Home Page for Neil Fox

Neil Fox’s Webpage

Assistant Professor of Atmospheric Science

Department of Atmospheric Sciences
332 ABNR Building
Columbia, MO 65211

Office: (573) 882-2144

FAX: (573) 884-5070
E-Mail: foxn@missouri.edu

Department Web Page

Teaching

I currently teach a number of undergraduate and graduate classes within the Atmospheric Science Program. I am responsible for the following:

Weather Briefing (ATMS 2720) – every winter semester and currently experimenting with a fall section

Remote Sensing for atmospheric science and natural resources (ATMS 4510) – taking a break in 2006 from every fall, will be back on 2007

Radar Meteorology (ATMS 4590) – first taught in winter 2006, will now be offered every winter.

Micrometeorology (ATMS 4400) – Offered fall semester of odd years.

Daily Weather analysis and forecasting (ATMS 4949) - this writing intensive capstone class is held every winter semester.

Radiation in the atmosphere (ATMS 8500) – This grad class comes in fall of even years

Nowcasting (ATMS 8550) – A grad class available winter of odd years

Most of the undergrad classes have WebCT sites for students enrolled in the class, whereas the grad classes have material accessible from this page through the links above.

Previously I have taught Introduction to Meteorology (ATMS 1050), Introduction to Atmospheric Science (ATMS 1110), Graduate seminar class and some graduate and undergraduate topics classes. The grad level topics classes in quantitative precipitation forecasting and advanced radar meteorology have been morphed into ‘nowcasting’

Research

I head-up the RAINS research group. The RAINS group is primarily concerned with the observation and prediction of rainfall. In particular a major focus of the group is the development and improvement of short-period forecasts or ‘nowcasts’ of heavy rains that can lead to dangerous flash floods through the use of weather radar systems. We have received funding from the National Science Foundation to investigate probabilistic methods of rainfall forecasting, and have other projects that are concerned with topics such as estimating runoff, stream flow and soil erosion due to heavy rain, forecasting the duration of storms, and correcting errors in rainfall measurements with radar and satellites.

The research page of the RAINS group can be found through this link. Specific project pages may be accessed below or via the RAINS page.

Statistical precipitation nowcasting

Correcting radar rainfall retrievals to the surface

Precipitation nowcasting for flash flood warning / Storm duration forecasts

Precipitation kinetic energy and soil erosion

Quantitative use of Broadcast radars

Wind Power

Recently I have started a group of projects that can loosely be encompassed by the title “Tall tower studies of Midwest wind patterns”. With concerns about the pollution and effect on climate from the use of fossil fuels, along with worries about energy security and diversity, there is now a great deal of interest in the development of alternative and renewable energy sources. Top of many people’s list is wind energy. A set of studies are currently underway to determine the availability of wind energy in Missouri, both for commercial scale power generation and smaller scale community applications. The Atmospheric Science group is collecting data by placing anemometers on communication towers. This allows us to measure the wind at heights that are not commonly observed, up to 500 ft. Yet it is these heights at which wind turbines operate and it is therefore critical to know exactly how much power is available. The idea is to directly measure these winds to confirm or correct the estimates of the wind at such heights that have been previously made. Initially the project will have ten sites. The majority of these are in the North and West of the State, but we hope to expand to cover the entirety of Missouri and, along with the Missouri Climate Center, become the repository of wind energy information for the State with the data easily accessible to all.

Graduate Students

Current Doctoral Student

Steven Lack – Statistical precipitation nowcasting

Current Masters Students

Ben Roudenis – Tornado outbreak in SW Missouri 17/18 December 2002

Marc Dahmer – The low-level jet in Missouri (and wind power)

Willie Gilmore – Precipitation kinetic energy and soil erosion

Rachel Redburn – Tall tower studies of Missouri Winds

Jose Miranda -

George Limpert – Radar hydrological studies of the Mark Twain Lake watershed

Amy Becker – Radar studies of convective snow

Graduate students who have benefited from or survived my guidance in the past

Steven Lack – (MS: Graduated May 04) - Wind drift errors in radar precipitation estimates

Beth Hatter (MS: Graduated August 04) – Flash flood forecasting in Missouri

Bun Liong Saw (MS: Graduated December 05) – Microwave and IR rainfall estimates over Malaysia

David Jankowski (MS Graduated May 06) – Storm duration forecasting

Undergraduate student Research

William Gilmore (2004-5) – The role of storm merger in the Pierce City tornado

Chris Foltz (2005-6) – Gap filling local radar

Shaun Riley (2005-6)

Research in a previous life - but still of interest

World Weather Research Programme Sydney 2000 Olympics Forecast Demonstration Project

The Bolton Project and Mantissa concerned the use of microwave link attenuation for estimates of rainfall and hydrological applications

DEFRA Extreme rainfall and flood forecasting

Qualifications

I did my B.Sc. in physics at Manchester University

I did my M.Phil. in the Department of Meteorology at Reading University

And I did my PhD at the Telford Institute of Environmental Systems at Salford University

I also did my postgraduate certificate in learning and teaching in higher education at Salford University

Publications

See Neil's publication list

Other

I am faculty advisor to the University of Missouri - Columbia Student Chapter of the AMS/NWA

I am a member of the National Weather Association Remote Sensing Committee

Meteorological and remote sensing Links

Remote Sensing

Radar

AMS Radar Committee

Current Nexrad

Meteorological and Scientific Organizations

Places of Interest

Sports...

I have control of the Unofficial MU Rec Center Squash ladder and am proceeding to race down it!! IF you want to join or see how you're doing or just want to find some people to play squash against click here for standings and contact details of players.

I am a member of the University of Missouri - Columbia Chess Club

Real Football!!! (These guys play football with their feet...). The original Spurs:

Tottenham Hotspur F.C

Culture...

I have none as yet
Okay, so I read lots of Caribbean and African literature (happy to discuss with anyone)
I read plenty of other stuff too

The views and opinions expressed in this site are strictly those of the site author.

The contents of this site have not been reviewed or approved by the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Last updated: 08/15/06