Education

M. S. in meteorology, 1967, University of Wisconsin Graduate Advisor: Dr. Eberhard Wahl

Ph.D. in meteorology, 1977, University of Wisconsin Graduate Advisor: Dr. Heinz H. Lettau

Affliations

1977 to present: Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University

1977 - 1982 Assistant Professor

1982- present Associate Professor B.

1970 - 1974: Meteorologist; U. S. Army Natick Laboratories, Natick, Massachusetts and Inistitut fuer Meteorologie und Geophysik, Innsbruck, Austria C.

1969 U. S. Exchange Scientist, Vanda Station, Antarctica

Present Work

Courses Taught in the Past 5 Years

MEA 130 Introduction to Weather and Climate a survey course for non-science majors
MEA 140 Natural Hazards and Global Change (1-month meteorology portion)
MEA 213 Fundamentals of Meteorology I a two-hour required introduction for meteorology majors
MEA 313 Meteorological Laboratory I a required introductory lab for meteorology majors
MEA 422 Atmospheric Dynamics II a required core course: dynamics for majors
MEA 512 Satellite Meteorology a graduate elective in instrumentation and applications of satellite data in meteorological analysis
Outstanding Teacher award 1986
Current number of Undergraduate Advisees about 20-24

Research

My research on regional weather systems includes studies of the structure and evolution of near-shore frontal systems along the mid-Atlantic coast in winter. My work has centered on climatology and detailed analysis of the coastal front from standard available observations and specialized data sets. Recently I have been involved with the National Weather Service in studying methods to better forecast the evolution and movement of coastal fronts.

A second area of study is that of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in the southeast United States. For several years I served as coordinator of a four-university consortium to study these storms and their environmental precursors. My work centered on mesoscale analysis of case studies.

I am also interested continuing to improve severe storm warnings and have helped organize a collaborative program with the National Weather Service Office in Raleigh to study the process of how warnings are issued. The first of its kind in the country, the program seeks to place academic scientists in the operational setting of real-time forecasting local severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. The objective of the program is to gain mutual insight, to promote collaboration between NOAA forecasters and university scientists, and ultimately to improve the warning process. So far over 150 warnings have been documented and several collaborative case studies are underway.

Recent Grants

(Total Funding; (My Portion); Period; No. of PI's; Agency; Title)

$375,000; ($71,000); 5/1/00-4/30/02; 4; NOAA; Improving forecasts of topographically-forced weather systems in the Carolinas and Virginia
$5,000; ($5,000); 11/1/99-10/31/00; 1; UCAR-COMET; An investigation of the inland intensification of tropical storm Danny
$26,546; ($10,000); 5/15/00-12/31/00; 3; WRAL; Evaluation of the MM5 real-time forecast system $1,141,000; ($90,000); 10/1/92-9/30/96; 6; NOAA; Research on severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in the southeastern United States
$20,000; ($20,000);9/1/95-8/31/96; 3; NSF; Equipment for Unidata-supported teaching and research in meteorology

Thesis Titles (since 1982)

Black, Michael A., 1997: Experimental Forecasts of Summer Precipitation in North Carolina. (M. S.) Langmaid, Adam H., 1996: Surface Mesoscale Processes during the 1994 Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak. (M. S.)

Hoium, Debra K., 1996: The Severe Weather Warning Process Using the WSR-88D at the Raleigh Weather Forecast Office. (M. S.)

Turner, Kyle D., 1996: Geosynchronous Satellite Infrared Analysis of Tornadic Thunderstorms (M. S.)

Trayers, Robert W., Jr., 1996: Winter Severe Weather: A Case Study of the Intense Squall Line of 6-7 January 1995. (M. S.)

Kreis, Kimberly W., 1995: Synoptic and Mesoscale Severe Weather: A Two Day Case Study of a Derecho and Local Hailstorms. (M. S.)

Graziano, Thomas, 1995: Analysis and Numerical Modeling of Convectively Driven Ageostrophic Circulations and their Role in the Rapid Cold-Air Cyclogenesis During ERICA IOP 8. (Ph. D., Co-chair with Steven Businger who supervised most of the research. I became co-chair due to Businger's move to Hawaii.)

Bauman, William H. III, 1995: Synoptic and Mesoscale Forcing of Convective Activity over Cape Canaveral During Easterly Flow and Nowcasting for Space Shuttle Landings at Kennedy Space Center. (Ph. D., Co-chair with Steven Businger who supervised most of the research. I became co-chair due to Businger's move to Hawaii.)

Schrab, Kevin J., 1995: The Use of Geosynchronous Satellite Imagery to Detect the Occurrence of Tornadic Thunderstorms. (Ph. D., I became chair after the death of Dr. Charles Anderson who supervised most of the research.)

Wang, Jei-Fu, 1995: A Numerical Modeling Study of Coastal Frontogenesis in North Carolina. (Ph. D., Co-chair with Yuh-Lang Lin)

Enman, Julia A., 1993: Quantitative Precipitation Forecast Models for Hurricanes making Landfall in the United States. (M. S., Co-chair with Davis)

Dutcher, Deborah D, 1993: A Hurricane Rainfall-Prediction Model for the East Coast. (M. S., Co-chair with Davis)

Spendley, William J., Jr. 1992: Mesoscale frontogenesis: An analysis of two cold front case studies. (M. S.)

Tasso, William C., 1992: Predicting the Movement of Carolina Coastal Fronts (M. S.)

Anderson, James Thomas, 1991: Carolina Coastal Fronts: A Case Study, Climatology and Simple Prediction Scheme. (M. S.)

Dunic, Ronald L., 1989: A Method for Correcting and Reducing the Pressure Data Recorded at the PAM II Stations during GALE . (M. S.)

Egentowich, John, 1989: Inland Evolution of the Coastal Front during IOP-2, 25 January, 1986. (M. S.)

Olerud, Donald T., Jr., 1987: A Comparative Examination of Sensible Heat Flux Fields About an East Coast Cyclone. (M. S.)

Kiess, Raymond B., 1985: Exploration of Synoptic Influences on Inversion Strength and Transitions Into the Daytime Boundary Layer. (M. S.)

Pierce, Thomas E., 1984: An Evaluation of Alternative Gaussian Plume Dispersion Modeling Techniques in Estimating Short-Term Sulfur Dioxide Concentrations. (M. S.)

Bullock, O. Russell, 1983: A Computer-Oriented Study of the Spatial Analysis of Free Atmospheric Radiosonde Wind Data. (M. S.)

Meeting Abstracts

Riordan, Allen J., and Joel Cline, 1999: Inland re-intensification on Tropical Storm Danny. Preprints, 23rd Conf. on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, January, 1999, Dallas, TX, Amer. Meteor. Soc. Trayers,

Robert W., Jr. and A. J. Riordan, 1996: Winter severe weather: A case study of the intense squall line of 6-7 January 1995 in the Carolinas. Preprints, 15h Conf. on Weather Analysis and Forecasting, 383-386. August 1996, Norfolk, VA. Amer. Meteor. Soc.

Langmaid, Adam H., Allen J. Riordan and Michael Vescio, 1996: Mesoscale analysis and eta model perspective of the 1994 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak. Preprints, 18th Conf. on Severe Local Storms, 19-23 February 1996, San Francisco, CA. Amer. Meteor. Soc.

Hoium, Debra K., Allen J. Riordan and Kermit K. Keeter, 1996: Collaboration between the National Weather Service and N C State University in the severe-weather warning process in Raleigh North Carolina. Preprints, 18th Conf. on Severe Local Storms, 19-23 February 1996, San Francisco, CA. Amer. Meteor. Soc.

Kreis, Kimberly W. and Allen J. Riordan, 1996: North Carolina mesoscale environment: case study of 4 June 1993 derecho mesoscale influence on 5 June 1993 severe hailstorms. Preprints, 18th Conf. on Severe Local Storms, 19-23 February 1996, San Francisco, CA. Amer. Meteor. Soc.

Turner, Kyle, S. E. Koch and A. J. Riordan, 1996: GOES-8 infrared analysis of tornadic and non-tornadic thunderstorms. Preprints, 18th Conf. on Severe Local Storms, 19-23 February 1996, San Francisco, CA. Amer. Meteor. Soc.

Waranauskas, Brian and Allen J. Riordan, 1996: Multiscale analysis of a severe convective regeneration event. Preprints, 18th Conf. on Severe Local Storms, 19-23 February 1996, San Francisco, CA. Amer. Meteor. Soc.

Riordan, A. J., 1996: The coastal front: an historical perspective. Conference on Coastal Oceanic and Atmospheric Prediction. Amer. Meteor. Soc. Annual Meeting, 28 January-2 February 1996. Atlanta, GA.

Vescio, M., K. Keeter, P Badgett and A. J. Riordan, 1993: A low-top weak reflectivity severe weather episode along a thermal/moisture boundary in eastern North Carolina. Preprints, 17th Conf. on Severe Local Storms. 4-8 October, 1993, St. Louis, MO. Amer. Meteor. Soc.

Riordan, A. J., M. D. Vescio and K. Keeter, 1993: An overview of the severe weather outbreak of 21-23 November 1992. Preprints, 17th Conf. on Severe Local Storms. 4-8 October, 1993, St. Louis, MO. Amer. Meteor. Soc.

*Lee, L. G., K. Keeter, S. Businger and A. Riordan, 1992: Geography-related forecast problems in the southeastern United States and a joint North Carolina State-National Weather Service effort to improve the understanding and prediction of these events. Proceedings: 72nd Annual Meeting of the Amer. Meteor. Soc. 5-10 January 1992, Atlanta, GA.

*Dutcher, D., J. M. Davis, A. J. Riordan and J. Monahan, 1992: Development of a prediction equation for rainfall associated with hurricanes after landfall. Proceedings: 72nd Annual Meeting of the Amer. Meteor. Soc. 5-10 January 1992, Atlanta, GA.

Anderson, J. T. and A. J. Riordan, 1991: Offshore analysis of a coastal front during GALE and similar frontal zones in the Carolinas. Preprints: First International Symposium on Winter Storms. 14-18 January 1991. New Orleans, LA. Amer. Meteor. Soc.

Riordan, A. J. and J. T. Anderson, 1991: Dual Doppler analysis of a coastal front near Cape Hatteras North Carolina. Preprints: First International Symposium on Winter Storms. 14-18 January 1991. New Orleans, LA. Amer. Meteor. Soc.

Riordan, A. J., 1988: Mesoscale features of the onshore movement of the coastal front during IOP-2, January 25, 1986. Reports of the GALE/CASP Analysis Workshop, 3-7 October 1988, Val Morin, Quebec.

Egentowich, J., A. Riordan and G., Watson, 1988: Inland evolution of the coastal front during IOP-2, 25 January 1986. Reports of the GALE/CASP Analysis Workshop, 3-7 October 1988, Val Morin, Quebec.

Wang, J., A. Riordan, and Y. -L. Lin, 1988: A two-layer model approach to the coastal frontogenesis. Reports of the GALE/CASP Analysis Workshop, 3-7 October 1988, Val Morin, Quebec.

Riordan, A. J., 1988: Studies of airflow patterns over coastal waters during selected synoptic-scale flow regimes. Reports of the GALE/CASP Analysis Workshop, 3-7 October 1988, Val Morin, Quebec.

Riordan, A. J. and J. F. Wang, 1987: Mesoscale features of the early stages and onshore movement of a coastal front near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Workshop-Report: Genesis of Atlantic Lows Experiment and Canadian Atlantic Storms Program. February 2-6 November 1987. Virginia Beach, VA.

Riordan, A. J., 1987: GALE surface marine data and their use in analysis of a coastal front. Reports of GALE Preliminary Analysis Workshop. 16-17 February 1987. Pacific Grove, CA. Period 1982-1985: Attended and contributed to annual GALE Planning workshops.

Refereed Publications (By Date)

Egentowich, J. M., Kaplan, M. L., Lin, Y. -L., and Riordan, A. J., 2000: Mesoscale simulations of dynamical factors discriminating between a tornado outbreak and non-event over the southeast U S. Part I: 84-48 hour precursors. Meteor. Atmos. Phys., in press.

Egentowich, J. M., Kaplan, M. L., Lin, Y. -L., and Riordan, A. J., 2000: Mesoscale simulations of dynamical factors discriminating between a tornado outbreak and non-event over the southeast U S. Part II: 48-6 hour precursors. Meteor. Atmos. Phys., in press.

Egentowich, J. M., Kaplan, M. L., Lin, Y. -L., and Riordan, A. J., 2000: Mesoscale simulations of dynamical factors discriminating between a tornado outbreak and non-event over the southeast U S. Part III: 6 hour precursors. Meteor. Atmos. Phys., in press.

Aneja, Viney P., R. G. Oommen, A. J. Riordan, S. P. Arya, and R. J. Wayland, 1999: Ozone patterns for three metropolitan statistical areas in North Carolina. Atmos. Environ., 33, 5081-5093.

Langmaid, Adam H., and A. J. Riordan, 1998: Surface mesoscale processes during the 1994 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak. Mon. Wea. Rev., 126, 2117-2132.

Hoium, Debra K., A. J. Riordan, J. Monahan, and K. K. Keeter, 1997: Severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings at Raleigh, North Carolina. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 78, 2559-2575.

Riordan, A. J., J. Thomas Anderson, and S. Chiswell, 1995: Small-Scale Structure of a Coastal Front as Revealed by Dual-Doppler Radar. Mon. Wea. Rev., 123, 622-640.

Riordan, A. J. and Lin Y-L., 1992: Mesoscale Wind Signatures along the Carolina Coast. Mon. Wea. Rev., 120, 2786-2797.

Riordan, A. J., 1990: Examination of the mesoscale features of the GALE coastal front of 24-25 January, 1986. Mon. Wea. Rev., 118, 258-282.

Blanton, J. O., J. A. Amft, D. K. Lee, and A. J. Riordan, 1989: Wind stress and heat fluxes observed during winter and spring 1986. J. Geophys. Res., 94, 10686-10698.

Raman, S. and A. J. Riordan, 1988: The Genesis of Atlantic Lows Experiment: the planetary-boundary-layer subprogram of GALE. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 69, 161-172.

Blanton, J. O., T. N. Lee, L. P. Atkinson, J. M. Bane, and A. J. Riordan, 1987: Oceanographic studies during project GALE. Trans. Amer. Geophys. U., 68, 1626-1627.

Kiess, R. B., and A. J. Riordan, 1987: The statistical relationship between the synoptic-scale pressure field and the development and morning transition of surface inversions at two rural sites. J. Clim.. and Appl. Meteor., 26, 1000-1013.

Riordan, A. J., J. M. Davis, and R. B. Kiess: 1986: The morning inversion near the ground and its daytime transition at two rural sites in the Carolinas. J. Clim. and Appl. Meteor., 25, 239-256.

SethuRaman, S., A. J. Riordan, T. Holt, M. Stunder, and J. Hinman, 1986: Observations of the marine boundary layer thermal structure in the vicinity of the Gulf Stream during a cold air outbreak. J. Clim. and Appl. Meteor., 25, 14-21.

Riordan, A. J., S. SethuRaman, J. M. Davis, and S. Viessman, 1985: Measurements in the marine boundary layer near a coastal front. Geophys. Res. Lett., 12, 681-684.

Barber, D. A., J. M. Davis, and A. J. Riordan: 1984: Spectral analysis of station pressure as an indicator of climatological variations in synoptic-scale activity in the Eastern United States. Mon. Wea. Rev., 11, 333-339.

Davis, J. M., A. J. Riordan and R. E. Lawson, Jr., 1983: A wind tunnel study of the flow field within and around open-top chambers used for air pollution studies. Boundary-Layer Meteor., 25, 193-214.

Riordan, A. J., 1982: Formulation and testing of a climatonomic simulation of the microclimate of the Dry Valleys and of the Little America V station in Antarctica. Boundary-Layer Meteor., 24, 295-329.

 

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