Air Pollution:

Our research is focused upon using satellite data for studying the earth-atmosphere system, regional to global climate and particulate matter air quality. Of particular interest is combining multiple sensors from satellites - often called data fusion - to study the effect of clouds, aerosol, and air pollution. Several satellite sensors have been used from both polar orbiting and geostationary platforms. Some of the satellite sensors used include AVHRR, GOES, LANDSAT, MODIS, ERBE, CERES, MISR, SCARAB, VIRS, TOMS, ASTER, and SAGE We also use a variety of ground, ship and space shuttle data for validating and characterizing clouds and aerosols. These include AERONET, AIRS PM2.5, IMPROVE, SMART, and MAPS. We also use insitu data from aircrafts to study aerosols and clouds during field campaigns such as SCAR-B, PRIDE, UAE^2, SAFARI, ACE-Asia to improve and refine satellite algorithms. Recently our group has also used mesoscale models for studying processes related to clouds and aerosols. Our research has been published in national and international journals such as Geophysical Research Letters, International Journal of Remote Sensing, Journal of Applied Meteorology, Tellus B, Journal of Atmospheric Sciences and other journals. We thank our collaborators across the world who provide data, expert advice, and publish joint peer reviewed papers with us. Read More …

 

Atmospheric Chemistry:

The Atmospheric Chemistry program is part of the Atmospheric Science Department at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Since the founding of the Atmospheric Science program in 1992, research at UAH has made significant contributions in several fields of Atmospheric Science. The Atmospheric Chemistry program is dedicated to the advancement of producing quality students, both graduate and undergraduate, through education and hands-on research opportunities. With the considerable resources available at UAH including collaborations with the National Weather Service, NASA, NOAA, and researchers at several universities, students have the opportunity to learn from some of the brightest minds in their respective fields . Read More …

 

Thunderstorm Nowcasting:

Thunderstorms pose high risks for landings, departing and flying aircraft. This collaborative research effort between the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory (MIT-LL), the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is to incorporate satellite-derived information into systems designed to nowcast atmospheric convection and its first-time initiation. Developing improved means of monitoring and characterizing convective clouds to nowcast convection initiation (CI) is a key goal. Data sets currently being processed include GOES visible, infrared and sounder-based satellite imagery (from GOES-10, -12, -14, etc.). New research involves the use of MODIS, MSG SEVIRI and eventually GOES-R data. Read More …

 

Climate Research:

It is the role of the Office of State Climatology to provide weather and climate information to the public and private interests to improve decision making activities that affect environmental quality and the economic efficiency of the State. Activities include providing specific weather data for the State and for the world, developing plans to mitigate the economic impacts of weather and climate variability and providing consultation on the use, interpretation and availability of weather and climate information. The Alabama Office of the State Climatologist also directly engages in important societal debates such as global warming through workshops, congressional testimony and educational activities. Read More …

 

Lightning:

Within the Global Hydrology and Climate Center (GHCC), there is a group of researchers, mostly scientists and engineers, who collectively form the GHCC Lightning Team. As part of their research activities, the members of this team have been investigating the causes and effects of lightning as well as analyzing a wide variety of atmospheric measurements related to thunderstorms. One of the primary objectives of this group is to determine the relationship between the electrical characteristics of storms and precipitation, convection, and severe weather. In order to achieve this objective, the GHCC Lightning Team has designed, constructed and deployed numerous types of ground based, airborne, and space based sensors used to detect lightning and characterize the electrical behavior of thunderstorms. The data collected by the GHCC Lightning Team is routinely shared with scientists around the globe, resulting in numerous advancements in the field of Atmospheric Science. Read More …

 

Severe Weather:

This website is designed to give you more insight into the systems that are apart of the severe weather group here at UAHuntsville. Currently we operate four main platforms; the MIPS, MAX, ARMOR, and the NOWCASTR. Each platform is covered in greater detail throughout this site, as well as access to real time data from the MIPS, ARMOR, and NOWCASTR. Each platform we operate takes part in different research projects throughout the year including hurricane landfalls, winter weather research, severe thunderstorms, and boundary layer studies. Many of this studies are performed in our own backyard as part of the THOR project. In the Winter of '08-'09 and '09-'10 we will be deployed in the Upper Midwest for an NSF sponsored project named PlOWS. This field campaign will provide new insight concerning remote sensing of winter weather systems that can translate directly into better operational interpretation and observation strategies of winter weather mesoscale features. Read More …