RAMM/CIRA 1st Quarter Report
Woodley Weather Consultants: A project continues in collaboration with Woodley Weather Consultants to determine the nowcasting and forecasting utility of effective radius retrievals from towering cumulus clouds. Satellite data for over 30 case studies has been provided, as well as specialized software to extract brightness temperatures from the data. Preliminary results are promising. (D. Lindsey)
Pyrocumulus Detection: A project with Mike Fromm (Naval Research Lab) has recently begun to study towering cumulus clouds associated with large wildfires(pyrocumulus). GOES data and loops were provided for a recent presentation at the AGU meeting. (D. Lindsey)
Software Exported: The software to compute the Surface/Skin Temperature from GOES imagery has been sent to Prof. Paul Markowski at Pennsylvania State University (PSU) for use by one of his students to model the effect of thunderstorms shadows on skin temperatures. (D. Hillger)
University Interaction: J. Weaver continues his mentorship duties with one of Tom Vonder Haar's graduate students. The project concerns satellite-observed, storm-scale features on GOES visible imagery. It is postulated that these features are most often associated with supercell thunderstorms. This week, J. Weaver (NESDIS) and R. Mazur (CSU) met with L. Grasso (CIRA) to discuss results of a Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) model run in which these features were simulated. Currently, the cluster that runs the model network is down, but initial results are promising. The goals of the project include correlation studies to relate these features to supercell storms and severe weather, as well as try to develop some idea as to their cause. (J. Weaver, L. Grasso)
Informal Meeting: D. Lindsey met with Dr. Andy Heymsfield (NCAR) to discuss recent research results about ice crystal production within thunderstorms. Some valuable ideas and suggestions were exchanged. Dr. Heymsfield was visiting the Department of Atmospheric Science at CSU, and providing a guest lecture to AT650, Measurement Systems and Theory. (D. Lindsey)