(NOTE: This page is sill under construction, whenever I get the time or feel the inclination I add to it. Comments welcome)

ACADEMIC

I have been at this hallowed institution of UCT for too  long. Recently an archaeological dig uncovered my 1st-year lecture cave. I studied Zoology and Oceanography undergrad, and Oceanography Honours. Then did a Zoo Masters in Ornithology (dissertation dealing with historical and current causes of avian extinction) and have just started a PhD in Climatology. If you are able to spot an underlying thread in there somewhere, you're certifiably insane.

My PhD studies have to do with rainfall analysis in the SW Cape, South Africa. The plan is to use radar data (obtained through a software package called TITAN) and a medium range weather forecast model and ultimately a global climate model. A more detailed explanation follows for those interested, otherwise you can take a look at the extra-mural stuff.

My thesis title is as follows:
Volumetric characteristics of rainfall under present and future climates. (It will be interesting to see if this is what is stays as the years go by).

Right, here goes...:

Weather influences many human activities, from farming to leisure, in different ways. Of particular importance are the more severe precipitation events (violent thunderstorms, tornadoes) which are difficult to predict with current short-term weather forecasting techniques.

This study considers the nature and predictability of rainfall characteristics based on radar data and medium resolution forecast data derived from a regional scale climate model, and extends the finding from present day conditions to examine possible consequences in a global climate change context.

The project consists of four sections in which:
1. Describe the structure of cold fronts approaching Cape Town.
2. The relationship between radar-derived volumetric data and actual rainfall will be examined.
3. The relationships between radar-derived volumetric data and medium resolution Medium Range Forecast (MRF) volumetric data (derived from a medium resolution global atmospheric model) are compared.
4. The characteristic relationships from both can then be applied to Global Climate Models (GCMs) to examine their effects in a climate change context.

Radar data will be processed using the TITAN (Thunderstorm Identification, Tracking Analysis and Nowcasting) algorithm of the Real-time Analysis and Prediction System (RRAPS) developed by the National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) at Boulder, Colorado. TITAN identifies and tracks storms using radar data and provides forecasting and analysis capabilities.

The improved understanding of rainfall and storms on the regional scale and under projected climate change conditions will assist in the formation of appropriate response measures.

And there you have it. If it falls within your zone of interest, your little people can contact my little people.