Tropical Cyclone Research at UNC Charlotte

Chris Blanton

HURRICANE WILMA INTENSIFICATION

Hurricane Wilma underwent rapid intensification, from a Category 1 Hurricane to a Category 5 in less than 24-hours.  Why did this happen?  Chris is using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to simulate Wilma, to try to find that out.

Thanks SIMVAC for funding this research

 Satellite Images
Donna Strahan

HURRICANE REANALYSIS

The records of historical hurricanes, such as the 1938 Hurricane, are possibly in error.  These storms took place before satellite and radar observations.  Donna is looking back at 12 historical hurricanes, all of which impacted the New England states, to verify that what is in the record books is accurate.

Thanks BBSR for funding this research
Shelley Holmberg

HURRICANE EDUCATION

The 2005 Atlantic Season was the most active in recorded history.  Hurricane Katrina was the most damaging storm in U.S. History.  Hurricane Wilma was the most intense storm ever in the Atlantic.  These three topics will be the focus of educational modules built using the Integrated Data Viewer (IDV)

Thanks Unidata for funding this research

  

Brian J. Etherton
Assistant Professor

Department of Geography and Earth Sciences
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
McEniry Bldg, Room 212
Charlotte, NC 28223


phone: 704-687-5984
fax:704-687-3182

email: betherto AT uncc.edu