[Eoas-seminar] MET Seminar - Tuesday September 15 - 3 PM - Prof. David Bodine (University of Oklahoma)

Tue Sep 15 14:33:58 EDT 2026

Dear all,

Here is a reminder for the MET seminar in 30 minutes (3 PM start)!

LOCATION: EOAS1044
SPEAKER: Prof. David Bodine (University of Oklahoma)

See below for title and abstract.

Best,
Chelsea
________________________________
From: Eoas-seminar <eoas-seminar-bounces at lists.fsu.edu> on behalf of eoas-seminar--- via Eoas-seminar <eoas-seminar at lists.fsu.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, September 9, 2026 3:47 PM
To: eoas-seminar--- via Eoas-seminar <eoas-seminar at lists.fsu.edu>; info at coaps.fsu.edu <info at coaps.fsu.edu>
Subject: [Eoas-seminar] MET Seminar - Tuesday September 15 - 3 PM - Prof. David Bodine (University of Oklahoma)

Dear all,

Please join us for the first Meteorology seminar of Fall 2026 coming Tuesday September 15 at 3 PM, given by Prof. David Bodine from University of Oklahoma. He will speak about “Improving the Understanding and Prediction of Severe Thunderstorms Using Fast-Scanning Dual-Polarization Radar” (abstract below).

Prof. Bodine will be here in person to present the seminar in RM 1044. Zoom link is available for those with a medical excuse or approved work off-campus. Please contact Allison Wing (awing at fsu.edu<mailto:awing at fsu.edu>) for the link.

DATE: Tuesday September 15
TIME: 3-4 PM, please join early for refreshments
LOCATION: EOAS1044
SPEAKER: Prof. David Bodine (David's profile: https://www.ou.edu/ags/meteorology/people/faculty/david-bodine<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ou.edu%2Fags%2Fmeteorology%2Fpeople%2Ffaculty%2Fdavid-bodine&data=05%7C02%7Ceoas-seminar%40lists.fsu.edu%7C39e436ad8e3f49609b5408df1357e7de%7Ca36450ebdb0642a78d1b026719f701e3%7C0%7C0%7C639250940404530637%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=nv64HFRkGgB3C%2F6oqJrZ2bxUVBw1fzWjtm6hUrnG4UU%3D&reserved=0>)

We look forward to seeing you there!

Best,
Chelsea on behalf of the MET seminar committee (Allison, Michael and Chelsea)

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Title:  Improving the Understanding and Prediction of Severe Thunderstorms Using Fast-Scanning Dual-Polarization Radar

Abstract: Thunderstorms and associated severe weather evolve on short time scales, ranging from tens of seconds to minutes. To understand the formation of severe weather, advanced radar technologies have been developed to acquire three-dimensional measurements (volume scans) in 30 s or less. The first rapid-scan, dual-polarization radar developed was the University of Oklahoma (OU) Rapid X-band Polarimetric Radar (RaXPol), which combines rapid mechanical rotation with frequency hopping to achieve rapid volume scans. Subsequently, the maturation of phased array radar technology has enabled dual-polarization phased array radars with unique adaptive scanning capabilities. Here, I focus on how these rapid-scan radars have been used to study the formation of severe weather and to characterize the kinematic and electrical properties of deep convection.

Supercell thunderstorms produce a disproportionate number of strong tornadoes and very large hail compared to other convective modes. While hailstones grow and fall out over periods of 10–20 min, the microphysical processes and updraft evolution affecting hail growth evolve on shorter time scales. Using RaXPol observations, rapid changes in supercell structure are examined during tornado formation, resulting in less favorable conditions for hail growth. Additional hail cases are examined to understand factors governing hailstorm structure and changes in hail size. Predicting tornado formation is challenging because strongly rotating low-level mesocyclones (1 km above ground level) do not necessarily indicate that a tornado will form. Here, a comparative analysis of an early tornadogenesis failure period and the subsequent formation of a tornado is presented to examine differences in the intensity and alignment of the incipient tornado vortex and low- and mid-level mesocyclones.

The evolution of convective updrafts and electrical properties is challenging to observe due to their rapid structural changes, visually manifested by bubbling cumulus clouds or frequent lightning discharges in mature thunderstorms. Using RaXPol data, discrete thermals within a mesoscale convective system (MCS) are tracked to document their structural evolution. Above the MCS cold pool and level of free convection, the broader MCS core updraft breaks down into discrete thermals. In upper-levels, these intense updraft cores branch and ascend into a V-shaped, straddling an intense cloud-top downdraft. Finally, the potential of dual-polarization phased array radars for detecting plasma associated with lightning discharges is examined. By leveraging adaptive scanning modes that permit targeted volumetric sector scans at sub-minute time scales, the capability to detect plasma signatures of in-cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning is demonstrated.

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Chaehyeon Chelsea Nam, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science (EOAS)
Florida State University
RM 5011, ccnam at fsu.edu
https://chelsea-nam.github.io/<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchelsea-nam.github.io%2F&data=05%7C02%7Ceoas-seminar%40lists.fsu.edu%7C39e436ad8e3f49609b5408df1357e7de%7Ca36450ebdb0642a78d1b026719f701e3%7C0%7C0%7C639250940406223609%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2B5kCVL63S4cq%2Fbn7NI1m8wxF8kLew2XXvK10MLjEYpQ%3D&reserved=0>

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