A multivariate variational objective analysis-assimilation method. Part 1: Development of the basic model

The variational method of undetermined multipliers is used to derive a multivariate model for objective analysis. The model is intended for the assimilation of 3-D fields of rawinsonde height, temperature and wind, and mean level temperature observed by satellite into a dynamically consistent data set. Relative measurement errors are taken into account. The dynamic equations are the two nonlinear horizontal momentum equations, the hydrostatic equation, and an integrated continuity equation. The model Euler-Lagrange equations are eleven linear and/or nonlinear partial differential and/or algebraic equations. A cyclical solution sequence is described. Other model features include a nonlinear terrain-following vertical coordinate that eliminates truncation error in the pressure gradient terms of the horizontal momentum equations and easily accommodates satellite observed mean layer temperatures in the middle and upper troposphere. A projection of the pressure gradient onto equivalent pressure surfaces removes most of the adverse impacts of the lower coordinate surface on the variational adjustment

On the Purchase of a Minicomputer System for Scientific Research

published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewedOpe

Aircraft measurements of high average charges on cloud drops in layer clouds

The first reliable aircraft measurements of characteristic cloud drop charges were obtained by utilizing a counterflow virtual impactor to substantially increase charge sensitivity and eliminate spurious contact charging that contaminated previous aircraft measurements. We find average drop charges more than an order of magnitude larger than expected from mountain surface measurements in similar clouds. Our evaluation of the data indicates that the high average charges on cloud drops originate in charge layers at the cloud boundaries and are carried into the cloud layer by vertical motions. These initial aircraft results demonstrate that cloud drop charges in layer clouds may be high enough to influence microphysical processes that promote precipitation

A variational assimilation method for satellite and conventional data: development of basic model for diagnosis of cyclone systems

In the 1995 ISWS Publications Catalog, the citation for this work is listed as ISWS MP no. 89. A note in the ISWS publications database indicates that ISWS MP 89 was issued as NASA Contractor Report 3981, prepared for George C. Marshall Space Flight Center under Contract NAS8-34902. The ISWS Miscellaneous Publication series statement has been added to the record on the basis of these sources, although there is no reference to the ISWS MP series in the work itself.A summary is presented of the progress toward the completion of a comprehensive diagnostic objective analysis system based upon the calculus of variations. The approach was to first develop the objective analysis subject to the constraints that the final product satisfies the five basic primitive equations for a dry inviscid atmosphere: the two nonlinear horizontal momentum equations, the continuity equation, the hydrostatic equation, and the thermodynamic equation. Then, having derived the basic model, there would be added to it the equations for moist atmospheric processes and the radiative transfer equation.published or submitted for publicationOpe

Illinois Precipitation Enhancement Program, Phase 1: Interim Report for 1 September 1971 - 30 June 1972

published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewedOpe

Precipitation Augmentation for Crops Experiment: Phase II, Exploratory Research, Year 1

NOTE: Appendix referenced on page 7-2 of the main report was not included in the original scan of the report, nor in the print copy in the University Library. The appendix was acquired from Nancy Westcott in 2019, and it is incomplete, lacking "Appendix B - Examples of Products Generated by the Forecasting/Nowcasting System"published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewedOpe

Precipitation Augmentation for Crops Experiments: Pre-experimental Phase Studies

published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewedOpe

The James Webb Space Telescope Mission

Twenty-six years ago a small committee report, building on earlier studies, expounded a compelling and poetic vision for the future of astronomy, calling for an infrared-optimized space telescope with an aperture of at least $4m$. With the support of their governments in the US, Europe, and Canada, 20,000 people realized that vision as the $6.5m$ James Webb Space Telescope. A generation of astronomers will celebrate their accomplishments for the life of the mission, potentially as long as 20 years, and beyond. This report and the scientific discoveries that follow are extended thank-you notes to the 20,000 team members. The telescope is working perfectly, with much better image quality than expected. In this and accompanying papers, we give a brief history, describe the observatory, outline its objectives and current observing program, and discuss the inventions and people who made it possible. We cite detailed reports on the design and the measured performance on orbit.Comment: Accepted by PASP for the special issue on The James Webb Space Telescope Overview, 29 pages, 4 figure

Microphysics of Precipitation Formation

published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewedOpe

The Microphysics of Precipitation Formation

published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewedOpe