Exploration of Synoptic-Scale Patterns in Early-Season Snowfall around the Lake Michigan Region

This research is part of a broader project that explores the role of Lake Michigan in the regional snowfall climatology. This study explores the statistics of snowfall through the month of November in the Lake Michigan region. Each November snowfall event was classified by whether it was a synoptic event or a lake-effect snow event. From these classifications, a table of dates and snowfall statistics were compiled for Lake Michigan snowfall events from 1950 to 2012. This table was used in coordination with NCDC netCDF re-analysis files to find relationships between the type of the event and 850-hPa, 500-hPa, and 300-hPa temperature, height, wind speed, and wind direction. In order to further understand the climatological development of the snow events around Lake Michigan, composite datasets were also assembled and analyzed. By doing this, the “mean-state” of lake-effect and synoptic snow events around Lake Michigan can be studied. Additionally, the variance between the two modes of snowfall can be statistically analyzed

Interannual and Seasonal Variability of Tropical Cyclone Genesis in the Northwest Australia Basin

Common genesis regions for Tropical Cyclones (TCs) worldwide have been identified, but TC genesis in the Northwest Australian Basin (NWAUS) has not been thoroughly studied. Studies conducted in other TC basins show distinct trends in spatial and temporal patterns of TC genesis, but these trends are largely unknown in the NWAUS. The analysis begins by describing the spatial and temporal distribution of TC genesis points for the region. Then statistical correlations are calculated to connect specific genesis regions, in both space and time, to atmospheric teleconnection patterns such as the IOD, ENSO and NAO. In addition, statistical correlations between TC genesis points and NCEP/NCAR reanalysis variables, air temperature, geopotential height, and u and v wind components will also be investigated. By identifying common genesis areas and their links to atmospheric variables, the goal is to develop new and useful TC forecasting tools for the region