Abstract:
Since the first weather satellite pictures returned images of hurricane eyewalls and swirling spiral clouds, hurricanes have inspired a sense of wonder in meteorologists and weather enthusiasts alike. But beyond the visual intrigue, the spatial structure and organization of clouds and rain offer important insights into the energetics that fuel these storms. Stephanie Zick is an associate professor in Virginia Tech’s Department of Geography. She is a tropical meteorologist who employs spatial methods to better understand tropical cyclone (TC) dynamics and structure and how heavy precipitation associated with TCs and other meteorological phenomena are represented in models. Her research harnesses the intimate link between the anatomy of a hurricane and its physiology, or the physical mechanisms that fuel the storm.