Atm Sci Prospective Faculty Presentation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences
Contact: Karen Ryba/Phone: 701-777-4761
February 20, 2008

Prospective Faculty Candidate to Speak at Atmospheric Sciences
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“Utilizing UND Research Facilities for a Breakthrough in Radar Hydrology”

(Grand Forks, North Dakota): Dr. Eyal Amitai, Ph.D. Research Professor at George Mason University, College of Science, Center for Earth Observing and Space Research in Greenbelt, MD will be giving a presentation entitled “Utilizing UND Research Facilities For a Breakthrough in Radar Hydrology” on Thursday, February 21 at 3:30 p.m. in Ryan Hall, Room 130. Dr. Amitai is a prospective faculty candidate for the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences located at the University of North Dakota.

Abstract: Data on high-resolution surface rain rate are significant, and the distribution of instantaneous rain rates is of great interest in many fields. Rain rate estimates can now be obtained from spaceborne radar observations. However, recent comparisons with ground radar observations reveal large discrepancies. Which do you trust more? Can underwater sound measurements be used for evaluating the ground and space radar estimates? Results from a field experiment in which 2000 meters underwater sound measurements are compared to radar observations will be presented. While the latter has the potential to improve our validation effort over water, research facilities such as those available at UND’s dense gauge network, polarimetric radar, profiler, 2-D video disdrometer are required for the validation effort over land.

About Atmospheric Sciences: In addition to the Ph.D. program, the Department of Atmospheric Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Science, and an undergraduate minor program in Atmospheric Sciences. Research areas of interest include atmospheric chemistry, surface transportation meteorology, radar meteorology, climate analysis, cloud physics, radiation, ground- and satellite-based remote sensing, aviation meteorology, hydrometeorology, mesoscale meteorology, data assimilation, numerical weather prediction, and weather modification. The Atmospheric Sciences department has played a major role in research for a number of Federal and state agencies, including the DOE, NASA, NDARB, FHWA, USDA, and DOD.
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