2008 Hurricane Expert Guide

The University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School is a pioneer in the study of the development, intensification and lasting-effects of tropical cyclones (hurricanes) and other weather-related phenomena.  Striving to provide the most advanced and accurate scientific information to our community, we have assembled a list of faculty members from the Rosenstiel School who can serve as valuable resources when crafting your stories this hurricane season.  A more comprehensive, university-wide list of experts covering topics such as architecture, psychology and communications is also available at www.miami.edu

Meteorology  — Hurricane Intensity,
Air-Sea Interactions, Waves and Clouds

Bruce Albrecht, Ph.D., is a professor in the division of meteorology and physical oceanography at the Rosenstiel School. Dr. Albrecht’s research focuses on clouds and climate interactions, tropical meteorology, and remote sensing of clouds and precipitation. Dr. Albrecht is available to discuss research findings on clouds and their role in hurricane development, a phenomenon not well understood and thought to be pivotal in understanding hurricane intensification.

Phone: 305-421-4043
E-mail: b.albrecht@miami.edu

Shuyi Chen, Ph.D., is a professor in the division of meteorology and physical oceanography at the Rosenstiel School. Dr. Chen’s research addresses tropical meteorology, specifically studying how the atmosphere and ocean interact in tropical cyclones.  Additionally, she studies coastal meteorology and employs mathematical modeling as a means for weather prediction. Dr Chen served as the principal investigator for RAINEX, one of the world’s largest airborne hurricane field programs ever. During the active 2005 hurricane season, she flew aboard one of three Doppler-equipped aircraft that flew into hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, collecting valuable information that is helping to create more accurate hurricane prediction models. Dr. Chen is available to discuss hurricane processes, research on intensification and track predictability and tropical weather phenomena.

Phone: 305-421-4048
E-mail: schen@rsmas.miami.edu

Mark Donelan, Ph.D., is a professor in the division of applied marine physics at the Rosenstiel School. Dr. Donelan studies wave modeling, wave dynamics, air-sea interaction, and wind-stress modeling. His research focuses on understanding how sea-surface interactions with the atmosphere affect hurricane intensity, and the physical processes involving transport across water. Dr. Donelan’s research utilizes the Rosenstiel School’s unique Air-Sea Interaction Saltwater Tank (ASIST), a wind-water tank that simulates extreme wave conditions.

Phone:  305-421-4717
E-mail: mdonelan@rsmas.miami.edu

William Drennan, Ph.D., is a professor in the division of applied marine physics at the Rosenstiel School.  In 2007, he and his team designed and deployed a first-of-its-kind hurricane buoy in “Hurricane Alley,” and participated in a number of hurricane studies. Dr. Drennan is available to discuss air-sea interaction, boundary layers, surface gravity waves and turbulence.

Phone: 305-421-4798
E-mail: wdrennan@rsmas.miami.edu

Brian Haus,Ph.D., is a research associate professor in the division of applied marine physics at the Rosenstiel School who studies wave-current interactions, and shelf and estuary dynamics using radar remote sensing techniques. Dr. Haus’ hurricane research involves studies of the air-sea coupling in very high winds. In particular using the Rosenstiel School’s Air-Sea Interaction Saltwater Tank (ASIST), to investigate the effects of wave breaking and spray on the air-sea interface.

Phone: 305-421-4932
E-mail: bhaus@rsmas.miami.edu

Sharan Majumdar, Ph.D., is a research assistant professor of meteorology and physical oceanography at the Rosenstiel School.  His research focuses on improving analyses and predictions of the atmosphere and ocean, including hurricanes and winter storms. Dr. Majumdar has flown on several ‘Hurricane Hunter’ aircraft and is an expert on the state of hurricane forecasting and how researchers and their methods are helping to improve hurricane prediction.

Phone: 305-421-4779
E-mail: smajumdar@rsmas.miami.edu

David Nolan, Ph.D., associate professor in meteorology and physical oceanography at the Rosenstiel School studies the fundamental mechanics of hurricanes — how they work, what causes the rapid changes in hurricane intensity, and   how the frequency and intensity of hurricanes may (or may not) change with a changing climate.

Phone: 305-421-4930
E-mail: dnolan@rsmas.miami.edu

Lynn K. (Nick) Shay, Ph.D., professor of meteorology and physical oceanography, studies the impact of the upper ocean conditions, such as the Loop Current, on hurricane intensity changes. A field program is planned in summer 2008 with NOAA, NSF, MMS, USAF Reserve and the US Navy to deploy profilers, floats and drifters in the Gulf of Mexico prior, during and subsequent to hurricane passage.

Phone: 305-421-4075
E-mail: nshay@rsmas.miami.edu

Brian Soden, Ph.D., associate professor of meteorology and physical oceanography at the Rosenstiel School, uses observations and computer models to study the effects of natural and human-caused climate change on hurricane activity. His collaborations with Dr. Gabe Vecchi at NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory in Princeton, N.J. have delivered groundbreaking climatological models and information on wind shear and hurricane intensity.

Phone: 305-421-4202
Email: bsoden@rsmas.miami.edu

Remote Sensing — Real-Time Observations
and Forecasting

Hans C. Graber, Sc.D., is chairman and a professor in the division of applied marine physics at the Rosenstiel School, as well as the co-director of the University’s Center for Southeastern Tropical Advanced Remote Sensing (CSTARS).  Dr. Graber also operates a hurricane forecasting model using remotely sensed data that predicts winds, waves and storm surge up to five days in advance. He is currently involved in preparing a large field program dealing with typhoons in the western Pacific. Dr. Graber’s research focuses on radar remote sensing of hurricanes, understanding air-sea interactions and the generation of ocean waves and storm surge.

Phone: 305-421-4952
E-mail: hgraber@rsmas.miami.edu

Biology — Marine Ecosystems

Diego Lirman, Ph. D., is a research assistant professor in marine biology and fisheries at the Rosenstiel School, who helped launch a coral nursery in Biscayne National Park to help rescue ‘orphaned’ corals. Dr. Lirman has conducted extensive research on the physical impacts of hurricanes and tropical storms on coral reefs and the sea grass communities of South Florida.

Phone: 305-421-4168
E-mail: dlirman@rsmas.miami.edu

Peter Ortner, Ph.D., J.D., is a research professor in marine biology and fisheries at the Rosenstiel School. He studies the effects of hurricanes on coastal ecosystems, in particular Florida Bay and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Dr. Ortner has experience in a number of recovery efforts in the Gulf of Mexico and has served on various federal advisory committees associated with ecosystem management, including the Everglades Restoration effort.

Phone: 305-421-4619
Email: portner@rsmas.miami.edu

Robert Cowen,Ph.D., is chairman and a Maytag Ichthyology professor in the division of marine biology and fisheries. His research centers on larval fish ecology, fisheries oceanography and ichthyology. He has worked extensively on the biological and physical oceanographic processes affecting the retention and transport of larval fishes, in terms of examining larval dynamics, population replenishment and population connectivity in marine fishes. Dr. Cowen has experience in both reef-related and open ocean environments throughout the Caribbean, along the East Coast of the United States, California and Mexico.

Phone: 305-421- 4023
Email: rcowen@rsmas.miami.edu

Economics — Policy and Insurance

David Letson, Ph.D., is a professor of marine affairs and policy at the Rosenstiel School with a secondary appointment in the UM Department of Economics. Dr. Letson studies the economics of extreme weather and climate variations, to effect thoughtful resource management and policy.  He recently testified before the Florida legislature on windstorm insurance, as a Council of Economic Advisors member of Florida TaxWatch.

Phone: 305-421-4083
E-mail: dletson@rsmas.miami.edu

Human Health and Ocean Microbes

Geology — Coastal Dynamics and Erosion

John Wang, Ph.D., is a professor of applied marine physics and ocean engineering, at the Rosenstiel School. Dr. Wang studies the flow of water in coastal areas and is an expert on storm surges and related flooding.  He is available to discuss the fundamental dynamics of beach erosion.

Phone: 305-421-4648
E-mail: j.wang@miami.edu

Harold R. Wanless, Ph.D., is chairman and a professor in the department of Geological Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences. He is available to discuss erosion and how hurricanes change the dynamics of coastlines. He has an active research program, funded by the National Park Service, the National Biological Survey, and NOAA to document hurricane effects on coastal environments; also to document the Holocene and historical evolution of the mangrove coastal wetlands, sea level rise and anthropogenic effects on coastal and shallow marine environments.  Dr. Wanless chairs the science committee for the Miami-Dade Climate Change Advisory Task Force.

Phone: 305-284-4253
E-mail: hwanless@miami.edu