Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Mesoscale meteorology; numerical weather prediction; numerical simulation of convective storms and systems; observations and predictability of high-impact, hazardous weather events

Dr. Kirkpatrick’s current research activities include:

1. numerical simulations on the morphology and dynamics of deep, moist convection (often referred to as “thunderstorms”)
2. recent climate trends in severe weather forecast parameters (such as wind shear, cloud base heights, and surface temperatures and dewpoints)
3. understanding the climatology of fire weather conditions in the United States

Kirkpatrick C, McCaul EW Jr. and Cohen C (2011). Sensitivities of simulated convective storms to environmental CAPE. Mon. Wea. Rev. 139:3514-3532.

Kirkpatrick C, McCaul EW Jr. and Cohen C (2009). Variability of simulated convective storm updrafts and downdrafts as a function of environmental parameters. Mon. Wea. Rev. 137:1550-1561.

Kirkpatrick C, McCaul EW Jr. and Cohen C (2007). The motion of simulated convective storms as a function of basic environmental parameters. Mon. Wea. Rev. 135:3033-3051.

McCaul EW Jr., Cohen C and Kirkpatrick C (2005). The sensitivity of simulated storm structure, intensity, and precipitation efficiency to environmental temperature. Mon. Wea. Rev., 133, 3015-3037.