Melanie A. Wetzel

Emerita Faculty Member
Division of Atmospheric Sciences

Full Resume

Dr. Wetzel's research focus is in the application of satellite remote sensing for estimation of cloud optical and microphysical parameters. This incorporates radiative transfer theory and multispectral radiative measurements, in conjunction with simultaneous cloud physics sampling. Other research areas include ultraviolet radiative transfer, cloud-aerosol interactions for climate change studies, and alternative energy resource assessment

RESEARCH AREAS:

• Mesoscale Dynamic Meteorology, Physical Meteorology, Remote Sensing, Atmospheric Technology, Alternative Energy

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

Kim, D.C., C. Loughner, M.A. Wetzel, and W.R. Stockwell, 2007:

A comparison of photolysis rate parameters estimated from measured and simulated actinic flux for wintertime conditions at Storm Peak Laboratory, Colorado. J. Atmos. Chem., doi:10.1007/s10874-007-9061-2.

Vellore, R., D. Koracin, M. Wetzel, S. Chai, and Q. Wang, 2007:

Challenges in mesoscale prediction of the nocturnal stratocumulus-topped marine boundary layer and implications for operational forecasting. Weather and Forecasting, 22, 1101-1122.

Vellore, R., D. Koracin, and M. Wetzel, 2006:

A method of improving cloud predictions for real-time weather forecasting and visualization. In Advances in Visual Computing, Eds., G. Bebis, et al., Springer Publishing.

Twohy, C.H., M.D. Petters, J.R. Snider, B. Stevens, W. Tahnk, M. Wetzel, L. Russell, J.-L. Brenguier, 2005:

Measurements of the indirect effect of aerosol particles on marine stratiform clouds: Microphysics. J. Geophys. Res., 110, D08203, doi:10.1029 / 2004JD005116.

Wetzel, M. A. and J.R. Slusser, 2005:

UV spectral irradiance, actinic flux and photolysis rates using multispectral satellite data and radiative transfer models. Optical Engineering, 44 (4), doi:10.1117 / 1.1889467.

Wetzel, M., M. Meyers, R. Borys, R. McAnelly, W. Cotton, A. Rossi, P. Frisbie, D.Nadler, D. Lowenthal, S. Cohn, and W. Brown, 2004:

Mesoscale snowfall prediction and verification in mountainous terrain. Weather and Forecasting, 19, 806-828.

Wetzel, M.A., G.E. Shaw, J. Slusser, R.D. Borys and C. Cahill, 2003:

Physical, chemical and ultraviolet radiative signatures of aerosol in central Alaska. J. Geophys. Res., 108 (D14), 4418, doi:10.1029/2002JD003208, 2003.

Stevens, B., D.H. Lenschow, G. Vali, H. Gerber, A. Bandy, B. Blomquist, J.-L. Brenguier, C.S. Bretherton, F. Burnet, T. Campos, S. Chai, L. Faloona, D. Friensen, S. Haimov, K. Laursen, D.K. Lilly, S.M. Loehrer, S.P. Malinowski, B. Morely, M.D. Peners, D.C. Rogers, L. Russell, V. Savic-Jovcic, J.R. Snider, D. Straub, M.J. Szumoswki, H. Takagi, D.C. Thorton, M. Tshudi, C. Twohy, M. Wetzel, and M.C. Van Zanten, 2003:

Dynamics and chemistry of marine stratocumulus - DYCOMS-II. Bull., Amer. Meteor. Soc., 84, 579-593.

Gonzales, A., J.C. Perez, F. Herrera, R. Rosa, M.A. Wetzel, R.D. Borys and D.H. Lowenthal, 2002:

Stratocumulus properties retrieval method from NOAA-AVHRR data based on the discretization of cloud parameters. Intl. J. Rem. Sens., 23 , 627-645.

Lowenthal, D.H., R.D. Borys and M.A. Wetzel, 2002:

Aerosol distributions and cloud interactions at a mountaintop laboratory. J. Geophys. Res., 107 (D18), 4345, doi:10.1029/2001JD002046.

Wetzel, M.A., G. Vali, W. Thompson, S. Chai, T. Haack, M. Szumowski and R. Kelly, 2001:

Evaluation of COAMPS forecasts using satellite retrievals and aircraft measurements. Weather and Forecasting, 16, 588-599.

Perez, J.C., F. Herrera, F. Rosa, A. Gonzales, M. Wetzel, R. Borys and D. Lowenthal, 2000:

Retrieval of marine stratus cloud droplet size from NOAA AVHRR night imagery. Remote Sensing of Environment, 73, 31-45.