Dr. Rob Fovell | Professor of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences | University of Albany (hosted by Dr. Matt Parker).
The Inaugural Braham seminar is named such in order to honor Dr. Roscoe Braham’s many contributions to the field of meteorology and enrich the intellectual life of the department.  This is the first seminar in the series, and we hope to attract top quality speakers in the general area of “weather.”
Reception:  3:00 PM in 1132 Jordan Hall before the seminar begins
Seminar starts:  3:30PM in 1216 Jordan Addition
Seminar title: “How and why model physics influences tropical storm size”

Abstract:  Tropical cyclone (TC) size is an important factor directly and indirectly influencing track, intensity, and related hazards, such as storm surge.  Using the operational Hurricane WRF (HWRF) and an axisymmetric model, we show that enabling cloud-radiative forcing (CRF) and enhancing planetary boundary layer (PBL) vertical mixing can both encourage wider storms by enhancing TC outer core convective activity.  While CRF acts primarily above the PBL, eddy mixing moistens the boundary layer from below, both making peripheral convection more likely.  Thus, these two processes can cooperate and compete, making their influences difficult to deconvolve and complicating the evaluation of model physics improvements, especially since the sensitivity to both decreases as the environment becomes less favorable. Further study shows not only can the magnitude of the

eddy mixing coefficient, but also the shape of it, can determine the TC size and structure.