CPMSG Member Bios

Role

• Professor, Colorado State University

Education

• PhD, Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Purdue University, 2003
• MS, Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, 1994
• BS, Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, 1992

Research Interests

My research interests lie in remote sensing for cloud and precipitation, radiative transfer, and cloud-aerosol-precipitation-radiation interactions. I have been always excited about accessing cloud and precipitation properties that are critical for weather and climate sciences yet missing in current observations, using synergistic radar, lidar, and radiation measurements. I have been also working on machine learning applications in understanding precipitation formation, advancing aerosol remote sensing, and developing fast high-resolution 3D radiative transfer.

Professional Experience

Prior to joining Colorado State University, I was an Associate Professor at the Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, United Kingdom, a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland–Baltimore County, and an Associated Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. I have participated in several field campaigns, including the ARM the Eastern North Atlantic (ACE-ENA) field campaign, and the European Dynamics-Aerosol-Chemistry-Cloud Interactions in West Africa. I am currently serving as the Chair of the Cloud and Precipitation Measurements and Science Group for the ARM Climate Research Facility, and a member of the International Radiation Commission and the Hyperspectral Imaging and Sounding of the Environment Program Committee. In the past, I have served as the Chair of the AMS Atmospheric Radiation Committee.

Role

• Earth Scientist, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Education

• PhD, Meteorology, University of Utah, 2000
• BA, Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, 1993

Research Interests

My research interests are remote sensing and in situ measurements of clouds and understanding processes that influence cloud lifecycle.

Professional Experience

Field work has been a big part of my career starting as an undergraduate student helping to calibrate radiometers and sun photometers in Boulder, CO. My first trip to the Southern Great Plains was as a graduate student, participating in several field campaigns related to cirrus clouds. At PNNL, I have held several roles, including working with the ARM Aerial Facility (AAF) where I was responsible for the characterization, deployment, and processing of several cloud probes, and served as the AAF Deputy Director, helping to coordinate field campaign activities. Currently in my role as the ARM Associate Director for Research, I oversee development activities across ARM with a focus on science products. In this role I work to improve ARM’s measurement strategies and science products to enable users to answer diverse science objectives and strive to build stronger collaborations between ARM and the modelling community.

Role

• Associate Professor, San Jose State University

Education

• PhD, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, 2013

• BS, Environmental Sciences, Peking University, China, 2008

Research Interests

My overall research interest focuses on improving the understanding of cloud and aerosol properties and processes in the Earth’s atmosphere. My current research projects include mixed-phase clouds over the high latitudinal regions, cirrus cloud formation, aerosol indirect effects, and fine particulate matter emissions from wildfires. My expertise covers a wide spectrum including airborne instrument calibrations, analysis of airborne, shipborne, ground-based and spaceborne observations, and evaluation of a hierarchy of model simulations (e.g., cloud-resolving, weather forecasting, and climate models).

Professional Experience

I participated in numerous NSF major flight campaigns and have been an active DOE ARM data user. I received faculty fellowships from both NCAR ASP program and DOE Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, as well as an SJSU Early Career Investigator Award. More details of my research projects and publications can be found on my website.

Role

• Earth Scientist, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Education

• PhD, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, McGill University, 2017
• MS, Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, 2007
• BS, Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, 2005

Research Interests

My research interests are in cloud and precipitation physics, water vapor variability in lower-atmosphere, radar meteorology and mesoscale meteorology.

Professional Experience

Currently, I am a radar data mentor of the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement user facility (ARM).  In this role, I lead efforts to characterize and to ensure the quality of data collected from the ARM cloud and precipitation radars, both in field experiments and permanent sites.

Prior to joining PNNL, I conducted extensive research using radars.  During my postdoctoral work at Colorado State University, I focused on examining the interplay between kinematic and microphysics processes in hurricanes, leveraging both airborne and ground-based dual-polarization Doppler radars, as well as numerical simulations.  Later, during my Advanced Study Program postdoctoral at National Center for Atmospheric Research, my research efforts centered on investigating spatiotemporal variability in water vapor in storm environments and boundary layers using radars and lidars.

Role

• Meteorologist, Brookhaven National Laboratory

Education

• PhD, Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, 2007
• MS, Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, 2002
• BS, Meteorology, The Pennsylvania State University, 2000

Research Interests

My research interests fall under cloud processes, with an emphasis on convective clouds. I make extensive use of observations from the ARM fixed sites and AMF deployments for the development of appropriate data collection and retrieval techniques, data analysis, and modeling to improve understanding of deep convective dynamics, organization, and the relationship with the larger-scale environment.

Professional Experience

I have been an active user of ARM observational data sets for over a decade. I regularly use ARM radar data sets as part of ongoing Atmospheric System Research work. Recent collaborative research activities have applied retrievals of convective vertical velocities from the GoAmazon2014/15 campaign towards process understanding of boundary-layer aerosol budget and aerosol-convection interactions. As a current ARM Translator, I have experience developing ARM value-added products and supporting new instrumentation and activities.

No bio information available.

Role

• Meteorologist, Brookhaven National Laboratory

Education

• PhD, Meteorology, The Pennsylvania State University, 2000
• MS, Meteorology, The Pennsylvania State University, 1993
• BS, Atmospheric Sciences, State University of New York at Stony Brook, 1990

Research Interests

My research focuses on a combination of observational and modeling studies to better understand the lifecycle of cloud systems and the role they play in the Earth’s energy balance. I have been actively involved with the Department of Energy’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Facility and the Atmospheric System Research Program since 1996 working on research projects studying the processes that drive the lifecycle of convective clouds, defining the characteristics of marine boundary layer clouds and the retrieval of cloud microphysical properties from remote sensing observations.

Professional Experience

I have served a number of roles in the ARM and ASR communities. I served as the ARM translator for the Cloud Properties/Processes working groups from 2005 to 2016, and the lead ARM translator from 2009 – 2016. In 2011 I was the principal investigator for the Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment (MC3E) held at the ARM Southern Great Plains site. Since 2016 I have been the manager for the joint BNL-ANL ASR Science Focus Area project titled “Process-level AdvancementS of Climate through Cloud and Aerosol Lifecycle Studies.” Most recently, I am the principal investigator for the TRacking Aerosol Convection interactions Experiment (TRACER) in the Houston, TX region from October 2021 through September 2022.

Role

• Associate Professor, Department of Meteorology & Atmospheric Science, Pennsylvania State University

Education

• PhD, Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, 2012
• MS, Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, 2008
• BS, Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, 2006

Research Interests

My research interests are in cloud and precipitation physics, radar meteorology, and mesoscale meteorology. In particular, I focus on using polarimetric and multifrequency Doppler radar observations and cloud-resolving numerical models to better understand precipitation processes in a variety of regimes, including warm rain, snow and ice, transitional winter storms, and hailstorms. Research in these areas with my students and collaborators has resulted in about 100 peer-reviewed journal publications.

Professional Experience

After earning my Ph.D., I spent just over a year as a postdoctoral research associate with the Advanced Study Program at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, before joining the faculty at Penn State in January 2014. At Penn State, I have taught a variety of undergraduate- and graduate-level courses, including Cloud Physics, Radar Meteorology, Mesoscale Meteorology, and developed or co-developed specialty courses in Snow and Ice Physics, Aerosol-Cloud-Precipitation Interactions, Precipitation Physics, and Atmospheric Optics. My research group currently comprises 10 graduate students working on a wide range of topics. I also serve on several national and international committees. In my free time, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my wife Kelly, including hiking, camping, skiing, and going to the beach.

Role

• Earth Scientist, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Education

• PhD, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, 2010
• MA, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, 2008
• MSEL, Environmental Law, Vermont Law School, 2001
• MS, Atmospheric Sciences, National Taiwan University, 2001
• BS, Atmospheric Sciences, National Taiwan University, 1999

Research Interests

My research interest is oriented towards improving the understanding and the predictability of aerosols, clouds, and precipitation in the changing climate, with an emphasis on the convergence of traditional physics-driven methods with modern artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques.

Professional Experience

I have primarily worked on developing global Earth system models and using them to understand climate changes in the past, present, and future. I previously served as the Aerosol Liaison for the Community Earth System Model and the Team Leader for Global Atmospheric Modeling. Currently I lead the “Enabling Aerosol-cloud interactions at GLobal convection-permitting scalES (EAGLES)” project to develop improved treatment for aerosols and aerosol-cloud interactions. I am also involved in several other projects to explore the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to understand the climate system, develop data-driven representations of subgrid physics in Earth system models, and improve land-atmosphere coupling.

Role

• Assistant Atmospheric Scientist, Argonne National Laboratory

Education

• PhD, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Purdue University, 2012
• MS, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Purdue University, 2009
• BS, Physics, Yerevan State University, 2002

Research Interests

My research interests are in the application of atmospheric remote sensing techniques for the investigation of boundary layer processes as well aerosol detection and retrieval of aerosol optical properties using active remote sensors. I am also passionate about the optimization of sampling strategies with remote sensing instrumentations for adaptive sampling of targeted processes.

Professional Experience

With background in Physics, it was due to unlikely turn of events that my career path landed me in the field of atmospheric science. For my PhD, I joined a research group at Purdue University that was developing a novel method for atmospheric profiling, using GPS signals recorded on an airborne platform. Being part of several field studies demonstrating this method’s potential, I realized the value of high-quality observations and the amount of effort that goes into ensuring those. I joined Argonne as a postdoctoral associate working on a field study for improving wind forecasts in complex terrain. During this time, I also became the ARM associate mentor for radar wind profilers and micropulse lidars. Taking on the lead mentor’s duties since 2018, I continue to seek for improvements in sampling strategies and instrument calibration, for enhanced quality of observations.

Role

• Scientist, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Education

• PhD, Physics, New Mexico State University, 1996
• MS, Physics, New Mexico State University, 1992
• BS, Physics, University of New Mexico, 1985

Research Interests

Dr. Newsom is an atmospheric scientist specializing in lidar remote sensing of the atmosphere. His expertise and research interests include the atmospheric boundary layer and the application of lidar to observing winds, turbulence, aerosol optical properties and trace gas concentrations. He has extensive experience in lidar signal processing, algorithm development for parameter retrieval, motion compensation, and multi-Doppler data analysis. He has authored or co-authored numerous scientific papers in the areas of lidar remote sensing of the atmospheric boundary-layer.

Professional Experience

Currently, Dr. Newsom is the instrument mentor for several lidar systems operated by the Department of Energy’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program. These lidar systems are deployed at various ARM sites around the globe, and include several multi-channel UV Raman lidars, and many coherent Doppler lidar systems. In that role Dr. Newsom has developed and helped operationalize a number of lidar-related ARM value-added-products. Additionally, Dr. Newsom has been and continues to be involved in a number field projects in support of wind energy, national security, and weather and climate research.

Prior to joining PNNL in 2006 Dr Newsom worked for Harris Corporation as a software engineer. In that role he worked on algorithm development for hyperspectal imagers and the next-generation GOES visible imager, which is currently in orbit. From 1998 to 2003 worked as a research scientist in the Lidar group at the Environmental Technology Laboratory (ETL), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Boulder, CO. Prior to graduate school Dr Newsom worked for General Dynamics Corporation as an electro-optical systems engineer.

Role

• Atmospheric Science Software Specialist, Argonne National Laboratory

Education

• MS, Atmospheric Sciences, University of North Dakota, 2016
• BS, Meteorology, Millersville University, 2013

Research Interests

My research interests cover remote and in-situ sensing of clouds and precipitation processes from a variety of instrumented platforms, particularly research aircraft. My research has focused on the effects of instrument location and sampling strategy on observations. I believe in conducting science in an open and reproducible manner, with emphasis on open software and open hardware.

Professional Experience

My career has been marked by extensive field work covering a wide range of atmospheric conditions, with ten deployments since 2013. Of note, during my graduate research at the University of North Dakota, I participated in the NASA OLYMPEx (2015) and NASA ORACLES (2016, 2017, 2018) experiments through the operation of cloud in-situ instrumentation. My PhD research is investigating hydrometeor trajectories around aircraft instrumentation and relation of in-situ cloud observations to multi-frequency radar observations. I am currently assisting in the development of open source software to investigate ARM radars (e.g. Py-ART) and associate mentor to the micropulse LiDAR.

Role

• Research Associate II, University of Oklahoma’s Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research and Operations, supporting the ARM Data Quality Office

Education

• MS, Atmospheric Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2015
• BS, Earth Science, Northeastern Illinois University, 2013

Research Interests

My main area of research focuses on measuring the performance of global climate models through model-data comparisons of cloud fraction and aerosol optical depth. By using the CF and AOD of observed MODIS data and global climate model output, I can identify and analyze where global climate models may be lacking. This work has been published in AGU’s Earth and Space Science Journal.

Professional Experience

I work to help fulfill the main goal of the ARM DQO, which is to keep an eye on all of ARM’s weather and climate data and make sure that it is of good quality. It is important to provide the most accurate, precise, and reliable data for scientific research. The DQO accomplishes this by writing code that processes the data collected from ARM instruments and creates corresponding plots and metrics in near-real time. This makes it much easier to identify when an instrument is broken and needs to be fixed.

Role

• Research Associate & xCITE Laboratory Director, Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, University at Albany

Education

• BS, Computer Science, University at Albany, In progress
• PhD, Meteorology, Penn State University, 2013
• BS, Meteorology, Penn State University, 2009

Research Interests

Extending from my graduate work, my research has focused on understanding the growth mechanisms of frozen hydrometeors and their influence on cloud systems. In particular this includes the development of a habit-dependent ice microphysical parameterization. This work extends to include aggregation, and more recently, the impact of habit on electrification and lightning production. More recently, and as Director of the xCITE Laboratory at ASRC, my research focus has shifted to advanced computational methods including advanced data analytics, machine learning/AI, and software development. Much of this work melds observed or NWP data with non-meteorological data, such as camera images or utility outages, with aims to improve our understanding of how weather impacts sectors vulnerable to weather-related emergencies. In addition to the development of new, unique models, is the necessity to improve explainability of these methods and effectively communicating/translating their outputs.

Professional Experience

As research associate/faculty at ASRC, I am responsible for leading a number of research projects and advising graduate students through their degrees. This includes traditional academic responsibilities, such as publications and proposal submissions. As xCITE Lab Director, these responsibilities expand to management of the lab and lab staff, including extensive high-end GPU-based hardware and scientific visualization, and management of the many projects that require these resources as well as xCITE expertise (e.g., GPU computing, training, web app development, data management, etc.).

Role

• ARM Instrument Operations Manager, Argonne National Laboratory

Education

• MS, Atmospheric Science, University of North Dakota, 2009
• BS, Atmospheric Science, University of North Dakota, 2007

Research Interests

Being on the infrastructure side of things, I do not have much time for research but my interests do lie in open-source software (ACT), precipitation (solid and liquid), radar, long-term data analysis, and general data science.

Professional Experience

I received broad expertise in my schooling, working on projects ranging from weather modification where I would simultaneously operate a polarimetric radar and direct seeding operations alone to supporting NASA’s NPOL radar in Senegal in support of the NASA African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analyses to polarimetric radar analysis of snow microphysics.  From there, I did a short stint as a systems engineer at NASA IV&V in West Virginia before starting with ARM’s Data Quality Office in 2010.  In working with the previous instrument operations manager (Doug Sisterson) closely over many of those years, it paved the way to my transition into the Instrument Operations Manager position in 2018.

Role

• Research Professor, Ann and H.J. Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado, Boulder

Education

• PhD, Electrical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, 1994
• MS, Electrical Engineering, Purdue University, 1986
• BS, Electronic Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, 1985

Research Interests

My research vision is to advance our understanding of precipitation microphysical processes and cloud dynamics with the ultimate aim of improving parameterizations in numerical models. I pursue this vision by analyzing ground-, air-, and space-based radar observations to retrieve raindrop number and size estimates that lead to improved global rainfall estimates and improved understanding of precipitation processes and dynamics.

Professional Experience

After earning my PhD, I joined CIRES (Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences) at CU Boulder as a research scientist working within the NOAA research laboratories. My first project was to analyze the vertical structure of Tropical convection as it passed over ground-based vertically pointing radars. Nearly thirty years later, I am still using vertically pointing radars to study cloud systems, but with finer resolution and with radars operating at multiple wavelengths.