RAP opportunity at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA
Connecting Physical Processes to Convection-Allowing Model Errors in Severe Weather Environments
Location
National Severe Storms Laboratory
| opportunity |
location |
|
| 26.76.00.C1166 |
Norman, OK 73072 |
Advisers
| name |
email |
phone |
|
| Christopher Riedel |
christopher.riedel@noaa.gov |
405.325.6287 |
Description
This research focuses on understanding the physical processes and systematic model errors that limit short-range prediction of severe convective weather, with the overarching goal of improving convection-allowing forecasts and the modeling systems that produce them. Topics include the representation of physical processes that shape pre-convective environments (e.g., the planetary boundary layer) and how that representation impacts the evolution of environmental features that govern convection initiation and storm development (e.g., drylines, capping inversions). Approaches of interest include leveraging information from data assimilation and model forecasts to identify systematic biases and their physical sources. Emphasis is placed on connecting diagnosed errors to physical understanding and to actionable improvements for current and next-generation systems.
References
Faletti, W. L., C. C. Weiss, P. S. Skinner, and B. C. Ancell, 2026: Using Ensemble Sensitivity to Diagnose Environmental Modulation of Mesocyclone Intensity in the Warn-on-Forecast System. Mon. Wea. Rev., 154, 1217–1241, https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-25-0123.1.
Keywords
convection-allowing models; severe weather; short-range forecasting; Process Studies; convective initiation; data assimilation
Eligibility
citizenship
Open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents and non-U.S. citizens
level
Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants
Stipend
| Base Stipend |
Travel Allotment |
Supplementation |
|
| $60,000.00 |
$3,000.00 |
$24,000 Supplement for Doctorates in Electrical Engineering |
Experience Supplement
Postdoctoral and Senior awardees will receive an appropriately higher stipend based on the number of years of experience past their PhD.
|
Additional Benefits
relocation
Awardees who reside more than 50 miles from their host laboratory and remain on tenure for at least six months are eligible for paid relocation to within the vicinity of their host laboratory.
health insurance
A group health insurance program is available to awardees and their qualifying dependents in the United States.