Christopher Nowotarski
Associate Professor
Midlatitude convective storms, particularly supercell dynamics, storm/environment interactions, and probabilistic severe weather forecasting
Research
My research is geared towards developing a better understanding of the structure and dynamics of convective storms in midlatitudes with the ultimate goal of improving prediction of such events and their attendant hazards. Though I am interested in severe convection of all forms, my current research is focused on supercell thunderstorms, particularly the development of low-level rotation in these storms as it relates to tornado genesis. Our principal tools for these investigations are idealized simulations using cloud-resolving computer models compared with analyses of observed data collected both operationally and through research field experiments. My research group has other active research in areas including: Southeastern United States tornado environments, tropical cyclone tornadoes, teleconnection signals and large-scale influences of severe weather events, machine learning techniques for probabilistic forecasting, data assimilation in convection-allowing forecast models, and collaborative research in modeling effects of permafrost changes on Arctic meteorology. For a full description of our ongoing research, please visit my research page.
Selected Publications
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Brown, M.,*C and C. J. Nowotarski, 2019: The influence of lifting condensation level on low-
level outflow and rotation in simulated supercell thunderstorms. J. Atmos. Sci., In press.Benoit, M. D.,* C. J. Nowotarski,C D. T. Conlee, and L. Wood, 2018: Impacts of a university-
led, on-demand sounding program on human and numerical weather prediction model forecasts in an upper-air observation hole. J. Oper. Meteor, 6 (7), 76-86.Nowotarski, C. J.,C and E. A. Jones,** 2018: Multivariate self-organizing map approach to classifying supercell tornado environments using near-storm, low-level wind and thermodynamic profiles. Wea. Forecasting. 33, 661-670.
Guarriello, F. R.,* C. J. Nowotarski,C and C. C. Epifanio, 2018: The effects of low-level wind shear orientation, depth, and magnitude on low-level rotation in simulated supercell thunderstorms. J. Atmos. Sci, 75, 731-753.
Nowotarski, C. J.C and P. M. Markowski, 2016: Modifications to the near-storm environment induced by simulated supercell thunderstorms. Mon. Wea. Rev., 144, 273-293.
Nowotarski, C. J.,C P. M. Markowski, Y. P. Richardson, and G. H. Bryan, 2015: Supercell low-level mesocyclones in simulations with a sheared convective boundary layer. Mon. Wea. Rev.,143, 272-297.
Nowotarski, C. J., C P. M. Markowski, Y. P. Richardson, and G. H. Bryan, 2014: Properties of a simulated convective boundary layer in an idealized supercell thunderstorm environment. Mon. Wea. Rev., 142, 3955-3976.
Nowotarski, C. J.C and A. A. Jensen, 2013: Classifying proximity soundings with self-organizing maps toward improving supercell and tornado forecasting. Wea. Forecasting, 28, 783-801.
Nowotarski, C. J.,C P. M. Markowski, and Y. P. Richardson, 2011: The characteristics of numerically simulated supercell storms situated over statically stable boundary layers. Mon. Wea. Rev., 139, 3139-3162.
Education
Ph.D. Meteorology, Pennsylvania State University
M.S. Meteorology, Pennsylvania State University
B.S. Meteorology, Pennsylvania State University
Additional Information
Recent Presentations and Extended Abstracts
Nowotarski, C. J., R. Cheatham, S. Overpeck, and R. Edwards, 2018: “Comparison of tornadic and nontornadic convective cells in Hurricane Harvey.” AMS 29th Conf. on Severe Local Storms,Stowe, Vermont.
Nowotarski, C. J., 2017: “Effects of resolved boundary layer turbulence on near-ground rotation in quasi-linear convective systems (QLCSs)” AGU 2017 Fall Meeting, New Orleans,Louisiana.
Nowotarski, C. J., 2017: “Influence of boundary layer turbulence on near-ground rotation in quasi-linear convective systems (QLCSs)” AMS 17th Conf. on Mesoscale Processes, San Diego, California.
Nowotarski, C. J., and F. R. Guarriello, 2016: “Surface layer influences on simulated Supercell thunderstorms.” AMS 28th Conf. on Severe Local Storms, Portland, Oregon.
C. J. Nowotarski, 2015: “Job hunting experience in mesoscale meteorology” 16th Conference on Mesoscale Processes, American Meteorological Society, Boston, Massachusetts.
Nowotarski, C. J. and A. A. Jensen, 2014: “Objective classification of supercell environments using multivariate self-organizing maps for research and forecasting.” Preprints, AMS 27th Conference on Severe Local Storms. Madison, Wisconsin.
C. J. Nowotarski, 2013: "Assessing boundary layer influences on supercell thunderstorms through idealized simulations," Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.
Nowotarski, C. J., P. M. Markowski, Y. P. Richardson, and G. H. Bryan, 2013: "Understanding the effects of horizontal convective rolls on the organization of low-level vorticity in simulated supercell thunderstorms," 7th European Conference on Severe Storms, Helsinki, Finland.
C. J. Nowotarski, 2012: "Improving the realism of idealized supercell simulations: starting from the ground up," Frank Talk, Department of Meteorology, Pennsylvania State University.
Nowotarski, C. J., P. M. Markowski, Y. P. Richardson, and G. H. Bryan, 2012: "The influence of horizontal convective rolls on the morphology of low-level rotation in idealized simulations of supercell thunderstorms," Preprints. AMS 26th Conf. on Severe Local Storms, Nashville, Tennessee.
"For a full list of publications and presentations please see my CV
