Research Interests
Atmospheric observations and instrumentation.
Atmospheric convection.
Mesoscale meteorology.
Atmospheric physics.
Statistics.
Numerical weather prediction (idealized and operational).
Connor Nelson, Ph.D.
Project Scientist, UCAR, Hurricane Research Division
816.343.4791
4301 Rickenbacker Causeway
Miami, Florida 33149
““[Our] analysis indicated that there was appreciable variance in the sounding data within the boundary layer, where spatially and temporally neighboring profiles are generally uncorrelated within 1–2 h and < 30-km… [these findings] could provide the opportunity for future work to more accurately quantify the mesobeta-scale heterogeneity of convective environments.” – Nelson et al. (2021) “
Dr. Connor Nelson is a Project Scientist in the Cooperative Programs for the Advancement of Earth System Science at UCAR, supporting the NOAA Quantitative Observing System Assessment Program (QOSAP) in AOML. In this capacity, he is developing the next generation observing system experiment (OSE)/observing system simulation experiment (OSSE) OSE/OSSE system for the new Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System (HAFS) model. The goal of this research is to use these OSE/OSSE capabilities to examine the impact of observational data incorporated into the model at key points in the forecast. With the HAFS-OSSE framework, Connor hopes to evaluate new observational techniques and platforms for hurricane forecasting including flight-level data, soundings, and satellite retrievals.
2019, Ph.D., Atmospheric Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY
2015, M.S., Atmospheric & Environmental Sciences, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, Rapid City, SD
2013, B.S., Meteorology – Geography, Ohio University, Athens, OH
Marquis, Z. Feng, A. Varble, T. C. Nelson, A. Houston, J. M. Peters, J. P. Mulholland, and J. C. Hardin, 2023: Near-cloud atmospheric ingredients for deep convection initiation Mon. Wea. Rev., EOR, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-22-0243.1
Nelson, T. C., J. Marquis, J. Peters, and K. Friedrich, 2022: Environmental Controls on Simulated Deep Moist Convection Initiation Occurring during RELAMPAGO-CACTI, J. Atmos. Sci., 79, 1941–1964, doi: 10.1175/JAS-D-21-0226.1
Peters, J., H. Morrison, K. K. Chandrakar, T. C. Nelson, J. Marquis, J. P. Mulholland, and C. J. Nowotarski, 2022: The role of vertical wind shear in the transition from shallow to deep cumulus convection. Part 1: Theory. J. Atmos. Sci., 79, 1669–1690, doi: 10.1175/JAS-D-21-0145.1
Peters, J., H. Morrison, K. K. Chandrakar, T. C. Nelson, J. Marquis, J. P. Mulholland, and C. J. Nowotarski, 2022: The role of vertical wind shear in the transition from shallow to deep cumulus convection. Part 2: Simulations. J. Atmos. Sci, 79, 1691–1711, doi: 10.1175/JAS-D-21-0144.1