Diabatic Effects on Late-Winter Cold Front Evolution: Conceptual and Numerical Model Evaluations
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The Department of Agronomy seeks to teach the study of the farm-field, its crops, and its science and management. It originally consisted of three sub-departments to do this: Soils, Farm-Crops, and Agricultural Engineering (which became its own department in 1907). Today, the department teaches crop sciences and breeding, soil sciences, meteorology, agroecology, and biotechnology.
History
The Department of Agronomy was formed in 1902. From 1917 to 1935 it was known as the Department of Farm Crops and Soils.
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1902–present
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- Department of Farm Crops and Soils (1917–1935)
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- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (parent college)
The Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences offers majors in three areas: Geology (traditional, environmental, or hydrogeology, for work as a surveyor or in mineral exploration), Meteorology (studies in global atmosphere, weather technology, and modeling for work as a meteorologist), and Earth Sciences (interdisciplinary mixture of geology, meteorology, and other natural sciences, with option of teacher-licensure).
History
The Department of Geology and Mining was founded in 1898. In 1902 its name changed to the Department of Geology. In 1965 its name changed to the Department of Earth Science. In 1977 its name changed to the Department of Earth Sciences. In 1989 its name changed to the Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences.
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1898-present
Historical Names
- Department of Geology and Mining (1898-1902)
- Department of Geology (1902-1965)
- Department of Earth Science (1965-1977)
- Department of Earth Sciences (1977-1989)
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- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (parent college)
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Abstract
The impact of diabatic heating on late winter frontogenesis is evaluated both through conceptual scaling and the use of high-resolution Eta Model simulations of a strong but relatively dry cold surface front that occurred during the Storm-scale Operational Research Meteorology Fronts Experiment Systems Test (STORMFEST) project. Although skies were clear ahead of the front, it was trailed by an extensive area of cloud cover that influenced frontal strength during the daylight hours by reducing solar insolation and sensible heat flux.
An Eta control simulation of the event agreed reasonably well with observations and indicated intensification of the frontal temperature gradient during the daytime with a weakening at night. Additional simulations have been done to investigate sensitivity to several diabatic processes. These tests include the role of cloud shading on surface sensible heat flux, the role of soil moisture in the warm sector, and the role of evaporative cooling of precipitation in the light precipitation area behind the cold front. All of these diabatic processes have a measurable impact on the front, although soil moisture and cloud shading appear to play the most important roles. The moisture and static stability of the frontal environment were unfavorable for precipitation along the front, and the increase in frontal strength due to reduced surface sensible heat flux from extensive cloud shading behind the front did not significantly influence near-front precipitation for this event.
Comments
This article is published as Gallus Jr, William A., and Moti Segal. "Diabatic effects on late-winter cold front evolution: Conceptual and numerical model evaluations." Monthly Weather Review 127, no. 7 (1999): 1518-1537. DOI: 10.1175/1520-0493(1999)127<1518:DEOLWC>2.0.CO;2. Posted with permission.