The Fifth Symposium on Southwest Hydrometeorology was planned to provide a forum to discuss and present research and issues associated with the climate, weather and water that affect the Southwest United States and Northern Mexico.  It was held on September 30-October 1, 2009, at the Albuquerque Marriot Hotel.

Symposium Co-Chairs included:

  • Dr. David Gutzler, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The University of New Mexico
  • Dr. Deirdre Kann, Science and Operations Officer, National Weather Service Forecast Office Albuquerque
  • Shawn Bennett, Meteorologist In Charge, National Weather Service Forecast Office Albuquerque

This symposium could not have been held without the support of our sponsors, including COMET, 
NWSFO Albuquerque, National Weather Service Southern Region Headquarters, The University of New Mexico Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Vaisala, and the Electronic Journal of Severe Storms Meteorology.

The final agenda and pdf versions of the presentationa are listed below.

For additional information contact: Deirdre Kann

Day One: Wednesday, September 30, 2009
8:00-8:15 Welcome and introduction to symposium
David Gutzler+, Deirdre Kann* and Shawn Bennett*, Symposium Co-Chairs
+University of New Mexico and *NWS Albuquerque
Session I: Short Term Analysis and Forecasting
8:15-9:00 Invited Presentation: Joseph Galewsky, University of New Mexico
An idealized modeling study of orographic clouds in terrain-blocked flows.
9:00-9:20 An Evaluation of the Relationship Between Cloud to Ground Lightning Events and Precipitation Over Southern Arizona and Northern Sonora. Carlos Manuel Minjarez Sosa, Christopher L. Castro, Kenneth Cummins and Philip Krider, University of Arizona
9:20-9:40 A High-Resolution Simulation of Intensive Observing Period 2 During the North American Monsoon Experiment Using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. William Cassell and Christopher L. Castro, University of Arizona
9:40-10:00 A Study of the Kinematic and Thermodynamic Processes of New Mexico Gap Winds using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. Brian Guyer, NWS WFO ABQ
10:00-10:20 BREAK
10:20-10:40 Unusual Severe Convective Outbreak over South-Central Arizona on 28-29 August 2008. Doug Green, NWS WFO PSR
10:40-11:00 Requirements for developing an adaptive radiosonde network for improved regional weather forecasting over southwestern North America. Michael Douglas, NSSL and John Mejia, CIMMS
Session II: Climate Change
11:00-11:45 Invited Presentation: Brian H. Hurd, New Mexico State University
Impacts and Implications for Managing Water Resources under Climate Change in the Upper Rio Grande Watershed
11:45-1:00 Lunch (on your own)
1:05-1:25 Climate Change Projections for the Western U.S. with Observation-based Interannual Variability. Tessia Robbins and David Gutzler, University of New Mexico
Session III: Characterization and Seasonal Prediction of Snowpack and River Flows
1:30-2:15 Invited Presentation: Albert Rango, USDA/ARS Jornada Experimental Range
Using New Methods to Improve Snowmelt Runoff Forecasting and Assess Climate Change Impacts on Water Supplies 
2:15-2:35 Utilizing Partnerships to Improve Water Supply Forecasts on the Rio Grande. Paul McKee, NWS WGRFC
2:35-3:00 BREAK
Session IV: Climate Variability and Forecasting
3:00-3:20 The impact of tropical cyclones on the rainfall climatology of the North American Southwest region. Elizabeth Ritchie and Kimberly Wood, University of Arizona, and David Gutzler, University of New Mexico
3:20-3:40 Behavior and rainfall patterns associated with unusual tropical cyclones in the eastern North Pacific during 1992-2005. Kimberly Wood and Elizabeth Ritchie, University of Arizona
   

Day Two: Thursday, October 1, 2009
Session IV: Climate Variability and Forecasting (continued)
8:00-8:45 Invited Presentation: Jae Schemm, Climate Prediction Center, NOAA/NWS/NCEP
The North American Monsoon Forecast Forum at CPC
(With Wayne Higgins, Lindsey Long and Wei Shi)
8:45-9:05 Can Regional Climate Models Improve Summer Climate Forecasts in North America? Christopher L. Castro, Francina Dominguez, Hsin-I Chang, University of Arizona
9:05-9:25 Mechanisms Linking Easterly Waves and the North American Monsoon. Simona Olson and Yolande Serra, University of Arizona.
Break and Poster Session
9:25-10:40 Scheduled Posters:
  Relationship between a 700-mb “Dry/Wind” Index and Springtime Precipitation and Streamflow at Select Stations in New Mexico and Southern Colorado. Kerry Jones, NWS WFO ABQ and David Gutzler, University of New Mexico
  Climatology of High Wind Warning Events for Northern and Central New Mexico. Todd Shoemake, NWS WFO ABQ
  An Evaluation of the Flash Flood Predictive Index using Historical Flood Events. Amanda Abeyta, NWS WFO ABQ
  Statistics of Multi-Season Drought. David Gutzler, University of New Mexico and Deirdre Kann, NWS WFO ABQ
  Use of Tree Ring and Long-Term Precipitation Records to Characterize Warm Season Climate Variability in the Southwest U.S. Brittany Ciancarelli with Christopher L. Castro, Connie Woodhouse, Dave Meko, Ramzi Touchan, Steven W. Levitt, Daniel Griffin, University of Arizona. (jpg also available)
Session V: High Impact Weather
10:45-11:30 Invited Presentation: David Gochis, UCAR
Linking weather and climate drivers to understand extreme precipitation variations in the North American Monsoon
11:30-1:00 Lunch (on your own)
1:00-1:20 The Effects of Prior Rainfall over Northwest Chihuahua Dry Lake Beds on Spring Blowing Dust Frequency and Severity at El Paso International Airport. Mike Hardiman and David Novlan, NWS WFO EPZ and Thomas Gill, University of Texas El Paso.
1:20-1:40 Total Lightning, Radar, and Satellite Observations of two Monsoon Thunderstorm events in the Tucson Area, Summer 2007. Erik Pytlak, NWS WFO TWC and Martin Murphy, Vaisala, Inc.
1:40-2:00 Heat Waves in Phoenix: High Impact Events? Doug Green, NWS WFO PSR
2:00-2:20 withdrawn
2:20-2:50 BREAK
2:50-3:10 Synoptic Environments Associated withTornadoes in Northern Arizona. David Blanchard, NWS WFO FGZ
3:10-3:30 Tropical Cyclones and the Desert Southwest: Studying and Preparing for a Rare, High Impact Event. Erik Pytlak, NWS WFO TWC
3:30-3:50 Hurricane Dolly: An Examination and Historical Perspective on an Atlantic Basin Tropical Cyclone’s Impacts on the Paso del Norte Region. Michael Hardiman, NWS WFO EPZ
3:50-4:10 Vaisala’s New Global Lightning Dataset GLD360, Ron Holle and Nick Demetriades, Vaisala, Inc.
End of Symposium

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