Recent Student Research Projects (student's name in italics)

Title:    Improving tornado watch and warning lead time: A case study of the 25 April 2014 severe weather event in eastern North Carolina

Mr. Johnathan Blaes, Dr. Todd D. Sikora, Adam Weiner, Dr. Sepideh Yalda

Duration: summer 2019 – spring 2020

This project was Adam’s Millersville University Honors Thesis, for which I served as a thesis committee member.  Adam pursued a graduate degree at the University of Alabama-Huntsville.

References:  Weiner A., S. Yalda, T. Sikora, and J. Blaes, 2021:  Storm-scale evolution before significant tornado formation: A case study of the 25 April 2014 supercell in eastern North Carolina. 20^th Annual Student Conference, AMS, Online, 9-10 January 2021.

 

Weiner A., S. Yalda, T. Sikora, and J. Blaes, 2020:  Improving tornado watch and warning lead time: A case study of the April 25, 2014 severe weather event in eastern North Carolina. 24^th Severe Storms and Doppler Radar Conference, Central Iowa National Weather Association, Ankeny, IA, 27 March 2020.

Title:    Statistical characterization of aircraft static pressure defect

Dr. Richard D. Clark, Dr. Aaron M. Haines, Timothy B. Keebler, and Dr. Todd D. Sikora

Duration: fall 2017 – spring 2019

This project was Tim’s Millersville University Honors Thesis, for which I served as a thesis committee member.  Tim pursued a graduate degree at the University of Michigan.

Title:    Lightning occurrence correlations with surface weather observations in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Dr. Alex J. DeCaria, Dr. Kevin Robinson, Dr. Todd D. Sikora, and Jan Van Der Veken

Duration: fall 2017 – spring 2018

This project was Jan’s Millersville University Honors Thesis, for which I served as a thesis committee member.  Jan pursued a graduate degree at the University of Hawaii.

Title:    Student Experience in Airborne Research in the Mid- Atlantic Region

Dr. Brian Billings, Dr. Richard D. Clark, Dr. Dr. Todd D. Sikora, and ~60 Millersville University students

Duration: fall 2017

References:  Capella, R., 2018: An investigation of a northerly low-level wind maximum observed during Student Experience in Airborne Research—Mid-Atlantic Region (SEAR-MAR), Made in Millersville, Millersville, PA, 17 April 2018.  Advisor, T. Sikora.

This research was sponsored by National Science Foundation.  Robert Capella pursued a graduate degree at the University of Wyoming.

Title:    Plains Elevated Convection at Night

Dr. Richard D. Clark, Dr. Dr. Todd D. Sikora, and ~15 Millersville University students

Duration: spring 2015 – spring 2016

References:  Clark, R. D., T. D. Sikora, M. McAuliffe, N. Midzak, M. Green, J. Hane, K. Pozsonyi, C. Prestine, V. Hower, N. Strickland, and D. Bludis, 2016:  Observations of Low-Level Jets during PECAN.  22nd Symposium on Boundary Layers and Turbulence, AMS, Salt Lake City, UT, 20-24 June 2016.

 

Midzak, N., M. McAuliffe, D. Bludis, C. Dearth, K. Fisher, M. Green, J. Hane, V. Hower, K. Morganti, E. Ntonados, A. Orehek, K. Piarulli, K. Pozsonyi, C. Prestine, N. Strickland, R. Clark, and T. Sikora, 2016:  Examining the nocturnal stable boundary layer and low-level jet during PECAN. Fifteenth Annual Student Conference, AMS, New Orleans, LA, 9-10 January 2016.

This research was sponsored by National Science Foundation.  Many of the students involved pursued graduate degrees at various universities or joined the workforce.

Title:    Ontario Winter Lake-effect Systems

Dr. Richard D. Clark, Dr. Dr. Todd D. Sikora, and ~20 Millersville University students

Duration: summer 2013 – summer 2017

References:  Eipper, D. T., S. J. Greybush, G. S. Young, S. Saslo, T. D. Sikora, and R. D. Clark, 2019:  Lake-effect snowbands in baroclinic environments. Wea. Forecasting, 34, 1657-1674.

 

Eipper, D. T., G. S. Young, S. J. Greybush, S. Saslo, T. D. Sikora, and R. D. Clark, 2018:  Predicting the inland penetration of long-lake-axis parallel snowbands. Wea. Forecasting, 33, 1435-1451.

Sikora, T. D., R. D. Clark, D. T. Eipper, S. J. Greybush, M. L. Jurewicz Sr., D. A. R. Kristovich, and G. S. Young, 2015:  Origin and frequency of near-surface statically stable layers and elevated weak-static stability layers during the Ontario Winter Lake-Effect Systems (OWLeS) project. Twentieth Conference on Air-Sea Interaction, AMS, Phoenix, AZ, 4-8 January 2015.

See, T. W., J. T. Simkins, T. D. Sikora, and R. D. Clark, 2015:  Constructing vertical profiles of kinematic turbulent fluxes during the OWLeS field campaign.  Nineteenth Conference on Integrated Observing and Assimilation Systems for the Atmosphere, Oceans, and Land Surface, AMS, Phoenix, AZ, 4-8 January 2015.

This research was sponsored by National Science Foundation.  Daniel pursued a graduate degree at Penn State.  Tim pursued a graduate degree at the University of North Dakota.  James pursued a graduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Many of the other students involved pursued graduate degrees at various universities or joined the workforce.

Title:    Nocturnal aerosol loading in the San Joaquin Valley under fair weather conditions during DISCOVER-AQ California

Dr. Richard D. Clark, Dr. Ajoy Kumar, Dr. Todd D. Sikora, and Ricardo K. Uribe

Duration: fall 2013 – spring 2014

This project was Ricardo Uribe’s Millersville University Honors Thesis, for which I served as a thesis committee member.  Ricardo volunteered for the Peace Corps upon graduation and then joined the United States Navy as a junior officer.

Title:    Precipitation characteristics of open mesoscale cellular convection

Robert E. Marter, Dr. Todd D. Sikora, Eric B. Wendoloski

Duration: spring 2012- spring 2013

References:   Sikora, T. D., E. B. Wendoloski and R. E. Marter, 2015:  A climatology of precipitating open-cell convection over the northeast Gulf of Alaska. Twentieth Conference on Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography, AMS, Phoenix, AZ, 4-8 January 2015.

Sikora, T. D., E. B. Wendoloski, and R. E. Marter, 2014:  A climatology of precipitating open-cell convection over the northeast Gulf of Alaska. J. Appl. Meteor. Climatol., 53, 2843-2847

Sikora, T. D., R. Marter, and E. Wendoloski, 2012:  Precipitation characteristics of open mesoscale cellular convection.  Spaceborne Ocean Intelligence Network Workshop, Defence Research and Development Canada, Halifax, Canada, 12-13 December 2012. 

This research follows-on from that conducted with Fisher, Stepp, and Young. Eric pursued a graduate degree at Penn State. Robert pursued a graduate degree at Texas A&M

Title:    A synoptic climatology of severe hail in the Northeastern United States

Brian M. Kerschner, Dr. Daniel J. Leathers, and Dr. Todd D. Sikora

Duration: 2011

This research was associated with Brian's M.S. thesis at the University of Delaware, for which I served as a thesis committee member. Brian defended this thesis in 2011.  

Title:    An investigation of severe convection in the Chesapeake Bay region

Elmer J. Bauers, IV , Dr. Richard D. Clark, Dr. Todd D. Sikora, Travis D. Toth , and Nathaniel A. Wardle

Duration: spring 2009 – spring 2010

References: Wardle, N. A., E. J. Bauers, T. D. Toth, R. D. Clark, and T. D. Sikora, 2010: An investigation of severe convection in the Chesapeake Bay region. Eighteenth Conference on Applied Climatology, AMS, Atlanta, GA, 17–21 January 2010.

This research was associated with Nathaniel's Millersville University Honors Thesis, for which I served as a thesis committee member. Travis pursued a graduate degree at the University of North Dakota.  Nathan pursued a career in broadcasting, and is now the Press Secretary for the PA Department of Health.   

Title:    Shallow water model

Dr. Richard D. Clark, Dr. Alex J. DeCaria, Daniel Eipper, and Dr. Todd D. Sikora

Duration: fall 2007 – spring 2008

This project was Daniel Eipper's Millersville University Honors Thesis, for which I served as a thesis committee member.  Daniel pursued a graduate degree at Penn State.

Title:    Characterization of local air quality over Lake Clarke at Long Level, Pennsylvania

Geoffrey L. Baum, Dr. Richard D. Clark, Brett M. Crowthers, and Dr. Todd D. Sikora

Duration: summer 2007 – spring 2008

Reference: Baum, G. L., B. M. Crowthers, T. D. Sikora, and R. D. Clark, 2008: Characterization of local air quality over Lake Clarke at Long Level, Pennsylvania. Fifteenth Joint Conference on the Applications of Air Pollution Meteorology with the A&WMA, AMS, New Orleans, LA, 20-24 January 2008.

This research was sponsored by a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates grant, Watersheds: From River to Estuary, secured by Drs. John Wallace and Dominique Dagit of Millersville University. Geoffrey pursued a graduate degree at the University of Delaware and Brett pursued a graduate degree at Drexel University.

Title:    Shear driven gravity waves on a sloping front

Dr. Nelson H. Shirer, Dr. Todd D. Sikora, Dustin J. Swales, and Dr. George S. Young

Duration: spring 2007- 2012

Reference: Swales, D. J., G. S. Young, T. D. Sikora, N. S. Winstead, and H. N. Shirer, 2012:  Synthetic aperture radar remote sensing of shear-driven atmospheric internal gravity waves in the vicinity of a warm front.  Mon. Wea. Rev., 140, 1872-1882.

This research was sponsored by Office of Naval Research grants and was associated with Dustin's Penn State M.S. thesis, for which I served as a thesis committee member. Dustin defended his thesis in 2009.

Title:    An investigation of channeled wind events in Southeast Alaska using synthetic aperture radar

Brett M. Crowthers, Joel C. Curtis, Carl F. Dierking, David B. Fitzgerald, Tracy A. Ress, Dr. Todd D. Sikora, Dr. Nathaniel S. Winstead

Duration: fall 2006 – 2007

Reference: Sikora, T. D. , C. F. Dierking, N. S. Winstead, J. C. Curtis, T. A. Ress, B. M. Crowthers , and D. B. Fitzgerald, 2007: An investigation of channeled wind events in Southeast Alaska using synthetic aperture radar. Fifteenth Conference on Air-Sea Interaction, AMS, Portland, OR, 20-23 August 2007.

This research was sponsored by a University Corporation for Atmospheric Research grant.  Brett pursued a graduate degree at Drexel University.

Title:    Mesoscale and microscale meteorological feature climatology in the Alaska region using synthetic aperture radar

Caren M. Fisher, Dr. Todd D. Sikora, Matthew D. Stepp, and Dr. George S. Young

Duration: summer 2006 – 2011

References: Sikora, T. D., G. S. Young, C. M. Fisher, and M. D. Stepp, 2011: A synthetic aperture radar-based climatology of open cell convection over the Northeast Pacific Ocean. J. Appl. Meteor. Climatol. 50, 594-603.

Sikora, T. D., G. S. Young, C. M. Fisher, and M. D. Stepp, 2011:  SAR remote sensing of open mesoscale cellular convection.  International Ocean Vector Wind Science Team Meeting, NASA, Annapolis, MD, 9-11 May 2011.

Sikora, T. D., G. S. Young, C. M. Fisher, and M. D. Stepp, 2010:  SAR remote sensing of open mesoscale cellular convection.  Spaceborne Ocean Intelligence Workshop, Defence Research and Development Canada, Halifax, Canada, 14-15 December 2010

Sikora, T. D., G. S. Young, C. M. Fisher, and M. D. Stepp, 2009: Remote sensing of high-latitude open cell convection. Sixteenth Conference on Air-Sea Interaction, AMS, Phoenix, AZ, 11-15 January 2009.

Young, G. S., T. D. Sikora, and C. M. Fisher, 2007: Use of MODIS and synthetic aperture radar wind speed imagery to describe the morphology of open cell convection. Can. J. Remote Sens., 33, 357-367.

Fisher, C. M., G. S. Young, T. D. Sikora, and M. D. Stepp, 2007: Open cell convection as seen by MODIS and synthetic aperture radar. Fifteenth Conference on Air-Sea Interaction, AMS, Portland, OR, 20-23 August 2007.

Stepp, M. D., T. D. Sikora, and G. S. Young, 2007: A climatology of marine meteorological phenomena in the Alaska region using synthetic aperture radar. Fifteenth Conference on Air-Sea Interaction, AMS, Portland, OR, 20-23 August 2007.

Stepp, M. D., T. D. Sikora, and G. S. Young, 2007: Mesoscale and Microscale Meteorological Feature Climatology in the Alaska Region using Synthetic Aperture Radar, Sixth Annual AMS Student Conference, AMS, San Antonio, TX, 13-14 January 2007.

Stepp, M. D., T. D. Sikora, and G. S. Young, 2006: Mesoscale and microscale meteorological feature climatology in the Alaska region using synthetic aperture radar. Presented at the Sea Surface Roughness Team Quarterly Meeting, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 11 June 2006.

This research was sponsored by Office of Naval Research grants. Caren was an M.S. student at Penn State and her thesis was part of this project. Caren defended her thesis in 2007.   Matthew pursued a graduate degree at Rochester Institute of Technology.

Title:    Analysis of the Chesapeake Bay bay-breeze

Michael J. Bettwy, Dr. Todd D. Sikora, and Dr. George S. Young

Duration: fall 2005-2010

References: Sikora, T. D., G. S. Young, and M. J. Bettwy, 2010: Analysis of the western shore Chesapeake Bay bay-breeze. Natl. Wea. Dig., 34, 55-65.

Sikora, T. D., G. S. Young and M. J. Bettwy, 2010: Analysis of the western shore Chesapeake Bay bay-breeze. Seventeenth Conference on Air-Sea Interaction, AMS, Annapolis, MD, 27-30 September 2010.

Bettwy, M. J., and T. D. Sikora, 2007: Analysis of bay-breeze events along the western shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay. Fifteenth Conference on Air-Sea Interaction, AMS, Portland, OR, 20-23 August 2007.

While originally unfunded, this research was partially supported by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency via Dr. George S. Young. Michael pursued a career with the National Weather Service.