Chocolate Friday is a bi-weekly research and idea sharing event. Each week features presentations from NEMAC staff, University faculty, student researchers, and visiting professionals. The event is open to anyone who is interested in NEMAC and the topics.
And yes, chocolate is served!
Observing Hurricane Winds from Space
Christopher C. Hennon, Assistant Professor, UNCA Department of Atmospheric Sciences
An accurate knowledge of the spatial distribution and magnitude of hurricane winds saves lives by improving forecasts and narrowing warning and evacuation areas. Acquiring such knowledge is a challenge, since hurricanes by nature occur over data-sparse oceans. This presentation will introduce recent developments in space-borne instrumentation and post-processing techniques. These tools are beginning to provide forecasters with a comprehensive and accurate look inside the hurricane wind field.
If a raindrop falls in the middle of Haywood County, does it make a splash?
Douglas K. Miller, Associate Professor and Chairperson
UNCA Atmospheric Sciences Department
Student and faculty researchers in the Atmospheric Sciences Department at UNC Asheville are partnering with Dr. Ana Barros of Duke University to study high elevation rainfall patterns in Haywood County to better understand the hydrological cycle in mountainous terrain. Most operational rain gauges in the vicinity of mountains are located in easy access areas, typically in valleys near roads. This has the potential of biasing our understanding of rainfall in these regions and has proven challenging for methods attempting to estimate rainfall via remote systems (e.g. satellite or radar). A NASA-funded study was started this past summer with the installation of rain gauges at high elevation locations in the Pigeon River Basin in an effort to better understand rainfall patterns for both warm and cold season precipitating weather events. This presentation will focus on the scientific questions being addressed by the study, the challenges in establishing a weather observation network in western North Carolina, and some preliminary results.
Impact of the Southern Appalachian Mountains on the SEMPE IOP-4 event
Christopher McCall Majoring in Atmospheric Science, UNCA
The emphasis of this study is to compare an analysis of the 1 February 2007 storm using operational and SEMPE observations to RUC, NAM, and GFS forecasts produced within 24 hours of the storm passing over Asheville. In particular, the comparison focuses on the role of the nearby mountains in modifying the storm such that the actual total accumulations were much less than anticipated. Radar imagery from this event indicated a distinct dry "wedge" downstream of the Appalachian Mountains that failed to erode completely as the storm moved through the region. This study will analyze the source of the drying and seek to explain why the operational model forecasts were unable to predict the observed dry wedge.
Future Chocolate Fridays will cover other topics:
November 16 GIS Day: A Local Celebration
December 7 Biosphere
WHERE: The Chamber of Commerce
36 Montford Ave , Asheville 28801
WHEN: 3:00-5:00 on Fridays
(check the schedule for upcoming days)
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact Susan Weatherford (250-3890)
Here's a flyer you can download and hang in your office.
