Robert Black

Research Interests

Cloud physics.

Robert (Bob) Black

Meteorologist, Hurricane Research Division

305.361.4314

robert.a.black@noaa.gov

4301 Rickenbacker Causeway
Miami, Florida 33149

About

Robert (Bob) Black is a Cloud Physics Specialist. He processes all the particle image data collected by the WP-3D Orion aircraft and has done so since 1980.

Current Work

Meteorologist, Hurricane Research Division

Download Full CV

Education

1987, Advanced Study in Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

1980, M.S., Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY

1977, B.S., Department of Meteorology, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA

Publications

Leighton, H., R. Black, X. Zhang, and F.D. Marks. The relationship between reflectivity and rainfall rate from rain size distributions observed in hurricanes. Geophysical Research Letters, 49(23):e2022GL099332, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL099332 2022
Ref. 4205
Leighton, H., R. Black, X. Zhang, F.D. Marks, and S.G. Gopalakrishnan. Ice particle size distribution from composites of microphysics observations collected in tropical cyclones. Geophysical Research Letters, 47(15):e2020GL088762, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL088762 2020
Ref. 3835
Moradi, I., K.F. Evans, W. McCarty, M. Cordero-Fuentes, R. Gelaro, and R.A. Black. Assimilation of satellite microwave observations over the rainbands of tropical cyclones. Monthly Weather Review, 148(12):4729-4245, https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-19-0341.1 2020
Ref. 3868

View all Related Publications

Leighton, H., R. Black, X. Zhang, and F.D. Marks. The relationship between reflectivity and rainfall rate from rain size distributions observed in hurricanes. Geophysical Research Letters, 49(23):e2022GL099332, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL099332 2022
Ref. 4205
Leighton, H., R. Black, X. Zhang, F.D. Marks, and S.G. Gopalakrishnan. Ice particle size distribution from composites of microphysics observations collected in tropical cyclones. Geophysical Research Letters, 47(15):e2020GL088762, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL088762 2020
Ref. 3835
Moradi, I., K.F. Evans, W. McCarty, M. Cordero-Fuentes, R. Gelaro, and R.A. Black. Assimilation of satellite microwave observations over the rainbands of tropical cyclones. Monthly Weather Review, 148(12):4729-4245, https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-19-0341.1 2020
Ref. 3868
Stechman, D.M., G.M. McFarquar, R.M. Rauber, B.F. Jewett, and R.A. Black. Composite in situ microphysical analysis of all spiral vertical profiles executed within BAMEX and PECAN mesoscale convective systems. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 77(7):2541-2565, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-19-0317.1 2020
Ref. 3805
Kalina, E.A., S.Y. Matrosov, J.J. Cione, F.D. Marks, J. Vivekenandan, R.A. Black, J.C. Hubbert, M.M. Bell, D.E. Kingsmill, and A.B. White. The ice water paths of small and large ice species in Hurricane Arthur (2014) and Irene (2011). Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 56(5):1383-1404, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-16-0300-1 2017
Ref. 3380
Zhu, P., Z. Zhu, S. Gopalakrishnan, R. Black, F.D. Marks, V. Tallapragada, J.A. Zhang, X. Zhang, and C. Gao. Impact of subgrid-scale processes on eyewall replacement cycle of tropical cyclones in HWRF system. Geophysical Research Letters, 42(22):10027-10036, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL066436 2015
Ref. 3205
Black, R.A., and J. Hallett. Rain rate and water content in hurricanes compared with summer rain in Miami, Florida. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 51(12):2218-2235, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-11-0144.1 2012
Ref. 2778
Rogers, R.F., M.L. Black, S.S. Chen, and R.A. Black. An evaluation of microphysics fields from mesoscale model simulations of tropical cyclones, Part I: Comparisons with observations. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 64(6):1811-1834, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS3932.1 2007
Ref. 516
Aberson, S.D., M.L. Black, R.A. Black, R.W. Burpee, J.J. Cione, C.W. Landsea, and F.D. Marks. Thirty years of tropical cyclone research with the NOAA P-3 aircraft. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 87(8):1039-1055, https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-87-8-1039 2006
Ref. 543
Rogers, R.F., M.L. Black, P.T. Willis, R.A. Black, A. Heymsfield, A. Bansemer, and G. Heymsfield. An evaluation of the microphysics fields of Hurricane Dennis (2005) at different stages of its lifecycle. Preprints, 27th Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, Monterey, CA, April 24-28, 2006. American Meteorological Society, Boston, 4 pp. (CD-ROM), 2006
Ref. 628
McFarquhar, G.M., and R.A. Black. Hurricane observations of particle size and phase and their implications for mesoscale modeling of microphysical processes. Preprints, 26th Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, Miami, FL, May 3-7, 2004. American Meteorological Society, Boston, 348-349, 2004
Ref. 805
McFarquhar, G.M., and R.A. Black. Observations of particle size and phase in tropical cyclones: Implications for mesoscale modeling of microphysical processes. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 61(4):422-439, https://doi:10.1175/1520-0469(2004)0612.0.CO; 2004
Ref. 806
Rogers, R.F., M.L. Black, S.S. Chen, and R.A. Black. Evaluating microphysical parameterization schemes for use in hurricane environments. Preprints, 26th Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, Miami, FL, May 3-7, 2004. American Meteorological Society, Boston, 518-519, 2004
Ref. 820
Black, R.A., G.M. Heymsfield, and J. Hallett. Extra large particle images at 12 km in a hurricane eyewall: Evidence of high-altitude supercooled water? Geophysical Research Letters, 30(21):2124, 4 pp., https://doi.org/10.1029/2003GL017864 2003
Ref. 852
Gedzelman, S., J. Lawrence, J.F. Gamache, M.L. Black, E. Hindman, R.A. Black, J.P. Dunion, H.E. Willoughby, and X. Zhang. Probing hurricanes with stable isotopes of rain and water vapor. Monthly Weather Review, 131(6):1112-1127, https://doi:10.1175/1520-0493(2003)1312.0.CO; 2003
Ref. 871
Mo, Q., A.G. Detwiler, J. Hallett, and R.A. Black. Horizontal structure of the electric field in the stratiform region of an Oklahoma mesoscale convective system. Journal of Geophysical Research, 108(D7):4225, 15 pp., https://doi.org/10.1029/2001JD001140 2003
Ref. 908
Black, R.A., and G.M. Heymsfield. Extra large particle images at 40,000 ft in a hurricane eyewall: Evidence of partially frozen raindrops? Preprints, 11th Conference on Cloud Physics, Ogden, UT, June 3-7, 2002. American Meteorological Society, Boston, 3 pp., 2002
Ref. 946
Rogers, R.F., R.A. Black, and D.-L. Zhang. A preliminary investigation of a common microphysical parameterization and its applicability to tropical cyclone simulations. Preprints, 25th Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, San Diego, CA, April 29-May 3, 2002. American Meteorological Society, Boston, 436-437, 2002
Ref. 1018
Testud, J., S. Oury, R.A. Black, P. Amayenc, and X. Dou. The concept of "normalized" distribution to describe raindrop spectra: A tool for cloud physics and cloud remote sensing. Journal of Applied Meteorology, 40(6):1118-1140, 2001
Ref. 1131
Atlas, D., C.W. Ulbrich, F.D. Marks, R.A. Black, E. Amitai, P.T. Willis, and C.E. Samsury. Partitioning tropical oceanic convective and stratiform rains by draft strength. Journal of Geophysical Research, 105(D2):2259-2267, https://doi.org/10.1029/1999JD901009 2000
Ref. 1154
Protat, A., Y. Lemaitre, D. Bouniol, and R.A. Black. Microphysical observations during FASTEX from airborne Doppler radar and in-situ measurements. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Part B: Hydrology, Oceans, and Atmosphere, 25(10-12):1097-1102, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1464-1909(00)00159-3 2000
Ref. 1236
Black, R.A., and J. Hallett. Electrification of the hurricane. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 56(12):2004-2028, https://doi:10.1175/1520-0469(1999)0562.0.CO;2 1999
Ref. 1285
Jameson, A.R., A.B. Kostinski, and R.A. Black. The texture of clouds. Journal of Geophysical Research, 103(D6):6211-6220, https://doi.org/10.1029/98JD00081 1998
Ref. 1457
Black, R.A. Giant raindrops observed from large aircraft. Preprints, 22nd Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, Ft. Collins, CO, May 19-23, 1997. American Meteorological Society, Boston, 494-495, 1997
Ref. 1521
Bringi, V.N., K.Knupp, A. Detwiler, L. Liu, I.J. Caylor, and R.A. Black. Evolution of a Florida thunderstorm during the Convection and Precipitation/Electrification Experiment: The case of August 9, 1991. Monthly Weather Review, 125(9):2131-2160, https://doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1997)1252.0.CO; 1997
Ref. 1523
Haddad, Z.S., D.A. Short, S.L. Durden, E. Im, S. Hensley, M.B. Grable, and R.A. Black. A new parameterization of the rain drop size distribution. IEEE, Transactions of Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 35(3):532-539, https://doi.org/10.1109/36.581961 1997
Ref. 1559
Black, R.A., H.B. Bluestein, and M.L. Black. Unusually strong vertical motions in a Caribbean hurricane. Preprints, 21st Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, Miami, FL, April 24-28, 1995. American Meteorological Society, Boston, 260-262, 1995
Ref. 1705
Willis, P.T., R.A. Black, F.D. Marks, and D. Baumgardner. Airborne raindrop size distributions in TOGA-COARE. Preprints, 21st Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, Miami, FL, April 24-28, 1995. American Meteorological Society, Boston, 431-433, 1995
Ref. 1791
Black, R.A., H.B. Bluestein, and M.L. Black. Unusually strong vertical motions in a Caribbean hurricane. Monthly Weather Review, 122(12):2722-2739, https://doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1994)1222.0.CO; 1994
Ref. 1803
Willis, P.T., J. Hallett, R.A. Black, and W. Hendricks. An aircraft study of rapid precipitation development and electrification in a growing convective cloud. Atmospheric Research, 33(1-4):1-24, https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-8095(94)90010-8 1994
Ref. 1872
Black, R.A., J. Hallett, and C.P.R. Saunders. Aircraft studies of precipitation and electrification in hurricanes. Preprints, Conference on Atmospheric Electricity, St. Louis, MO, October 4-8, 1993. American Meteorological Society, Boston, J20-25, 1993
Ref. 1888
Black, R.A., P.T. Willis, and J. Hallett. The development of ice particles and the establishment of electric fields in a maritime tropical cumulus cloud. Preprints, 20th Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, San Antonio, TX, May 10-14, 1993. American Meteorological Society, Boston, 81-84, 1993
Ref. 1889
Hallett, J., W. Hendricks, R.A. Black, C.P.R. Saunders, and I. Brooks. Aircraft observations of precipitation development and hydrometeor charge in Florida cumuli. Proceedings, Conference on Atmospheric Electricity, St. Louis, MO, October 4-8, 1993. American Meteorological Society, Boston, 785-790, 1993
Ref. 1920
Willis, P.T., J. Hallett, W. Hendricks, and R.A. Black. Hydrometeor development and structure of a convective cell. Preprints, 20th Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, San Antonio, TX, May 10-14, 1993. American Meteorological Society, Boston, 74-77, 1993
Ref. 1990
Houze, R.A., F.D. Marks, and R.A. Black. Dual-aircraft investigation of the inner core of Hurricane Norbert. Part II: Mesoscale distribution of ice particles. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 49(11):943-962, https://doi:10.1175/1520-0469(1992)0492.0.CO; 1992
Ref. 2026
Willis, P.T., J. Hallett, and R.A. Black. Cloud and hydrometeor microphysics at -3°C in a vigorous Florida convective updraft. Preprints, 11th International Conference on Clouds and Precipitation, Montreal, Canada, August 17-21, 1992. American Meteorological Society, Boston, 436-439, 1992
Ref. 2064
Black, R.A. Radar reflectivity-ice water content relationships for use above the melting level in hurricanes. Journal of Applied Meteorology, 29(9):955-961, https://doi:10.1175/1520-0450(1990)0292.0.CO; 1990
Ref. 2167
Black, R.A., and J. Hallett. Electric field and microphysical measurements in vigorous hurricane eyewalls. Preprints, Conference on Cloud Physics, San Francisco, CA, July 23-27, 1990. American Meteorological Society, Boston, 662-665, 1990
Ref. 2168
Gamache, J.F., F.D. Marks, and R.A. Black. The bulk water budget of Hurricane Norbert (1984) as determined from thermodynamic and microphysical analyses retrieved from airborne Doppler radar. Preprints, 10th International Cloud Physics Conference, Bad Homburg, Federal Republic of Germany, August 15-20, 1988. American Meteorological Society, Boston, 711-713, 1988
Ref. 2352
Houze, R.A., F.D. Marks, and R.A. Black. Mesoscale patterns of ice particle characteristics in Hurricane Norbert. Preprints, 10th International Cloud Physics Conference, Bad Homburg, Federal Republic of Germany, August 15-20, 1988. American Meteorological Society, Boston, 708-710, 1988
Ref. 2359
Black, P.G., F.D. Marks, and R.A. Black. Supercell structure in tropical cyclones. Preprints, 23rd Conference on Radar Meteorology, Snowmass, CO, September 22-26, 1986. American Meteorological Society, Boston, JP255-259, 1986
Ref. 2474
Black, P.G., R.A. Black, J. Hallett, and W.A. Lyons. Electrical activity of the hurricane. Preprints, 23rd Conference on Radar Meteorology, Snowmass, CO, September 22-26, 1986. American Meteorological Society, Boston, J277-J280, 1986
Ref. 2475
Black, R.A. Microphysical investigations above the melting level in Hurricane Norbert (1984). Preprints, 23rd Conference on Cloud Physics, Snowmass, CO, September 22-26, 1986. American Meteorological Society, Boston, JP252-254, 1986
Ref. 2477
Black, R.A., and J. Hallett. Observations of the distribution of ice in hurricanes. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 43(8):802-822, https://doi:10.1175/1520-0469(1986)0432.0.CO; 1986
Ref. 2478
Houze, R.A., F.D. Marks, R.A. Black, P.T. Willis, and J.F. Gamache. Airborne Doppler radar and cloud microphysical measurements in Hurricane Norbert. Proceedings, 16th Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, Houston, TX, May 14-17, 1985. American Meteorological Society, Boston, 5-6, 1985
Ref. 2574
Willoughby, H.E., D.P. Jorgensen, R.A. Black, and S.L. Rosenthal. Project STORMFURY: A scientific chronicle, 1962-1983. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 66(5):505-514, 1985
Ref. 2632

2014 South Florida Federal Executive Board Federal Employee of the Year

For contributions toward the development of the advanced, high-resolution Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting (HWRF) model used operationally to provide forecast guidance to the National Hurricane Center.

2012 NOAA Federal Employee of the Year

For innovative work on the NCEP/EMC hurricane forecast model, leading to greatly improved hurricane track and intensity forecasts.