TROPICAL CYCLONE LANDFALL
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Our group is admitting a graduate student to study TC boundary layer and model physics for Fall 2024 (Application prior to 1/1/24 will be considered at priority).
Welcome
Inside the eyewall of Hurricane Epsilon (2020) as seen by the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron
Dr. Xiaomin Chen’s tropical cyclone boundary layer (TCBL) research group focuses on different aspects of tropical cyclones, including rapid intensification, boundary layer processes, and numerical modeling and forecasts. Our research utilizes a combination of observations (including UAH MAPNet and small Unmanned Aircraft Systems) and numerical simulations (including large-eddy simulations) to improve the understanding and modeling of boundary-layer processes in high-wind conditions. A recently-developed boundary layer scheme has been implemented into NOAA’s next-generation hurricane forecast model, Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System.
Research Topics
Observations of landfall hurricanes (TBD)
TCBL_landfall_roll.mp4CM1 large-eddy simulations of hurricane landfall
Upper: 10-m wind speeds from a LES simulation; lefter half is land and right half is ocean; markers are virtual MAPNet instruments
Lower: Evolution of 1-s gust at 10-m height at virtual MAPNet locations
Recent Group News
Apr 15, 2024 Amethyst Johnson joined TCBL as a research associate. Welcome!
Apr 1, 2024 Zeb Leffler presented his TCBL study at the UAH's Graduate Poster Session.
Feb 10, 2024 Zeb Leffler led the effort of UPSTORM Balloon launch and provided tours to the attendees of the Rocket City Weather Fest 2024 at the UAH.
Jan 28-Feb 1, 24 Zeb Leffler presented his research on the PBL evolution nearby TC tornadoes at the 104th AMS annual meeting in Baltimore, MA.
Dec 11–15, 23 Xiaomin Chen chaired a TC session and presented his recent efforts in developing PBL physics for HAFS at the AGU annual meeting at San Fransisco, CA.
Nov 6, 2023 The JAS paper "Parameterizations of Boundary Layer Mass Fluxes in High-Wind Conditions for Tropical Cyclone Simulations" was accepted. This study explains the new features used in the PBL parameterizations of HAFS-B.
Oct 27, 2023 The JAS review Paper "A review of the interactions between tropical cyclones and environmental vertical wind shear" was published. It is a useful reference for graduate students and early career scientists.
Oct 2, 2023 The FES Paper "2022 Real-Time Hurricane Forecasts from an Experimental Version of the Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System (HAFSV0.3S)" was published.
Aug 1, 2023 The WAF Paper "The Development of a Consensus Machine Learning Model for Hurricane Rapid Intensification Forecasts with HWRF Data" was published.
Jul 24–28, 23 Xiaomin Chen presented his recent efforts in developing PBL physics for HAFS at the NOAA's 2nd UIFCW Workshop in Boulder, CO.
May 18, 2023 Zeb Leffler joined the TCBL group. Welcome!
Mar 1, 2023 The TCRR review paper "Research advances on internal processes affecting tropical cyclone intensity change from 2018–2022" was published. This study summarizes the research progress of TC inner-core dynamics over the past four years and serves as a good reference for TC scientists.
Feb 14, 2023 The WAF paper "Performance of an Improved TKE-Based EDMF PBL Scheme in 2021 Hurricane Forecasts from the HAFS" was published.
Jan 19, 2023 The MWR paper "Using a high-resolution ensemble to assess the impacts of ventilation on a tropical cyclone rapid intensification event" was published.
Contact us
Department of Atmospheric and Earth Science, 320 Sparkman Dr NW, Huntsville, AL 35805
Email: Xiaomin Chen <xiaomin.chen@uah.edu>