Brian Matilla came to CMMAP from Hialeah, Florida. He attends Florida
International University and is majoring in atmospheric science heading into
his senior year. He is interested in orographic convection, tropical
meteorology, mesoscale convective systems and severe weather.
Brian took a study called the Mesoscale Predictability Experiment (MPEX), and
with Professor Russ Schumacher, evaluated the Weather Research and Forecasting
(WRF) model.
From May 15 to June 15, 2013, MPEX explored the behavior of different planetary
boundary layer (PBL) parameterizations in the WRF compared to observations at
the standard sounding times of 00 and 12 UTC. It's goal was to determine what
locations of additional observations would best help improve numerical weather
forecasts for convective activity.
Brian's study focused on evaluating WRF
model performance in predicting thermodynamic profiles versus the MPEX
observations at these "intermediate" times.
He sought to determine if the
characteristics of the different PBL parameterizations were consistent with
findings of Coniglio et al. (2013) when compared against afternoon soundings in
convective environments and to find how to better understand thermodynamic
stability/instability in future convective episodes.
Brian's research poster was entitled
Evaluation of WRF Forecasts of Severe Weather Environments Against Mobile
Upsonde Observations from the Mesoscale Predictability Experiment (MPEX).
Brian enjoys playing sports, watching NASCAR and Formula 1 racing, sky watching,
and traveling.
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