Science AMA Series: I’m Marty Ralph, research meteorologist at Scripps
Institution of Oceanography. My research focuses on extreme weather
events including atmospheric rivers. This winter, we’re flying Hurricane
Hunter aircraft through storms. AMA!
Abstract
As director of the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes at
Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, I lead a team of
researchers focused on understanding the physical processes that create
extremes in precipitation, ranging from flood to drought. We are also
focused on advancing extreme weather monitoring, predictions, climate
projections, and decision support tools. The core of my research is to
better understand atmospheric rivers, bands of moisture in the sky that
can carry more water (as vapor) in them than any terrestrial river in
the world (as liquid). These bands can deliver as much as half of
California’s water supply in a handful of precipitation events every
year. This winter, I’m leading a field effort with the National Weather
Service using NOAA’s Gulfstream IV and two Air Force WC-130J Super
Hercules planes, manned by Air Force Hurricane Hunter crews, to study
any atmospheric rivers that form over the Pacific Ocean and hit the West
Coast. The planes will be stationed in Hawaii, Seattle, and Northern
California, and when the conditions are right, we’ll fly through
atmospheric rivers, dropping instrument-laden, parachute-tethered
dropsondes across the width of the storms to collect data. Our ultimate
goal is to provide research and information to the National Weather
Service and California Department of Water Resources to help improve
atmospheric river forecasts. The effort is related to a study exploring
the potential of using atmospheric river forecasts in reservoir
operations on Lake Mendocino in northern California to support water
supply management, flood mitigation and recovery of endangered salmon,
supporting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Ask me anything about
atmospheric rivers or other western US extreme weather and water events!