Hurricane Research Division Achievements
(1993-2004)
Presidential Early Career Award
in Science and Eningeering
Sim Aberson
September 2004
For research leading to significant improvements in hurricane
track forecasts and development of programs bringing science to
young students, and young students to science.
Banner I. Miller Award 2004
Mike Black, James Franklin, and Krystal Valde
May 2004
For their paper "GPS Dropwindsonde Wind Profiles in Hurricanes
and Their Operational Implications" in Weather and Forecasting.
This study of the wind structure in the eyewall region of tropical
cyclones .
NOAA OAR Research Employee of the Year
Sim Aberson
2003
For leadership in promoting science and for research that has resulted
in significant improvement of tropical cyclone track forecasts.
DOC Gold Medal
Mike Black and James Franklin
2003
For their pioneering and innovative research using Global Positioning
System (GPS) dropsonde data to study the wind structure in the
eyewall region of tropical cyclones.
Woman of Achievement
Nirva Mourisseau-Leroy
2003
For her research on advanced methods for distributing scientific
analysis and the use of cutting-edge technologies to address hurricane
research challanges.
Young Scientist/Rising Star
Shirley Murillo
2003
For her outstanding contributions to hurricane research, her
leadership in science education outreach, and her indomitable
spirit.
NOAA OAR Outstanding Scientific Paper
Award
2003
"The recent increase in Atlantic hurricane activity : Causes and
implications" Science 2001 v.293 (5529) pp.474-479 Goldenberg,
S.B., C.W. Landsea, A.M. Mestas-Nuñez, W.M. Gray
DOC Bronze Medal
Howie Friedman (group award)
September 2003
For contributions in successfully facilitating close to 1,000 work
group meetings as part of NOAA's second Survey Feedback Action
process.
NOAA Employee of the Month
Chris Landsea
August 2003
For his re-analysis efforts to improve the accuracy of the Atlantic
hurricane database (HURDAT).
Validation of Hurricane Surface Winds Measured by the HRD SFMR
January 2003
The HRD Stepped-Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR) that is carried
aboard NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft has been determined to be
the most accurate and reliable remote sensing device available for
measuring hurricane force winds at the sea surface. Results of a
study show that surface winds measured by the SFMR are comparable
to the Global Positioning Systems (GPS) dropwindsonde measurements
that are the current standard. The benefit of the SFMR is that
winds are continuously measured during flights, allowing for more
complete mapping of hurricane surface wind structure.
Press Release
Scientific paper available through
Eric Uhlhorn's webpage
Banner I. Miller Award 2002
John Kaplan and Mark DeMaria
June 2002
For the best contribution to the science of hurricane and tropical
weather forrecasting published in a journal with international
circulation.
"An updated statistical hurricane intensity prediction
scheme (SHIPS) for the Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific
basins" Weather Forecasting v.14(3) pp.326-337
NOAA OAR Outstanding Scientific Paper
Award
2002
"Effects of a warm oceanic feature on Hurricane Opal" Monthly
Weather Review 2000 v.128(5) pp.1336-1383 Shay, L.K.,
G.J. Goñi, P.G. Black
NOAA Diversity Council's Spectrum Achievement Award
Frank Marks
2002
For "living the vision" and for dedications to including students
in hurricane research, which has brought many benefits to AOML.
AMS Editor's Award
Chris Landsea
2002
For outstanding contributions to the journal Monthly
Weather Review
Distributed Real-Time Hurricane Wind Analysis System
NOAATech 2002 Award
October 2001
The H*Wind program integrates information from a variety of platforms in
and around a hurricane and creates a real-time wind field analyses,
for use by the hurricane specialists.
Designed a satellite-based modem method for transmitting
data from the NOAA WP-3 aircraft
NOAATech 2002 Award
October 2001
Designed a system that allows satellite communication with the
computers onboard the NOAA WP-3 hurricane aircraft to fascilitate
the real-time transfer of data.
Rapid Intensification Index
August 2001
A technique for estimating the probability of tropical cyclone
rapid intensification (RI) using the operational SHIPS model
output was developed for the Atlantic basin. This product was
provided to NHC hurricane forecasters in real-time in support of
Joint Hurricane Testbed (JHT).
NOAA OAR Outstanding Scientific Paper
Award
2001
"Tropical Cyclone Thermodynaics" Monthly Weather Review
1998 v.126(12) pp.3053-3067 Willoughby, H.E.
DOC Bronze Medal
Stan Goldenberg and Chris Landsea (group award)
2001
For issuing the accurate and first official physically based
Atlantic seasonal hurricane outlooks for the 1998/1999 hurricane
seasons, based upon new research.
Honorary Member, Meteorological
Society of Japan
Katsuyuki V. Ooyama
2001
For distinguished service to the Society.
Fellow, American Meteorological
Society
Frank Marks
2001
Atlantic hurricane data (HURDAT) re-analysis project
August 2000
This project has extended the Atlantic hurricane database back
35 additional years so that it now covers the period of 1851 to date.
It includes the estimated tracks and intensities for all tropical storms
and hurricanes every six hours, the "raw" observations from ships and
coastal stations from which the HURDAT was derived, specific U.S.
landfall data, basin-wide track maps of all tropical storms and
hurricanes, and comments from/replies to the National Hurricane Center's
Best Track Change Committee.
First (only) real-time hurricane ensemble forecasting
system
June 2000
A 41-member daily hurricane track ensemble forecasting system using
the VICBAR shallow water model has been run during the 1998 and 1999
hurricane seasons and will be run in realtime during the 2000
hurricane season. These forecasts will provide, for the first time,
estimates of the reliability of individual forecasts and probabilistic
landfall forecasts based on numerical guidance.
Improvements in track forecasts / targeting of
observations
2/2000
By finding locations in which the atmosphere is unstable to small
perturbations, and by sampling in and around these targets with
dropwindsondes, improvements of up to 35% can be achieved in forecasts
through four days.
NOAA EEOC Award
Howie Friedman
2000
For leadership on the Council's UnderRepresentation Subcommittee.
Best JAVA implementation
NOAA Tech 2000 Award
Nirva Morisseau-Leroy, Shirley Murillo, Sonia Otero, and
Mark Powell
2000
For their presentation about the Real-Time Hurricane Wind Analysis
System (H*WIND).
Transmission of airborne surface wind speed and rainrate
measurements
August 1999
The airborne Step Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR) measures
microwave emissions from the ocean surface at six frequencies. These
are transformed with radiative transfer equations to obtain
measurements of surface wind speed and rain rate below the aircraft.
These data are transmitted in real time.
NOAA ERL Outstanding Scientific Paper
Award
1999
"The impact of Omega dropwindsondes on operational hurricane track
forecast models." Bulletin of the American Meterological Society
1996 v.77(5) pp.925-933 Burpee, R.W.,J.L. Franklin, S.J.Lord, R.E.
Tuyela, and S.D. Aberson
Ground-based hurricane wind fields from single Doppler
Radar
September 1998
Doppler wind data from a single land-based radar can be used to deduce
the tropical cyclone windfield in much the same manner as data from a
single airborne Doppler Radar. These wind fields can provide
continuous monitoring of tropical cyclones as they approach landfall
along the U. S. coast for the first time.
Surface wave measurements from aircraft in tropical
cyclones
August 1998
An airborne scanning radar altimeter (SRA) generates a topographic map
of the sea surface in hurricanes over open ocean. Wave heights, their
variation around the tropical cyclone, and their direction of motion
are all measured, and can provide realtime estimates of wave height
and storm surge at landfall.
DOC Silver Medal
Frank Marks
1998
For serving as the Enviromental Research Laboratories mission
manager for the acquistion of the the Gulfstream IV hurricane
surveillance jet aircraft.
DOC Bronze Medal
James Franklin and Joe Griffin
1998
For the development of the Hurricane Analysis and Processing
System (HAPS) aboard NOAA's Gulfstream IV hurricane surveillance
jet aircraft.
DOC Bronze Medal
John Kaplan and Mark DeMaria
1998
For the development of an inland wind decay model which
predicts inland wind speeds produced by landfalling hurricanes.
First (only) skillful realtime hurricane intensity
forecast model
June 1998
The Statistical Hurricane Intensity Prediction (SHIPS) model provides
the first and only consistently skillful guidance for tropical cyclone
intensity prediction.
Warm oceanic features and hurricane intensity change
January 1998
Regular satellite-based oceanic topographic information provides
information on the underlying ocean structure, such as warm rings and
boundaries. Passage of hurricanes over such features affects their
intensity, allowing for improvements in intensity forecasting
especially in cases of rapid intensification.
First high-resolution measurements of vertical wind and
thermodynamic structure in hurricanes
Outstanding Achievement in Meteorology 2002
July 1997
Newly-developed dropwindsondes based upon Global Positioning System
technology can measure winds every half second during descent in the
eyewall of tropical cyclones. These measurements have become the
standard by which studies of the reduction of flight-level winds to
surface winds are made, and is now standard operational procedure on
all reconnaissance flights.
Empirical Hurricane Inland Intensity Model
DOC Bronze Medal 1997
January 1996
An empirical model for predicting the winds in landfalling hurricanes
has been developed for the Gulf and east coasts of the U.S. This model
predicting the two-dimensional field of maximum surface winds (wind
swath) for storms after landfall. As of the 2000 hurricane season
this model is included in the operational SHIPS model, to make possible
over land predictions of intensity.
Shift to climatologically active Atlantic hurricane seasons
Cover article SCIENCE 20 July 2001
January1996
In the 70's and 80's, the overall hurricane activity in the Atlantic
basin was much lower than the previous several decades, especially the
stronger ("major") hurricanes. Several long-term climatic signals
have been found to have shifted, first in 1988, and again in 1995,
leading to the conclusion that the Atlantic had shifted back into a
more active and destructive phase that might last for at least the
next 10-20 years.
Vertically Scanning Doppler Radar
August 1996
A Vertically Scanning Doppler Radar (VSDR) has been developed for use
on the NOAA aircraft. This instrument directly measures wind velocity
beneath the aircraft, and can provide wind profiles through the
boundary layer.
Global Positioning System Dropwindsonde
August 1996
The GPS dropwindsonde was developed for use with NOAA and Air Force
aircraft to take measurements in the environment and inner core of
hurricanes to improve their analysis and forecast.
Real-time hurricane surface wind analyses
August 1995
A real-time system for objectively analyzing meteorological
observations in hurricanes using a common framework for wind exposure,
measurement height, and averaging time, has been developed. These
analyses are presented to NHC hurricane specialists as often as eight
times per day and have become the standard for assessing winds from
new remote sensing platforms. They are used to initialize numerical
forecast models, to provide forcing for storm surge models, and in
disaster management.
Transmission of airborne radar reflectivity images and
Doppler
windfields from within the hurricane
September 1993
Radar images of hurricanes, and analyses of windfields from Doppler
rada, previously only available from coastal radars when the hurricane
was near landfall, are now regularly available from the NOAA research
aircraft. This enables specialists to see convective features in
hurricanes generally obscured from satellites by high clouds and
windfield structure inside the storm. Features such as eyewall
replacement cycles and asymmetries that can help in forecasting of
intensity are now regularly seen before landfall.
DOC Gold Medal
Hurricane Research Division
1993
For outstanding efforts to provide data to forecasters to inform
South Florida about Hurricane Andrew while under extreme stress
and physical danger.
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