon and evening of February 1, 1955. This series of severe storms included tornadoes, destructive winds, hail, and heavy rain that first struck near Marianata, Arkansas, then roared through Commerce Landing, Mississippi and northern Mississippi. then moved on to near Huntsville, Alabama.

Includes features at the surface, at 850 mb, 700 mb, and 500 mb, and upper air conditions, along with …