Teaching

Undergraduate Classes

Radar Meteorology; Physical Meteorology; Mesoscale Meteorology; Introduction to Hydrology

Graduate Classes

Radiation in the Atmosphere; Nowcasting; Rain; Advanced Radar Meteorology

Undergraduate Assistants

Allison Collier

Research

The Rains Group focuses on research into precipitation observations and forecasts using meteorological radar. This includes looking at the morphology of convective storm types to improve predictions of heavy rain, severe weather and storm development. Related to this are investigations of improved precipitation characterization on surface processes such as soil erosion and streamflow.

Other areas of interest are observations of near-surface winds for wind energy assessment, and odor dispersion from CAFOs.

Current projects include:

• Use of gap filling weather radars
• Radar Nowcasts for Hydrologic Modeling
• Soil erosion from heavy rain
• Mobile Observations of Rainfall Kinetic Energy and Soil Erosion

Previous projects:

• PRESSES: Polarimetric radar for examining streamflow and soil erosion studies
• Quasi-linear convective system modes and mesocyclone occurrence
• Classification of convective storm types
• Low-level jet impacts on wind energy generation
• Operational use of dual-polarization radar products in precipitation monitoring
• Midwest renewable-energy generation and storage solutions
• Statistical Methods for Precipitation Nowcasting and Verification — with Dr. Chris Wikle and Dr. Sakis Micheas
• Improved Model for Runoff and Soil Erosion from Natural Events
• Storm duration forecasts for flash flood warning
• Tall tower studies of Missouri Winds

Former Graduate Students

Doctorate

• Evan Travis, Ph.D. Natural Resources – Atmospheric Science, 2026. Novel Approaches to Very Short-Period Forecasting. Funded by MoDNR-MOHIC.
• Zohreh Mazaheri Kouhanestani, Ph.D., Natural Resources – Water Resources, 2026. Rebecca North, Co-advisor. Experimental and Observational Evidence for the Role of Nutrients and Light on Cyanobacteria Biomass and Toxin Concentrations. Funded by MoDNR/USEPA.
• Steward, Christopher, Ph.D. Natural Resources – Atmospheric Science 2023. Bridging the gap : comparative analysis of a gap filling X-band radar QPE algorithms and their implications for nowcasting and hydrological modeling.  https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/98848
• Pallardy, Quinn, Ph.D. Natural Resources – Atmospheric Science, 2022. The effects of weather classification on regression-based downscaling of daily temperature extrema in the United States. Funded by NSF EPSCoR. https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/94244
• Balkissoon, Sarah, Ph.D. Natural Resources – Atmospheric Science, 2022. Anthony Lupo, co-advisor. Forecasting wind speeds at tall tower heights within Missouri. Funded by Fulbright. https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/91552
• Simpson, Micheal. Ph.D. Natural Resources – Water Resources, 2017. Quantitative precipitation estimation and hydrology using dual-polarization radar. Funded by NSF EPSCoR. https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/63677
• Weber, Eric. Ph.D. Atmospheric Science, 2012. Odor abatement of CAFOs using vegetative barriers. Funded by grant from the USDA and Center for Agroforestry at the Univ. of Missouri. https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/15910
• Steven A. Lack Ph.D. Atmospheric Science, 2007. Cell identification, verification, and classification using shape analysis techniques. Funded by NSF. https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/6017

Masters

• Mahamat Doungous MS Natural Resources – Water Resources, 2026. Noel Aloysius, co-advisor. Water and Food Security Assessment in Sub-Saharan Africa through 2050: A Regional Analysis of the CEMAC Zone. Funded by Fulbright
• Michael Templeton, MS Natural Resources – Water Resources, 2026. Alba Argerich, co-advisor. Episodic and Chronic Pollutant Loading in a Mixed Land-Use Watershed: A Paired Storm Event and Synoptic Monitoring Approach. Funded by MoDNR-MOHIC.
• Jackson, Sawyer, M.S. (accelerated), Natural Resources – Atmospheric Science, 2026. A 15 Year Climatology of Severe Hail Reports and Hail Producing Environments in Missouri.
• Peine, Cole. M.S. Natural Resources – Atmospheric Science, 2025. Altering Land Use Categories Using the WRF Model to Analyze the Impact of Latent Heat Flux on the Strength of a Mesoscale Convective System in the Corn Belt Region. Current position Forecaster, NWS, St. Louis, MO. https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/110314
• Simmons, Noah, M.S. (accelerated), Natural Resources – Atmospheric Science, 2025. A Recent Spatial, Temporal, And Meteorological Climatology of Thundersnow Across the Contiguous US. https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/109771
• Herion, Patrick, M.S. Natural Resources – Atmospheric Science, 2025. Nowcasting Using MZZU To Help Bridge the Gap Between St. Louis And Kansas City National Weather Service Radars. https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/109724
• Olaleye, Yusuf, MS Natural Resources – Water Resources, 2024. An investigation of the relationships between phytoplankton community composition, cyanotoxins, and water quality parameters in Missouri reservoirs. https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/104832
• Farr, Moses, M.S. Natural Resources – Atmospheric Science, 2022. The evaluation of Drop size distributions captured by two Weather radars in mid Missouri. https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/98642
• Ozdas, Mervegul, M.S. Natural Resources – Atmospheric Science, 2022. The quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) over mid-Missouri and comparison between ground-truth point instruments and X- and S-band radars. Funded by Government of Turkey. https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/94021
• Travis, Evan, M.S. Natural Resources – Atmospheric Science, 2022. Using a vertical integration of Doppler-derived divergence to assess thunderstorm updraft/downdraft characteristics. https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/94039
• Ritter, Samuel, M.S. Natural Resources – Atmospheric Science, 2021. Assessing fall velocity-maximum dimension relationships and particle size distributions for snowfall. https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/88108
• Steward, Chris, M.S. Natural Resources – Atmospheric Science, 2020. Quantifying evaporation in the lower atmosphere using machine driven curve fitting to parameterize drop size distributions. Funded by VA. https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/94344
• Bongard, Jon, M.S. Natural Resources – Atmospheric Science, 2019. Quantifying Evaporation of Rainfall using a Vertically Pointing Radar. Funded by NSF EPSCoR. Current position Forecaster, NWS, Elko, NV. https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/70173
• Greer, Seth, M.S. Natural Resources, 2019. Jeffrey Wood, Co-Adviser. Funded by USDA-ARS.
• Clemins, Russell. M.S. Natural Resources – Atmospheric Science, 2018. Detection of Gust Fronts Using the Doppler Velocity Derived Divergence Product. Funded by NASA NSPIRES. https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/66314
• Van Buren, Patricia. M.S. Natural Resources – Atmospheric Science, 2017. Thermodynamic, kinematic and radar parameters of isolated tornadoes with and without NWS warning. https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/62095
• Wendt, Jordan. M.S. Natural Resources – Atmospheric Science, 2017. Evaluating rain drop size distributions observed with disdrometers to dual-polarization radar parameters. Funded by NASA. Current position: Forecaster, NWS, Marquette, WI. https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/63388
• Difani, Ryan. M.S. Natural Resources – Atmospheric Science, 2016. Classification of convective events as elevated based on low-level radar derived convergence. Funded by NSF grant. Current position: CIMMS, Kansas City, MO. https://hdl.handle.net/10355/57426
• Foscato, Alzina. M.S. Natural Resources – Atmospheric Science, 2016. An index for anticipating excessive precipitation with elevated thunderstorms. Funded by VA and NSF grant. Patrick Market, Co-advisor. Current position: Forecaster, National Weather Service, Rapid City, SD. https://hdl.handle.net/10355/57428
• Lumpe, Mallory. M.S. Natural Resources – Atmospheric Science, 2015. Tests of quantitative precipitation estimates using National Weather Service dual-polarization radar in Missouri. Funded as TA. https://hdl.handle.net/10355/48606
• Behen, Jeremy. M.S. Natural Resources – Atmospheric Science, 2016. An examination of dual-polarized radar nowcasts and their verification using modern shape analysis techniques. https://hdl.handle.net/10355/56041
• Grana, Sarah. M.S. Natural Resources – Atmospheric Science, 2014. Radar characteristics of Quasi-Linear Convective Systems. Funded as TA. Current position: Forecaster, National Weather Service, Pleasant Hill, MO. https://hdl.handle.net/10355/44422
• Pallardy, Quinn. M.S. Atmospheric Science, 2013. Evaporation of rain in dual-polarization radar QPE. https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/43018
• Workman, Bradley. M.S. Atmospheric Science, 2013. An analysis of environmental influences on morphologies and tornadogenesis within quasi-linear convective systems. Funded as TA. Patrick Market, Co-advisor.  https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/43156
• Balbi, Adam. M.S. Atmospheric Science, 2012. Ramp event analysis for Western Missouri. Funded by University of Missouri Advantage. https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/40178
• Keith Cooley (2011) — read MS thesis, “Drop size distributions and kinetic energy”
• Marc Dahmer (2009) — read MS thesis, “Studies of the low level jet in Missouri”
• Ali Koleiny (2009) — read MS thesis, “An investigation into the contribution of the low-level jet (LLJ) to the available wind resource and other wind characteristics in Missouri”
• George Limpert (2008) — read MS thesis, “Evaluating and improving the performance of radar to estimate rainfall”
• José Miranda (2008) — read MS thesis, “Evaluation of storm type versus storm motion”
• Amy Becker (2007) — “Radar studies of convective snow events”
• Willie Gilmore (2007) — read MS thesis, “Comparison of Rainfall Energy and Soil Erosion Parameters from a Rainfall Simulator and Natural Rain” https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/5101
• Rachel Redburn (2007) — read M.S. thesis, “A Tall Tower Wind Investigation of Northwest Missouri”
• David Jankowski (2006) — read M.S. thesis, “Forecasting Storm Duration Using Radar Storm Tracking”
• Bun-Liong Saw (2005) — read M.S. thesis, “Infrared and Passive Microwave Satellite Rainfall Estimates Over Tropics”
• Steven A. Lack (2004) — read MS thesis, “The effect of wind-drift on radar rainfall retrieval errors”
• Elizabeth (McCoy) Hatter (2004) — read M.S. thesis, “Using Radar and Hydrologic Data to Improve Forecasts of Flash Floods in Missouri”

Publications :

• S.S Balkissoon, N.I. Fox,  A.R. Lupo, Sue Ellen Haupt, S. G. Penny, S.J. Miller, M. Beetstra, M.Sykuta, and A. Ohler, 2024: Energy Poverty using different Machine Learning Techniques for Missouri. Energy, 313, 133904, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2024.133904
• Balkissoon, S.S., N.I. Fox, A.R. Lupo, S.E. Haupt, and S.G. Penny, 2023: Classification of tall tower meteorological variables and forecasting wind speeds in Columbia, Missouri. Renewable Energy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2023.119123
• Yavuz V., M. Ozdas, A. R. Lupo, N. I. Fox, A. Deniz, 2023: Historical extreme winters of Istanbul: The factors that contributed to severe winters during the 20th and 21st centuries. International Journal of Global Warming, 29(4), 350-361
• Yavuz V., A. R. Lupo, N. I. Fox, A. Deniz, 2022: Statistical characteristics of the sea-effect snow events over the western Black Sea. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 150, 955–968.
• Yavuz V., A. R. Lupo, N. I. Fox, A. Deniz, 2022: Meso-scale comparison of non-sea-effect and sea-effect snowfalls, and development of prediction algorithm for megacity Istanbul Airports in Turkey. Atmosphere, 10.3390/atmos13050657
• Yavuz V., A. R. Lupo, N. I. Fox, A. Deniz, 2022: The role of short-wave troughs on the formation and development of sea-effect snowbands in the western Black Sea. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, DOI: 10.1007/s00704-022-04071-y
• Fox, N.I., 2022: Local Resource, Meteorological Technology International, Sept. 2022, 112-113.
• Yavuz V., A. R. Lupo, N. I. Fox, A. Deniz, 2022: A long-term analysis of thundersnow events over the Marmara Region, Turkey. Nat. Hazards. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-022-05393-w
• Fox N.I., M. Ozdas and C. Steward, 2022: Using a Small X-band Radar to Fill a Gap in a National Weather Radar Network. Proc. International Symposium on Remote Sensing in Meteorology, METEO IRS 2021, 1-3 December 2021, İstanbul/TÜRKİYE
• Balkissoon, S., Fox, N., Lupo, A., Haupt, S.E., Li., C., Market, P., and Walsh, S., 2021: Determining chaotic characteristics and forecasting tall tower wind speeds in Missouri using empirical dynamical modeling (EDM). Renewable Energy,  170, 1292–1307.
• Balkissoon, S., Fox, N., Lupo, A., 2020: Fractal characteristics of tall tower wind speeds in Missouri. Renewable Energy,154, 1346–1356.
• Wen, G., Fox, N. I., and Market, P. S., 2020: The quality control and rain rate estimation for the X-band dual-polarization radar in central Missouri: A study of propagation of uncertainty. Remote Sensing, 12(7), 1072.
• Wen, G., Fox, N. I., and Market, P. S., 2019:  A Gaussian mixture method for specific differential phase retrieval at X-band frequency, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 12(10), 5613–5637.  https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2019-189 .
• N.I. Fox, P.S. Market and P. Sumrall, 2019: Improving the observation of Wintertime Storms using a small Gap-Filling Radar. Meteorological Technology International, April 2019, 148-149
• J.D. Wood, E.J. Sadler, N.I. Fox, S.T. Greer, L. Gu, P.E. Guinan, A.R. Lupo, P.S. Market, S.M. Rochette, A. Speck, and L.D. White, 2018: Land-atmosphere Responses to a Total Solar Eclipse in Three Ecosystems with Contrasting Structure and Physiology. Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres. doi: 10.1029/2018JD029630.
• Kastman, J.S., P.S. Market and N.I. Fox, 2018: Dynamic ensemble reanalysis of frontal placement impacts in the presence of elevated thunderstorm during PRECIP events. Atmosphere, 9, 339
• Simpson, M.J. and N.I. Fox, 2018: Multi-radar performance in the Midwestern United States at large ranges. Hydrology and Earth System Science. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2017-316
• Pallardy, Q. and Fox, N.I., 2018: Accounting for rainfall evaporation using dual-polarization radar and mesoscale model data. Journal of Hydrology, 577, 573-588.
• McCoy L.P., P.S. Market, C. Gravelle, C.E. Graves, N.I. Fox, S.M. Rochette, J. Kastman† and B. Svoma, 2017: Composites of Heavy Rain Producing Elevated Thunderstorms in the Central United States. Advances in Meteorology, vol. 2017, Article ID 6932798, doi:10.1155/2017/6932798.
• Kastman, J.S., P.S. Market, N.I. Fox, A.L Foscato, and A.R. Lupo, 2017: Lightning and rainfall characteristics in elevated vs surface based convection in the Midwest that produce heavy rainfall. Atmosphere, 8, 36; doi:10.3390/atmos8020036
• Market, P.S., S. Rochette, J. Shewchuk, R. Difani, J. Kastman, C. Henson and N.I. Fox, 2017: Evaluating Elevated Convection with the Downdraft Convective Inhibition. Atmospheric Science Letters, DOI: 10.1002/asl.727.
• Kastman, J., L. McCoy, P.S. Market and N.I. Fox, 2017: An Example of Synergistic Coupling of Upper and Lower-Level Jets Associated with Flash Flooding. Meteorological Applications. DOI: 10.1002/met1618
• Lupo, A.R, C. Li, F. Feng, N.I. Fox, J. Rabinowitz, and M. Simpson, 2016: Sensitive Versus Rough Dependence in Initial Conditions in Atmospheric Flow Regimes. Atmosphere, 7, 157; doi:10.3390/atmos7120157.
• Svoma, B., Q. Pallardy, N.I. Fox and R. Udawatta, 2016: Reference Evapotranspiration Differences between Agroforestry and Grass Buffers. Agricultural Water Management, 176, 214-221
• A.C. Micheas, N.I. Fox and R. Dey, 2016: Modelling the evolution of a random set utilizing covariate information with applications to nowcasting, Journal of Statistical Computation and Simulation, DOI: 10.1080/00949655.2016.1182531
• Simpson, M., J. Hubbart and N.I. Fox, 2016: Ground truthed performance of single- and dual-polarization radar rain rates at large range. Hydrological Processes, doi: 10.1002/hyp.10873.
• Fox, N. I., A. C. Micheas, and Y. Peng†, 2016: Applications of Bayesian Procrustes shape analysis to ensemble radar reflectivity nowcast verification. Atmospheric Research, doi:10.1016/j.atmosres.2016.02.001
• Hubbart, J.A., E. Kellner, L. Hooper, A.R. Lupo, P.S. Market, B.M. Svoma, N. I. Fox, K. Stephan, P.E. Guinan, and E. Aldrich, 2014: Localized Climate and Surface Energy Flux Alterations across an Urban Gradient in the Central U.S. Energies, 7 (3), 1770-1791.
• Lack, S.A. and N.I. Fox, 2012: Development of an automated approach for identifying convective storm type using reflectivity-derived and near-storm environment data. Atmospheric Research, 116, 67-81.
• Fox, N.I., 2011: A tall tower study of Missouri winds. Renewable Energy, 36, 330-337.
• Lack, S. A., G.L. Limpert and N.I. Fox, 2010: An object-oriented multi-scale verification scheme. Weather and Forecasting, 25, 79-92.
• Hagen, T., J. Glisan, A.R. Lupo, E. Aldrich, P. Guinan, P.S. Market and N.I. Fox, 2009: The Presentation of Precipitation Information in Television Broadcasts: What is Typical? National Weather Digest, 33, 155-164.
• Buckley, P., P.S. Market, A.R. Lupo and N.I. Fox, 2008: COHIX: Further studies of the heat island associated with a small midwestern city. Atmospheric Science Letters, 9, 226-230.
• Market, P.S., N.I. Fox, B.P. Pettegrew, and Anthony R. Lupo, 2007: Second Conference on Weather Analysis and Forecasting Issues in the Central United States. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc, 88, 1795-1798.
• Micheas, A., N.I. Fox, S.A. Lack and C.K. Wikle, 2007: Cell identification and verification of QPF ensembles using shape analysis techniques. Journal of Hydrology, 344, 105-116.
• Lack, S.A., and N.I. Fox, 2007: Quantifying the effect of wind-drift on radar-derived surface rainfall estimations. Atmospheric Research, 85 (2), 217-229.
• Foltz, C.S., S.A. Lack, N.I. Fox, A.R. Lupo, and J.R. Hasheider, 2007: The First Conference On Advancing Renewables In The Midwest. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 88, 1097-1099.
• Gochis, D., A. Barros, A. Gettelman, J. Wang, J. Braun, W. Cantrell, Y-Q. Chen, A. Clement, N. Fox, B. Geerts, W. Han, M. Herzog, P. Kucera, R. Kursinski, A. Laing, C. Liu, E.D. Maloney, S. Margulis, D. Schultz, S. Sherwood, A. Sobel, H. Vömel, and Z. Wang, 2005: Future Scientific Directions: The Water Cycle Across Scales. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 86 (12), 1743-1746.
• Fox, N.I. and C.K. Wikle, 2005: A Bayesian quantitative precipitation nowcasting scheme. Weather and Forecasting, 20, 264-275.
• Fox, N.I. and C.K. Wikle, 2005: Providing distributed forecasts of precipitation using a Bayesian nowcast scheme. Atmospheric Science Letters, 6, 59-65.
• Fox, N.I. and J.W. Wilson, 2005: Very short period quantitative precipitation forecasting. Atmospheric Science Letters, 6, 7-11.
• Lack, S.A. and N.I. Fox, 2005: Errors in surface rainfall rates retrieved from radar due to wind drift. Atmospheric Science Letters, 6, 71-77.
• B. Xu, C.K. Wikle and N.I. Fox, 2005: A Kernel-based spatio-temporal dynamical model for nowcasting radar precipitation. Accepted for publication in J. Am. Stat. Assoc.

Copyright © 2006-2018 Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Missouri – Columbia