Gary Lackmann's Research Projects


One of my current research projects involves analysis of the dynamics and energetics of upper-tropospheric disturbances. These disturbances, often called "shortwaves", "vortmaxes" or "mobile upper troughs" are often precursors to surface storm development, and their dynamics are not well understood. Meteorologists frequently discuss upper disturbances, but surprisingly little work has been done to understand their origin. My interest in this area began while I was a graduate student at SUNY Albany, working with Professors Dan Keyser and Lance Bosart. Several publications on this topic have appeared recently, including the following papers that I've been involved with.

References:

Lackmann, G. M., 1995: Life cycles of mobile upper troughs and maritime cyclones during ERICA. Ph.D. dissertation, University at Albany, State University of New York, 318 pp.

Lackmann, G. M., L. F. Bosart, and D. Keyser, 1996: Planetary- and synoptic-scale characteristics of explosive wintertime cyclogenesis over the western North Atlantic Ocean. Mon. Wea. Rev. 124, 2672-2702.

Lackmann, G. M., D. Keyser, and L. F. Bosart, 1997: A characteristic life cycle of upper-tropospheric cyclogenetic precursors during the Experiment on Rapidly Intensifying Cyclones over the Atlantic (ERICA). Mon. Wea. Rev. 125, 2729-2758.

Lackmann, G. M., D. Keyser, and L. F. Bosart, 1998: Energetics of an intensifying midtropospheric jet-front during the Experiment on Rapidly Intensifying Cyclones over the Atlantic (ERICA). Mon. Wea. Rev., submitted August 1998


Another project that I am involved with concerns moisture transport in precipitating weather systems. Latent heat release associated with precipitation can impact the dynamics of the lower troposphere. This can lead to feedbacks between moisture transport, precipitation, and storm structure. I am hoping to continue research in this area over the next several months. This research was initiated during my postdoctoral appointment at McGill University in collaboration with Professor John Gyakum. Some of my publications on this topic are listed below.

References:

Lackmann, G. M., and J. R. Gyakum, 1996a: The synoptic- and planetary-scale signatures of precipitating systems over the Mackenzie River Basin. Atmos. Ocean 34, 647-674.

Lackmann, G. M., and J. R. Gyakum, 1996b: Heavy cold-season precipitation in the northwestern United States: Climatology and a diagnosis of the flood of 17--18 January 1986. Preprints, 15th Conference on Weather Analysis and Forecasting, Amer. Meteor. Soc., Norfolk, VA 265-268.

Lackmann, G. M., J. R. Gyakum, and R. Benoit, 1998: Moisture transport diagnosis of a wintertime precipitation event in the Mackenzie River Basin. Mon. Wea. Rev. 126, 668-691.

Lackmann, G. M., and J. R. Gyakum, 1998: Heavy cold-season precipitation in the Northwestern United States: Synoptic climatology and an analysis of the flood of 17-18 January 1986. Weather and Forecasting, conditionally accepted.


During my stint as a postdoc at McGill University, I assisted with a project that investigated the utility of using quasigeostrophic potential vorticity inversion to diagnose hurricane track errors. By decomposing hurricane motion into pieces associated with various synoptic features, it is possible to quantify forecast errors. For Hurricane Opal, the errors were mostly in the downstream ridge, which is consistent with the fact that the eta model does not resolve the inner-core region of hurricanes and the deep convection therein. A paper reporting these findings, written by John Henderson, is currently in review:

Reference:

Henderson, J. M., G. M. Lackmann, and J. R. Gyakum, 1998: An analysis of Hurricane Opal's forecast track errors using quasigeostrophic potential vorticity inversion. Mon. Wea. Rev., in press


Other research interests and projects include study of lake-effect snow, signatures of local Rochester-area thunderstorms and snowstorms, and planetary-scale signatures associated with severe flooding. Stay tuned for more information, and contributions from the undergraduate meteorology students who are helping with the research.

In the past my research interests have involved topographically forced boundary layer flows, storm-coast interactions, snowstorms in the Pacific Northwest, satellite signatures of maritime cyclones, and tropical-extratropical interactions. Some publications on these topics are listed below.

References:

Lackmann, G. M., and J. E. Overland, 1989: Atmospheric structure and momentum balance during a gap-wind event in Shelikof Strait, Alaska. Mon. Wea. Rev. 117, 1817-1833.

Ferber, G. K., C. F. Mass, G. M. Lackmann, and M. W. Patnoe, 1993: Snowstorms over the Puget Sound lowlands. Wea. Forecasting 8, 481-504.

Evans, M. S., D. Keyser, L. F. Bosart, and G. M. Lackmann, 1993: A satellite-derived classification scheme for rapid maritime cyclogenesis. Mon. Wea. Rev. 121, 1381-1416.

Bosart, L. F., and G. M. Lackmann, 1995: Postlandfall tropical cyclone reintensification in a weakly baroclinic environment: A case study of hurricane David (September 1979). Mon. Wea. Rev. 123, 3268-3291.