Welcome!
Our current research focuses on the dynamics of convective storms, including tornadic supercells and mesoscale convective systems (MCSs). Such storms and systems have great impact upon our society owing to the hazardous weather they produce, and owing to their copious precipitation (which is critical to the water budget in large parts of the Americas).
Some meteorological topics of ongoing interest to our group include: impacts of low-level wind and thermodynamic profiles upon supercells and tornadogenesis (including in landfalling hurricanes); effects of gravity waves on the environments of supercells and MCSs; storms' sensitivities and interactions in the high-shear regime that spans the MCS-supercellular spectrum; relationships between large-scale balance and the mesoscale environment for storms; low-level kinematics and dynamics of elevated convection; severe convective winds; climatology of convective storms in the eastern U.S.; and, dynamics of non-traditional MCS modes.
To pursue these research goals, we utilize idealized
numerical simulations (with the benefit of NCSU's supercomputer facilities) as well as observations from the National Weather Service (e.g. Doppler radar data), and field projects such as the Bow Echo and Mesoscale Convective Vortex Experiment ("BAMEX") and the Verification of the Origin of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment 2 ("VORTEX2").
What's New: (current and recent students in bold)
Letkewicz, C. E., and M. D. Parker, 2009: Forecasting the maintenance of mesoscale convective systems crossing the Appalachian Mountains. Wea. Forecasting, submitted.
French, A. J., and M. D. Parker, 2009: The response of simulated nocturnal convective systems to a developing low-level jet. J. Atmos. Sci., submitted.
Kiefer, M. T., M. D. Parker, and J. J. Charney, 2009: Regimes of dry convection above wildfires: Sensitivity to fireline details. J. Atmos. Sci., in press.
Mahoney, K. M., G. M. Lackmann, and M. D. Parker, 2009: The role of momentum transport in the motion of a quasi-idealized mesoscale convective system. Mon. Wea. Rev., 137, 3316-3338.
Parker, M. D., 2009: Impact of lapse rates upon low-level rotation in idealized storms. 5th European Conference on Severe Storms, 12-16 October 2009, Landshut, Germany.
Parker, M. D., A. J. French, C. E. Letkewicz, M. J. Morin, K. Rojowsky, D. Stark, and G. H. Bryan, 2009: Mobile sounding measurements of the near-storm environment during VORTEX2. 5th European Conference on Severe Storms, 12-16 October 2009, Landshut, Germany.
Kiefer, M. T., M. D. Parker, and J. J. Charney, 2009: Dynamics of dry convection above wildland fires: Sensitivity to fireline details. Eighth Symposium on Fire and Forest Meteorology, AMS, 13-15 October 2009, Kalispell, MT.
French, A. J., and M. D. Parker, 2009: Mergers between isolated supercells and quasi-linear convective systems: A preliminary study. 13th Conference on Mesoscale Processes, AMS, 17-20 August 2009, Salt Lake City, UT.
Letkewicz, C. E., and M. D. Parker, 2009: Mesoscale convective systems crossing the Appalachian Mountains. 13th Conference on Mesoscale Processes, AMS, 17-20 August 2009, Salt Lake City, UT.
Kiefer, M. T., M. D. Parker, and J. J. Charney, 2009: Regimes of dry convection above wildfires: Idealized numerical simulations and dimensional analysis. J. Atmos. Sci., 66, 806-836.
Baker, A.K., M.D. Parker, and M.D. Eastin, 2009: Environmental ingredients for supercells and tornadoes within Hurricane Ivan. Wea. Forecasting, 24, 223-244.
French, A.J., and M.D. Parker, 2008: The initiation and evolution of multiple modes of convection within a meso-alpha scale region. Wea. Forecasting, 23, 1221-1252.
French, A. J., and M. D. Parker, 2008: Response of nocturnal convective systems to low-level jets and morning surface heating. 24th Conference on Severe Local Storms, 27-31 October 2008, Savannah, GA.
Letkewicz, C. E., and M. D. Parker, 2008: An observational investigation of mesoscale convective systems crossing the Appalachian Mountains. 24th Conference on Severe Local Storms, 27-31 October 2008, Savannah, GA.
Kiefer, M. T., M. D. Parker, and J. J. Charney, 2008: A numerical modeling study of dry convective regimes above wildland fires. The `88 Fires: Yellowstone and Beyond, 22-27 September 2008, Jackson Hole, WY.
Parker, M.D., 2008: Response of simulated squall lines to low-level cooling. J. Atmos. Sci., 65, 1323-1341.
Kiefer, M. T., Y.-L. Lin, and J. J. Charney, 2008: A study of two-dimensional dry convective plume modes with variable critical level height. J. Atmos. Sci., 65, 448-469.
Parker, M.D. and D.A. Ahijevych, 2007: Convective episodes in the east-central United States. Mon. Wea. Rev., 135, 3707-3727.
Parker, M.D., 2007: Response of convective storms to low-level cooling. Fourth European Conference on Severe Storms, 10-14 September 2007, Trieste, Italy.
Baranowski, B.C., M.D. Parker, and B.A. Storm, 2007: Gravity waves trapped under the leading anvil of an MCS during BAMEX. 12th AMS Conference on Mesoscale Processes, 6-9 August 2007, Waterville Valley, NH.
Kiefer, M. T., Y.-L. Lin, and J. J. Charney, 2007: Regimes of dry and moist convective plumes above forest fires: Idealized numerical simulations and dimensional analysis. 12th AMS Conference on Mesoscale Processes, 6-9 August 2007, Waterville Valley, NH.
Parker, M.D., 2007: Response of simulated squall lines to low-level cooling. 12th AMS Conference on Mesoscale Processes, 6-9 August 2007, Waterville Valley, NH.
Parker, M.D. and D.A. Ahijevych, 2007: Convective episodes in the east-central United States. 12th AMS Conference on Mesoscale Processes, 6-9 August 2007, Waterville Valley, NH.
Storm, B.A., M.D. Parker, and D.P. Jorgensen, 2007: A convective line with leading stratiform precipitation from BAMEX. Mon. Wea. Rev., 135, 1769-1785.
Parker, M.D., 2007: Simulated convective lines
with parallel stratiform precipitation. I: An archetype for convection in
along-line shear. J. Atmos. Sci., 64, 267-288.
Parker, M.D., 2007: Simulated convective lines
with parallel stratiform precipitation. II: Governing dynamics and associated
sensitivities. J. Atmos. Sci., 64, 289-313.
