B.S. – Physics, University of Minnesota
M.S. – Meteorology, University of California, Los Angeles
Ph.D. – Meteorology, University of California, Los Angeles
Survey of Meteorology, Thermodynamics, Physical Meteorology, Remote Sensing, Boundary Layer Meteorology, Mesoscale Meteorology
Professor Atkins’s research interests are in the area of mesoscale meteorology with a focus on severe local storms. Professor Atkins has published papers on the sea breeze, dryline, bow echoes, tornadoes, and supercell thunderstorms. He has also been involved in many field programs including the Convection and Precipitation/Electrification Experiment (CaPE), the Bow Echo and MCV Experiment (BAMEX), and both Verification on the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX 1 and 2).
His current focus is on better understanding the relationship between the visual characteristics, damage, and radar signatures produced by tornadoes. He is also looking at the formation and structure of wall clouds observed with supercell thunderstorms.
Recent publications include:
Atkins, N.T., E.M. Glidden, and T.M. Nicholson, 2014: Observations of Wall Cloud Formation in Supercell Thunderstorms During VORTEX2. Mon. Wea. Rev., In Press.
Wakimoto, Roger M., Nolan T. Atkins, Joshua Wurman, 2011: The LaGrange Tornado during VORTEX2. Part I: Photogrammetric Analysis of the Tornado Combined with Single-Doppler Radar Data. Mon. Wea. Rev., 139, 2233–2258.
Atkins, Nolan T., A. McGee, R. Ducharme, R.M. Wakimoto, and J. Wurman, 2011: The LaGrange Tornado during VORTEX 2. Part II: Photogrammetric Analysis of the Tornado Combined with Dual-Doppler Radar Data. Submitted to Mon. Wea. Rev.
Detailed CV for Professor Nolan Atkins