Eight undergraduate students from around the U.S. are presenting the results of their summer research projects this week as part of the NOAA Hollings Scholars program. The prestigious opportunity is designed to help encourage students to pursue a future career in atmospheric science research.
Ten NSSL and NSSL/Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies researchers and four Storm Prediction Center forecasters have donated their time to mentor a student through the research process. The scientists and students choose a project and end their experience with a formal presentation on their results. Students are also treated to tours, field trips, and lectures.
2009 NOAA Hollings Scholars and projects:
Madison Burnett, University of Missouri
Mentors: Travis Smith, Valliappa Lakshmanan, Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies/National Severe Storms Laboratory
“Improvements to Cluster Identification and Tracking in a Circulation Detection Algorithm”
Elizabeth Thompson, Valparaiso University
Mentors: Ken Howard, NSSL and Katherine Willingham, CIMMS/NSSL “Characteristics of Microbursts in Central Arizona”
Darren Snively, Ohio University
Mentors: Richard Thompson, Jeremy Grams, Storm Prediction Center
“Synoptic Environments and Convective Modes Associated with Significant Tornadoes in the Contiguous United States – A Null Case Dataset”
Aaron “Ari” Preston, University of Michigan
Mentors: Don MacGorman, NSSL and Terry Schuur, CIMMS/NSSL
“Study of 3-D Total Lightning Activity Relative to Radar-Inferred Storm Parameters”
Rockwell Schrock, University of Connecticut
Mentor: Daphne Thompson, CIMMS/NSSL
“Creating a Tornado Presentation for Science on a Sphere”
Tomas Castellanos, Cornell University
Mentors: Bryan Smith, David Imy, SPC
“A Surface Observing System Measured Severe Convective Wind Analysis, 2005-2008”
Douglas Crauder, Columbia University
Mentor: Kevin Manross, CIMMS/NSSL
“Examining Polarimetric ZDR Signatures on Isothermal Surfaces Relating to Severe Hail”
Preston Carter, University of Oklahoma
Mentors: Don MacGorman, Harold Brooks, NSSL
“Five Year Lightning Climatology using the Oklahoma Lightning Mapping Array”