DRI / DIRECTORY / FRANK MCDONOUGH
Frank McDonough Profile Photo
Frank McDonough
Associate Research Scientist, Atmospheric Science

Research Areas

⇒18 years experience working as a research and forecast meteorologist.
⇒ Worked on projects relating to: aviation icing forecasting, weather modification research and operations, wind     turbine icing,  energy weather product development, and aircraft cloud instrumentation.
 
⇒ Demonstrated expertise in supercooled cloud physics. Expert in identifying, analyzing, and differentiating clouds that contain supercooled liquid water, ice, and mixed phase.
 
⇒ Expert knowledge working with research aircraft data sets that include cloud particle and aerosol measurements.
 
⇒ Icing weather forecaster and data analyst for research aircraft.
 
⇒ Demonstrated expertise working with climate data sets.
 
⇒ Experience working with and verifying numerical weather data. 
 
⇒ Expert analyst of most observational data types, radar and satellite imagery, as well as high-resolution numerical model output. Using these data I co-developed operational diagnostic and forecast cloud models that detect supercooled liquid water and tropical clouds containing high mass concentrations of small ice crystals. These systems passed peer review and meet the needs of the general aviation community. Examples include CIP and FIP, which are used as guidance at the Aviation Weather Center.  http://www.aviationweather.gov/adds/icing/
 
⇒ Expert knowledge testing and verifying numerical model output. 
 
⇒ Extensive experience working with large programs using software tools and programming languages such as; UNIX, Matlab, C++, FORTRAN, and shell scripting.

 

Education

DEGREE  YEAR  INSTITUTION  AREA 
 M.Sci  2010 Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO  Atmospheric Science 
 B.Sci 1996  Metropolitan State University, Denver, CO  Applied Math & Meteorology 

Computer Skills

  • Proficient: Linux/Unix, Matlab, FORTRAN, C++, MS office, Python
  • Data formats: NetCDF, GRIB, GRIB2, binary formats, satellite and radar formats
  • Data base: MySQL

Selected Professional Awards  

  • University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) – Science and Technical Advancement Award (wind energy research and forecasting) – 2011
  • NASA – Characterization of Arctic Sea Ice Experiment (CASIE), Ames Honor Award and the Group Achievement Award – 2009
  • NASA – Turning Goals into Reality Aircraft Icing Project Team – 2001
Publications
2019
McDonough, F., Mejia, J. F. (2019). Model Simulations for 6 Storms that Produced Seedable Snow over the San Juan Mountains: Final Report, October 1, 2019, Prepared for the Dolores Water Conservancy District.

McDonough, F. (2019). Cloud Seeding Project for the San Juan Mountains Mancos, CO, for WY 2019: Water Year 2019 Final Report, December 2019.

McDonough, F. (2019). Cloud Seeding Project for the San Juan Mountains Telluride, CO, for WY 2019: Water Year 2019 Final Report

McDonough, F. (2019). Cloud Seeding Project for the Winter Park Ski Area: Winter 2018-2019 Final Report

Bernstein, B. C., Rasmussen, R. M., McDonough, F., Wolff, C. (2019). Keys to Differentiating Between Small- and Large Drop Icing Conditions in Continental Clouds, Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 58 (9), 1931-1953, 10.1175/JAMC-D-18-0038.1

2018
McDonough, F., Mejia, J. F. (2018). Model Simulations for 6 Storms that Produced Seedable Snow over the San Juan Mountains, July 31, 2018, Prepared for the Dolores Water Conservation District.

McDonough, F. (2018). Tahoe-Truckee Cloud Seeding Project Water Year 2018, October 17, 2018, Prepared for the Western Regional Water Commission, Reno, NV.

McDonough, F. (2018). Review of the WY 2018 DRI Colorado Cloud Seeding Projects, November 14, 2018, Presented to the CWCB, Lakewood, CO.

2017
McDonough, F. (2017). Tahoe-Truckee Cloud Seeding Project for Water Year 2017, October 17, 2017, Project report and presentation for the Western Regional Water Commission.

McDonough, F. (2017). Walker Basin Cloud Seeding Project for Water Year 2017, October 31, 2017, Project report prepared for the Walker River Irrigation District.

McDonough, F., Stone, R. H. (2017). Cloud Seeding for the Southern California Edison Big Creek Hydroelectric Project, Water Year 2017 Final Report, September 30, 2017, Prepared for Southern California Edison.

McDonough, F., Shourd, K. N. (2017). Cloud Seeding Project for Winter Park Colorado, Water Year 2017 Final Report, July 31, 2017, Prepared for the Winter Park Resort and the Colorado Conservation Water Board.

McDonough, F., Shourd, K. N. (2017). Cloud Seeding Project for the San Miguel River, Water Year 2017 Final Report, September 30, 2017, Prepared for the Colorado Conservation Water Board.

McDonough, F., Shourd, K. N. (2017). Cloud Seeding Project for the San Juan Mountains, Mancos, August 15, 2017, Prepared for the Colorado Conservation Water Board.

McDonough, F., Mejia, J. F., Shourd, K. N., Carroll, R. W., Lutz, A. D., Dean, J., Juchtzer, J. W., Huggins, A. W., Kaplan, M. L., DeLuna, R., Trembath, C. (2017). Weather Modification Feasibility Study – Laramie Range Siting and Design, Level III Study, April 30, 2017, Project report prepared for the Wyoming Water Development Office, Cheyenne, WY.

2016
Mejia, J. F., McDonough, F. (2016). WRF Simulations for 8 Storms That Produced Seedable Clouds and Precipitation Over the Upper Colorado River Basin, 53 p.. Desert Research Institute: Reno, NV, A report to Colorado Water Conservation Board and Wilson Water Group.

Mejia, J. F., McDonough, F. (2016). Lagrangian Particle Tracking Dispersion and Regional Climate Modeling McDonough, F., Mejia, J. F., Shourd, K. N., Carroll, R. W., Lutz, A. D., Dean, J., Juchtzer, J. W., Huggins, A. W., Kaplan, M. L. (Eds.) , Weather Modification–Laramie Range Siting and Design – Level III Study, 167 p.. Desert Research Institute: Reno, NV, A report to Wyoming Water Development Office.

2013
Rosenfeld, R. C., Chemke, P., DeMott, P., Sullivan, R., Rasmussen, R. M., McDonough, F., Comstock, J., Schmid, B., Tomlinson, J., Jonsson, H., Suski, K., Cazorla, A., Prather, K. (2013). The Common Occurrence of Highly Supercooled Drizzle and Rain Near the Coastal Region of the Western United States, J. Geo Res. Atmos., 118 (17), 9819-9833

2009
Ikeda, K., Rasmussen, R. M., Brandes, E., McDonough, F. (2009). Freezing Drizzle Detection with WSR 88D Radars, J. Appl. Meteor. Clim, 48, 41-60

2007
Bernstein, B. C., Wolff, C. A., McDonough, F. (2007). An Inferred Climatology of Icing Conditions Aloft, Including Supercooled Large Drops. Part I: Canada and the Continental United States, J. Appl. Clim., 46, 1857-1878

2005
Bernstein, B. C., McDonough, F., Politovich, M. K., Brown, B. G., Ratvasky, T. P., Miller, D. R., Wolff, C. A., Cunning, G. (2005). Current Icing Potential (CIP): Algorithm Description and Comparison with Aircraft Observations, J. Appl. Meteor., 44, 969-986

Conference Proceedings
2024
Mehdizadeh, G., Hosseinpour, F. E., Nia, M., Barjeste Vaezi, R., Erfani, E., McDonough, F. (2024). Cloud Seeding Effects on Snowfall: Insights from Microphysical Model and Satellite Remote Sensing. American Meteorological Society (AMS) Annual Meeting: Baltimore, MD, January 28, 2024-February 1, 2024, http://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.36071.83369

2023
Mehdizadeh, G., Hosseinpour, F. E., McDonough, F. (2023). Effects of Cloud Seeding on Climate using Machine Learning Techniques, DAS ATMS Science Talk. Desert Research Institute: Reno, NV, February 24, 2023

Mehdizadeh, G., Hosseinpour, F. E., McDonough, F. (2023). Aerosol-Cloud Interactions During Cloud Seeding. Nevada NASA Programs Statewide Meeting: Carson City, NV, April 28, 2023, http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.16545.38248

Mehdizadeh, G., Hosseinpour, F. E., McDonough, F. (2023). Aerosol-Cloud Interactions and their Impacts on Climate During Cloud Seeding. DRI Poster Competition. Desert Research Institute: Reno, NV, April 7, 2023, http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.10987.92965

Mehdizadeh, G., Hosseinpour, F. E., McDonough, F., Erfani, E. (2023). Studying the Mechanistic Impacts of Cloud Seeding on Snowfall with Insights from a Cloud Microphysical Model. Graduate poster symposium: Reno, NV, http://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.17127.42408

2022
McDonough, F., Mejia, J. F. (2022). Analyzing Winter Storms and Their Cloud Seeding Potential Over the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. AMS 23rd Conference on Planned and Inadvertent Weather Modification: Houston, TX, January 22, 2022-January 27, 2022

2020
McDonough, F., Mejia, J. F. (2020). Assessing the Cloud Structures of a 1980 Icing Accident Using In Situ Data from a Research Aircraft and a High-Resolution Model. 100th American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting: Boston, MA, January 12, 2020-January 17, 2020

McDonough, F., Mejia, J. F. (2020). Assessing and Validating Cloud Seeding Plume Targeting Using a High-Resolution WRF Model, a Dispersion Model, and Snow Trace Chemistry. 100th American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting: Boston, MA, January 12, 2020-January 17, 2020

2019
Collins, M. J., McDonough, F., Juchtzer, J. W., Arienzo, M. M., Dean, J. (2019). Stories in the Snow: Crowd-Sourced Snow Crystal Images to Identify Tahoe Winter Cloud Structures. Annual Western Snow Conference: Reno, NV, April 16, 2019-April 18, 2019

McDonough, F. (2019). Overview of the Nevada State Cloud Seeding Program: Preliminary Results for Water Year 2019. North American Weather Modification Council Bi-annual Meeting: Phoenix, AZ, April 23, 2019

McDonough, F. (2019). Assessing the Cloud Structures of a Winter Storm Aided by Crowd-Sourced Ice Crystal Images. DAS Monthly Science Talks: Reno, NV, July 24, 2019

McDonough, F. (2019). Results from the Spring Mountains Cloud Seeding Program. Nye County Water District Governing Board Meeting: Tonopah, NV, July 29, 2019

McDonough, F. (2019). Cloud Seeding Over the Front Range of Colorado. St. Vrain and Left Hand Water Conservancy District Meeting: Longmont, CO, September 9, 2019

McDonough, F. (2019). Overview of the Ruby Mountains Cloud Seeding Program. Presentation to Nevada Gold Mines Inc.: Elko, NV, September 23, 2019

McDonough, F. (2019). Water Year 2019 Results from the Tahoe-Truckee Cloud Seeding Program. Northern Nevada Water Planning Commission Meeting: Reno, NV, October 2, 2019

McDonough, F. (2019). Nevada Report for Water Year 2019. North American Weather Modification Council Bi-annual Meeting: Bozeman, MT, October 3, 2019

McDonough, F. (2019). Water Year 2019 Tahoe-Truckee Cloud Seeding Program. Western Regional Water Commission Meeting: Reno, NV, October 17, 2019

McDonough, F., Mejia, J. F. (2019). The San Juan Cloud Seeding Cloud Seeding Study: Final Report. San Juan Water Conservancy District Meeting: Pagosa Springs, CO, October 9, 2019

McDonough, F. (2019). Ruby Mountains Cloud Seeding Program Results for Water Year 2019. National Weather Service Winter Weather Seminar: Elko, NV, November 8, 2019

McDonough, F., Rickert, A. (2019). Cloud Seeding in Colorado. Colorado Water Conservation Board Meeting: Denver, CO, November 21, 2019

2018
Watts, A. C., McDonough, F., Leland, A., Fleitz, J. M., Richards, M., Gertler, A. W. (2018). Unmanned aircraft for precipitation enhancement. International Conference on Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering: Abu Dhabi, UAE, February 26, 2018-March 27, 2018

McDonough, F., Mejia, J. F., Shourd, K. N. (2018). Assessing the Cloud Seeding Potential over the Laramie Mountains in Wyoming. AMS 21st Conference on Planned and Inadvertent Weather Modification: Austin, TX, January 7, 2018-January 12, 2018

McDonough, F. (2018). Environmental Effects of Cloud Seeding Using Silver Iodide. Colorado Water Conservation Board: Denver, CO, January 22, 2018

McDonough, F. (2018). Walker Basin Cloud Seeding. Presentation to the Walker River Irrigation District: Yerington, NV, February 7, 2018

McDonough, F. (2018). Preliminary Results of the Tahoe-Truckee Cloud Seeding Project, Water Year 2018. Presentation to the Northern Nevada Water Planning Commission: Reno, NV, April 4, 2018

McDonough, F., Dean, J. (2018). The Nevada State Cloud Seeding Project Overview. WMA Annual Conference: Estes Park, CO, April 24, 2018-April 27, 2018

McDonough, F. (2018). The Nevada State Cloud Seeding Program, Humboldt River. Presented to the Humboldt River Basin Water Authority: Winnemucca, NV, May 11, 2018

McDonough, F. (2018). The Nevada State Cloud Seeding Program, Spring Mountains. Presented to the Nye County Water Commission: Pahrump, NV, September 24, 2018

McDonough, F. (2018). Results of the DRI WY2018 Cloud Seeding Projects. North American Weather Modification Council Fall Meeting: Las Vegas, NV, September 26, 2018-September 27, 2018

McDonough, F. (2018). Tahoe-Truckee Cloud Seeding Project Water Year 2018. Presented to the Western Regional Water Commission: Reno, NV, October 17, 2018

McDonough, F. (2018). Cloud Seeding in the Ruby Mountains. Presentation to the Elko National Weather Service: Elko, NV, October 25, 2018

McDonough, F. (2018). Review of the WY 2018 DRI Colorado Cloud Seeding Projects. Presented to the CWCB: Lakewood, CO, November 14, 2018

2017
McDonough, F. (2017). Cloud Seeding for Ski Resorts. National Ski Area Association Western Winter Conference: Steamboat Springs, CO, January 17, 2017-January 18, 2017

McDonough, F., Adriaansen, D. R., Shourd, K. N., Texeira, K. C. (2017). Anomalously Cold Icing Conditions within Atmospheric River Storms Along the West Coast of North America. AMS 18th Conference on Aviation, Range, and Aerospace Meteorology: Seattle, WA, January 22, 2017-January 27, 2017

McDonough, F. (2017). An Overview of Cloud Seeding. Nevada Water Resource Association Annual Meeting: Reno, NV, February 13, 2017-February 17, 2017

McDonough, F., Juchtzer, J. W., Shourd, K. N., Dean, J. (2017). Supercooled Liquid Water Observations within Storms over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Weather Modification Association Annual Meeting: Boise, ID, April 17, 2017-April 20, 2017

McDonough, F. (2017). Nevada Cloud Seeding. Humboldt River Basin Water Authority: Carson City, NV, August 11, 2017

2015
McDonough, F. (2015). DRI-Cloud Seeding Annual Report. NAWMC semi-annual meeting: Salt Lake City, UT, October 1, 2015

McDonough, F. (2015). Winter orographic cloud seeding in the Sierra Nevada and Colorado: Summary of operations and selected case studies. WMA Annual Meeting: Fargo, ND, April 22, 2015

Nelson, M., McDonough, F. (2015). Profiling microwave radiometer measurements over the Vail/Beaver Creek, Colorado target areas. WMA Annual Meeting: Fargo, ND, April 22, 2015

Tilley, J. S., Huggins, A. W., Layman, L. R., Fearon, M. G., David, R. O., McDonough, F. (2015). Trace Chemical Analysis of Water and Soil during the WWMPP: Results and Implies Environmental Impacts. 20th Conference on Planned and Inadvertent Weather Modification: Phoenix, AZ, January 4, 2015

2012
Haggerty, J. A., McDonough, F., Black, J., Cunning, G., McCabe, G., Wolff, C. (2012). A System for Nowcasting Atmospheric Conditions Associated with Jet Engine Power Loss and Damage Due to Ingestion of Ice Particles. 4th AIAA Atmospheric and Space Environments Conference: New Orleans, LA, June 25, 2012

2011
McDonough, F., Wolff, C. A. (2011). The Large and Small-Scale Structure and Evolution of a Mixed Phase Icing Cloud.. SAE 2011 International Conference on Aircraft and Engine Icing and Ground Deicing: Chicago, IL, June 12, 2011

2010
McDonough, F., Wolff, C. A., Politovich, M. K. (2010). A Regional Analysis of Clouds Containing Supercooled Liquid Water. AMS 14th Conference on Aviation Range and Aerospace Meteorology: Atlanta, GA, January 17, 2010

McDonough, F. (2010). The Global Forecast Icing Product, AIAA-2010-0. AIAA Atmospheric and Space Environments Conference: Toronto, Ontario, August 2, 2010

2008
McDonough, F. (2008). Forecasting Supercooled Large Drop Icing Conditions. 13th Conference on Aviation Range and Aerospace Meteorology: New Orleans, LA, January 20, 2008