Atmospheric Sciences Commons^™

What Do Experienced Water Managers Think Of Water Resources Of Our Nation And Its Management Infrastructure?, Faisal Hossain, Jeffrey R. Arnold, Edward Beighley, Casey M. Brown, Steven J. Burian, Ji Chen, Anindita Mitra, Dev Dutta S Niyogi, Roger A. Pielke, Vincent C. Tidwell, Dave Wegner

Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences Faculty Publications

This article represents the second report by an ASCE Task Committee "Infrastructure Impacts of Landscape-driven Weather Change" under the ASCE Watershed Management Technical Committee and the ASCE Hydroclimate Technical Committee. Herein, the 'infrastructure impacts" are referred to as infrastructure-sensitive changes in weather and climate patterns (extremes and non-extremes) that are modulated, among other factors, by changes in landscape, land use and land cover change. In this first report, the article argued for explicitly considering the well-established feedbacks triggered by infrastructure systems to the land-atmosphere system via landscape change. In this report by the ASCE Task Committee (TC), we present the …

Correlation Between Leader Speed And Peak Current In Natural Lightning, Juan G. Alonso Guzman

Summer Community of Scholars Posters (RCEU and HCR Combined Programs)

No abstract provided.

Regional-Scale Simulations Of Fungal Spore Aerosols Using An Emission Parameterization Adapted To Local Measurements Of Fluorescent Biological Aerosol Particles, Matthias Hummel, Corinna Hoose, M. Gallagher, D. A. Healy, J. Alex Huffman, D. O'Connor, U. Pöschl, C. Pöhlker, N. H. Robinson, M. Schnaiter, J. R. Sodeau, M. Stengel, E. Toprak, H. Vogel

Chemistry and Biochemistry: Faculty Scholarship

Fungal spores as a prominent type of primary biological aerosol particles (PBAP) have been incorporated into the COSMO-ART (Consortium for Small-scale Modelling- Aerosols and Reactive Trace gases) regional atmospheric model. Two literature-based emission rates for fungal spores derived from fungal spore colony counts and chemical tracer measurements were used as a parameterization baseline for this study. A third, new emission parameterization for fluorescent biological aerosol particles (FBAP) was adapted to field measurements from four locations across Europe. FBAP concentrations can be regarded as a lower estimate of total PBAP concentrations. Size distributions of FBAP often show a distinct mode at …

The Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor–Droplet Freezing Technique (Moudi-Dft) For Measuring Concentrations Of Ice Nucleating Particles As A Function Of Size: Improvements And Initial Validation, R. H. Mason, C. Chou, C. S. Mccluskey, E. J. T. Levin, C. L. Schiller, T. C. J. Hill, J. Alex Huffman, P. J. Demott, A. K. Bertram

Chemistry and Biochemistry: Faculty Scholarship

The micro-orifice uniform deposit impactor– droplet freezing technique (MOUDI-DFT) combines particle collection by inertial impaction (via the MOUDI) and a microscope-based immersion freezing apparatus (the DFT) to measure atmospheric concentrations of ice nucleating particles (INPs) as a function of size and temperature. In the first part of this study we improved upon this recently introduced technique. Using optical microscopy, we investigated the non-uniformity of MOUDI aerosol deposits at spatial resolutions of 1, 0.25 mm, and for some stages when necessary 0.10 mm. The results from these measurements show that at a spatial resolution of 1mm and less, the concentration of …

Analysis Of No2 And Hcho Vertical Column Densities In The Great Lakes Region Using The Ozone Monitoring Instrument, David J. Faber

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) are major contributors to air quality, especially for their direct involvement in ozone (O3) production. Retrievals of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and formaldehyde (HCHO) mixing ratios can be used to represent NOx and VOCs respectively and the formaldehyde-to-NO2 ratio (FNR) can be used to analyze the O3 production chemistry in a region. Since the current monitoring network in the Great Lakes region for NO2 and HCHO is limited, the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) can be used to retrieve vertical column densities for NO2 and HCHO in rural areas away from ground-based sensors. OMI …

Characterization Of Tropical Clouds Using Multi-Satellite Observations, Ricardo Anderson

Dissertations and Theses

Clouds an important component of the earth-climate system and play a critical role in affecting energy and water cycle of the planet. In particular, tropical convective clouds account for the majority of the precipitation that fall on the Earth's surface. Multiple active satellite missions in recent decade such as TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission), and CloudSat have provided fruitful new insight into the internal structures of these tropical convective clouds. In conjunction with cloud data from ISCCP (International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project), that is based passive remote sensing technology in the visible and infrared spectrum, this allows for a more …

Intra- And Inter-Seasonal Variability Of Supra-Glacial 1 Streams And Lakes Over The West Greenland Ice Sheet 2 From High-Resolution Satellite Optical Data, Michael Gregory Brown

Dissertations and Theses

The Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) is one of the largest glacial ice masses on Earth, second only to the Antarctic ice sheet. The surface hydrology of the GrIS plays a crucial role on the surface energy and mass balance budgets of the ice sheet as a whole. Surface water, known as supra-glacial water, is seasonally found in the ablation zone and feeds the en-glacial and sub-glacial hydrological environments of the ice sheet. The spatial distribution of surface streams is poorly understood and their temporal variability is (to our knowledge) unknown. One of the reasons for the lack of knowledge on …

Variability Of No And No2 Above The Snowpack At Summit, Greenland, Zhixin Wang

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) were measured at levels of approximately 7.5 m, 3 m, and 0.5 m above the surface snowpack at Summit, Greenland from July 2008 to July 2010, respectively, with two sets of instrument systems. Instrument I measured NO and NO₂ at levels of 3 m and 0.5 m with two inlets, and instrument II measured NO and NO₂ at a level of 7.5 m plus total reactive nitrogen oxides (NO_y) at the same level with one inlet. Compared to previous measurements, the data provided the first year-round simultaneous …

Aerosol Physical And Chemical Properties Over Tropical Atlantic Ocean, Elsa Castillo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The atmospheric aerosol mass size distributions, modal characteristics, and a comparative analysis of the characteristic of PM2.5 versus trace gases: CO, O3, and SO2 over tropical Atlantic Ocean have been evaluated for Nov-Dec 2013. This study took place during the IX AEROSE expedition while the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) research vessel Ronald H. Brown traveled south along 23°W between 3°N and 5°S.

Aerosol mass size distributions were measured directly with a California Instruments Model PC-2H Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM). The corresponding values of average mass for accumulation, nuclei and coarse mode obtained were: 0.00124±0.00077, 0.00506±0.00254, and 0.00176±0.00114 μg/m …

Observational Evidence Of Quasi-27-Day Oscillation Propagating From The Lower Atmosphere To The Mesosphere Over 20° N, K.M. Huang, Alan Liu, S.D. Zhang, F. Yi, C.M. Huang

Publications

By using meteor radar, radiosonde and satellite observations over 20° N and NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data during 81 days from 22 December 2004 to 12 March 2005, a quasi-27-day oscillation propagating from the troposphere to the mesosphere is reported. A pronounced 27-day periodicity is observed in the raw zonal wind from meteor radar. Spectral analysis shows that the oscillation also occurs in the meridional wind and temperature and propagates westward with wavenumber s = 1; thus the oscillation is of Rossby wave type. The oscillation attains a large amplitude of about 12 m s−1 in the eastward wind shear region of …

Assessment Of Public Health Risks Associated With Petrochemical Emissions Surrounding An Oil Refinery, Erin L. Pulster

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Refinery operations have been associated with a wide variety of atmospheric emissions consisting of criteria air pollutants, volatile organic components, hazardous air pollutants as well as other pollutants. With approximately 100 oil refineries in the Wider Caribbean region (WCR), hydrocarbons in this region pose significant environmental and human health risks. One of the oldest and largest refineries in the WCR is the Isla Refineriá, which is located on the island of Curaçao, and has been the basis of historical debates and conflict between the public and the local government over the environmental and human health risks. This research aims to …

A Swirl In The Clouds Near Santa Cruz Island (Images Of Note), Bradley M. Muller, Christopher G. Herbster

Publications

The authors discuss a rare photograph of an atmospheric eddy produced by marine boundary layer flow past terrain.

Aerosols, Hurricanes, And Their Interactions : A Case Study Of Hurricane Sandy, Andrew Fontenot, Hesham El-Askary, W. Lau

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

While the effects of aerosols on precipitation have been studied, their effects on more extreme precipitation events like Tropical Cyclones have only been questioned relatively recently. Because of the rarity of the intersection of significant quantities of aerosols and forming/formed tropical cyclones, as well as the possible destruction caused, most experiments about their effects take place in computer models that may not fully simulate the effects of the aerosols. Limitations in satellite sensing make it difficult to track processes and material distributions in hurricanes from afar as well. Hurricane Sandy, a devastating hurricane that formed in October of 2012, may …

A Trend Analysis Of Aerosol Related Parameters And Their Relation To Precipitation Variability In Arizona, Krista Rasmussen, Hesham El-Askary

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

The Objective of our research was to investigate if there is a correlation between haboob outbreaks, resulting in large dust storms over Arizona, and the precipitation patterns over the region. We examined the extent of this correlation over the last ten years using satellite daily observations to highlight the possibility of better forecasts for precipitation events, such as monsoon thunderstorms. Our research indicates that haboobs increase precipitation in the Sonoran desert of Arizona because the dust particles are large enough to act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). Data was collected from five locations spread out over the state of Arizona …

Long Term Ground Based Precipitation Data Analysis: Spatial And Temporal Variability, Luciano Rodriguez, Cyril S. Rakovski, Hesham El-Askary, Mohamed Allali

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

California is an area of diverse topography and has what many scientists call a Mediterranean climate. Various precipitation patterns exist due to El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) which can cause abnormal precipitation or droughts. As temperature increases mainly due to the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere, it is rapidly changing the climate of not only California but the world. An increase in temperature is leading to droughts in certain areas as other areas are experiencing heavy rainfall/flooding. Droughts in return are providing a foundation for fires harming the ecosystem and nearby population. Various natural hazards can be induced due …

Optimal Ranking Regime Analysis Of Intra- To Multidecadal U.S. Climate Variability. Part I: Temperature, Eugene C. Cordero, Steven A. Mauget

Faculty Publications, Meteorology and Climate Science

The optimal ranking regime (ORR) method was used to identify intradecadal to multidecadal (IMD) time windows containing significant ranking sequences in U.S. climate division temperature data. The simplicity of the ORR procedure’s output—a time series’ most significant nonoverlapping periods of high or low rankings—makes it possible to graphically identify common temporal breakpoints and spatial patterns of IMD variability in the analyses of 102 climate division temperature series. This approach is also applied to annual Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO) and Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) climate indices, a Northern Hemisphere annual temperature (NHT) series, and divisional annual and seasonal temperature data during …

Optimal Ranking Regime Analysis Of Intra- To Multidecadal U.S. Climate Variability. Part Ii: Precipitation And Streamflow, Steven A. Mauget, Eugene C. Cordero

Faculty Publications, Meteorology and Climate Science

In Part I of this paper, the optimal ranking regime (ORR) method was used to identify intradecadal to multidecadal (IMD) regimes in U.S. climate division temperature data during 1896–2012. Here, the method is used to test for annual and seasonal precipitation regimes during that same period. Water-year mean streamflow rankings at 125 U.S. Hydro-Climatic Data Network gauge stations are also evaluated during 1939–2011. The precipitation and streamflow regimes identified are compared with ORR-derived regimes in the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO), the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO), and indices derived from gridded SST anomaly (SSTA) analysis data. Using a graphic display approach …

Investigating Mesospheric Gravity Wave Dynamics Over Mcmurdo Station, Antarctica (77° S), Jonathan Pugmire, Michael J. Taylor, Yucheng Zhao, Dominique Pautet

Graduate Student Posters

The ANtarctic Gravity Wave Instrument Network (ANGWIN) is an NSF sponsored international program designed to develop and utilize a network of gravity wave observatories using existing and new instrumentation operated at several established research stations around the continent. The primary goal is to better understand and quantify large-scale gravity wave climatology and their effects on the upper atmosphere over Antarctica. ANGWIN currently comprises research measurements from five nations (U.S., U.K., Australia, Japan, and Brazil) at seven international stations. Utah State University’s Atmospheric Imaging Lab operates an all-sky CCD, all-sky infrared imagers and an Advanced Mesospheric Temperature Mapper (AMTM) imager at …

Effects Of Major Sudden Stratospheric Warmings Identified In Midlatitude Mesospheric Rayleigh-Scatter Lidar Temperatures, Leda Sox, Vincent B. Wickwar, Chad Fish, Josh Herron

Physics Student Research

Mesospheric temperature anomalies associated with Sudden Stratospheric Warmings (SSWs) have been observed extensively in the polar regions. However, observations of these anomalies at midlatitudes are sparse. The very dense 11-year data set, collected between 1993–2004, with the Rayleigh-scatter lidar at the Atmospheric Lidar Observatory (ALO; 41.7°N, 111.8°W) at the Center for Atmospheric and Space Sciences (CASS) on the campus of Utah State University (USU), has been carefully examined for such anomalies. The temperatures derived from these data extend over the mesosphere, from 45 to 90 km. During this period extensive data were acquired during seven major SSW events. In this …

Arctic Air Pollution: New Insights From Polarcat-Ipy, Katherine S. Law, Andreas Stohl, Patricia K. Quinn, Charles A. Brock, John F. Burkhart, Jean-Daniel Paris, Gerard Ancellet, Hanwant B. Singh, Anke Roiger, Hans Schlager, Jack E. Dibb, Daniel J. Jacob, S R. Arnold, Jacques Pelon, Jennie L. Thomas

Earth Sciences

Given the rapid nature of climate change occurring in the Arctic and the difficulty climate models have in quantitatively reproducing observed changes such as sea ice loss, it is important to improve understanding of the processes leading to climate change in this region, including the role of short-lived climate pollutants such as aerosols and ozone. It has long been known that pollution produced from emissions at midlatitudes can be transported to the Arctic, resulting in a winter/spring aerosol maximum known as Arctic haze. However, many uncertainties remain about the composition and origin of Arctic pollution throughout the troposphere; for example, …