FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/p>\n
10\/4\/14<\/p>\n
CONTACT: Chris Velden, 608-262-9168, chris.velden@ssec.wisc.edu; Steve Ackerman, 608-263-3647, steve.ackerman@ssec.wisc.edu<\/p>\n
CIMSS TROPICAL CYCLONES GROUP TO RECEIVE AMS SPECIAL AWARD<\/p>\n
MADISON – The Tropical Cyclones Group at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS), University of Wisconsin-Madison, has been selected for an American Meteorological Society (AMS) Special Award.<\/p>\n
The award is presented to groups or individuals that have made important contributions to meteorology, meteorological aspects of oceanography or hydrology, or the Society.<\/p>\n
The AMS cited the CIMSS Tropical Cyclones Group for \u201cproviding the weather community with valuable tropical cyclone-related satellite information and derived products for over two decades,\u201d stating that the award is \u201ca reflection of [their] commitment to the Society and to the field.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Special Award recognizes the scientific contributions of current and former members of the Tropical Cyclones team: Timothy Olander, Derrick Herndon, Anthony Wimmers, David Stettner, Steven Wanzong, Jason Dunion, Sarah Griffin, John Sears, and group founder Christopher Velden.<\/p>\n
According to CIMSS Director Steve Ackerman, the group has worked with its operational partners \u2212 the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the Joint Typhoon Weather Center (JTWC), along with many international centers \u2212 to deliver state-of-the-art, satellite-based tools and research directed toward applications to help monitor tropical cyclones.<\/p>\n
The majority of tropical cyclone warning centers around the world rely on satellite-derived information to determine the position, intensity, and structure of tropical cyclones. The analysis aids developed by the CIMSS team are now almost universally applied at these centers.<\/p>\n
For example, a CIMSS product or analysis (on shear measurements, thermal profiles, estimates of intensity) has been cited in nearly 60% of NHC Forecast Discussions since 2004, indicating the \u201crobustness and growing impact on operations,\u201d notes Robert Hart, professor of meteorology at Florida State University.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen considering that NHC forecasters typically have precious few minutes to examine data during a forecast cycle, these dominant statistics alone warrant an AMS Special Award,\u201d writes Hart in his nomination letter. \u201cIt is impossible to imagine the global tropical cyclone forecast process today without CIMSS research and associated operational products.\u201d<\/p>\n