Author: Travis Swaim

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Scott Rudlosky, NOAA physical scientist and ESSIC visiting assistant research scientist, recently returned from São Paulo, Brazil, where he worked with Research Scientist Rachel Albrecht, Associate Professor Carlos Morales, Doctoral Candidate Evandro Anselmo, and Technician João Neves as part of the CHUVA field campaign to evaluate methods for measuring and mapping lightning activity. In the coming months, the scientists will reunite at ESSIC/CICS to evaluate lightning …

114 and 142 – Using a Cloud-resolving Model to Simulate Lightning NOx Production During the TC4 Experiment
Principal Investigator(s): K. Cummins

Forecasting lightning flash rates based on model storm parameters is a useful way to simulate the electrical activity in a thunderstorm, as well as estimate the production of lightning-generated nitrogen oxides (LNOx). Six types of flash rate parameterization schemes (FRPS) were evaluated using the cloud-resolved WRF Aqueous Chemistry (WRF-AqChem) simulation of the 16 November 2005 Hector thunderstorm, which occurred over the Tiwi Islands during the Stratospheric-Climate Links with Emphasis on the Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere (SCOUT-O3) and Aerosol and Chemical Transport in Tropical Convection (ACTIVE) field campaign near Darwin, Australia, in 2005. We will test six FRPS, based on work by Barthe et al. (2010), in the Hector storm simulation to determine if there is a scheme(s) that best estimates the total flashes and resulting NOx production over the lifetime of the convective event. The FRPS will also be tested in two case studies, which investigate the influence of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the lightning flash rate and resulting NOx production in Hector thunderstorms from an El Niño year (2002) and La Niña (1999) year during the month of November.

106 – Investigations of Saharan Air Layer Dust Distributions and their Influence on the African Easterly J
Principal Investigator(s): Z. Li

The objective of our project is to use the NASA Goddard Earth Observing System version V (GEOS-4 and GEOS-5, respectively) atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) and data assimilation system to understand the influence of the parameterization of dust emission on simulated dust distributions, particular, the effects of varying the source scheme, model resolution, and meteorology on emission and aerosol optical thickness (AOT) distributions. We employed several satellite and in situ observation datasets to understand the controls on an observed barrier to dust transport over the Caribbean.

101 – The Impact of using Lidar Network Data for a Summertime Cold Front Case Study:
Principal Investigator(s): S. Rabenhorst

Observation acquired during the Water Vapor Variability – Satellite/Sondes (WAVES) 2006 field campaign, centered at Beltsville, MD, provided a unique contiguous five-day period of concentrated high temporal and vertical resolution observations to examine fine-scale detail of a weather regime typical of the summertime Midatlantic area. The observations captured several interesting meteorological phenomenon that could not be explained from observations alone. Therefore, a modeling study was conducted to investigate these peculiarities. The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model was used for detailed simulation of the 1-5 August 2006 events.

ESSIC Director Antonio Busalacchi was quoted by ScienceInsider about the release of the U.S. National Academies’ National Research Council’s (NRC) report on the ability to monitor the earth via satellite and other tools.  Busalacchi is also set to speak “Live” with the “Weather Channel” on this topic, Friday May 4th, at 7:20pm….

Bottom line: Interesting selection of artery-clogging hot dogs
What I learned about sport peppers: do not bite into them if you have chapped lips! Ow. Scarfed down a “Chicago dog” and it hit the spot. Mind you, I’d been biking around town and was hungry for something quick and filling. Doubt I’ll go back but that’s only because I’m not a huge fan of hot dogs. The place is chromey with a pretty Chicago skyline metal installion on one wall … the 80s rock soundtrack playing in the background …

Climate is challenging to define, and maybe even more difficult to observe.  In fact, to some degree the term “climate observation” is meaningless – we observe properties of the climate system, including the atmosphere, the oceans, and other components of the system on short time scales and from those observations construct, by averaging or in some other way, measures of “climate”.  In addition, it’s nearly impossible to experience “weather” without taking into consideration

ESSIC EBO staff members Jean LaFonta (Associate Director for Business and Finance) and Kim Hardaway (Travel and Procurement Specialist) received University of Maryland service awards at an impromptu ceremony at a recent ESSIC Beverage and Cheese Hour. LaFonta received the University’s award for ten years of service, while Hardaway was honored with a five year University of Maryland service award….

WHO WILL BE THE DREAM CLEAN TEAM? The Elite Eight from the ACC (Maryland, Duke, Georgia Tech, Miami, Clemson, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and NC State) along with Central Florida and South Florida will all square off against each other to try to make the Final Four and then claim the $100,000 Department of Energy Clean Energy Prize and the title of Dream Clean Team! For more information:…