Dr. Robin Tanamachi
Associate Professor
rtanamachi@purdue.edu
Curriculum Vitae
Associated website(s):
Google Scholar
,
Atmospheric Science
Education
- Ph.D., University of Oklahoma, School of Meteorology, 2011
- M.S., University of Oklahoma, School of Meteorology, 2004
- B.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, 2001
Research Interests
Severe convective storms, Tornadoes, Doppler radar, Dual-polarized radar, Radar data analysis, High-resolution numerical modeling of convective storms and tornadoes, Radar data assimilation, Ensemble Kalman filter (EnKf) technique, Mesoscale meteorology, Atmospheric radiometry, Infrared thermography, Atmospheric undular bores
Professional Experience
- Assistant Professor, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Purdue University. August 2015-present.
- Research scientist and NOAA affiliate at CIMMS , 2014-2015.
- Serves on the American Meteorological Society Committee on Radar Meteorology . (term of service: 2013-2016).
- National Research Council postdoctoral fellow , National Severe Storms Laboratory . 2012 to 2014.
- Postdoctoral research scientist, Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms (CAPS) . 2011 to 2012.
Funding
Co-principal investigator: Improved Understanding of Tornado Development and Risk using Models and Observations from VORTEX-SE, NOAA/DOC, $192,901, September 2015 – August 2016.
Teaching
- 2016 Spring: Purdue University, Radar Meteorology (EAPS 52300)
- 2016 Spring: Purdue University, Special Topics: VORTEX-SE Field Research (EAPS 39100, Section 33)
- 2015 Fall: Purdue University, Atmospheric Instruments and Observations (EAPS 53500)
- 2015 Mentor, University of Oklahoma, School of Meteorology, Senior Capstone (METR 4911 & 4922)
- 2012 Instructor, University of Oklahoma, Radar Meteorology Training Workshop for the Nigerian Meteorological Agency
- 2007 Spring: University of Oklahoma: Severe and Unusual Weather (METR 2603)
Honors and Awards
- Teaching Honor Roll, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Purdue University. 2015.
- Postdoctoral fellowship, National Research Council, National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma. 2012-2014.
Memberships and Service
- Associate Editor, Monthly Weather Review .
- Reviewer for Journal of Atmospheric Science, Monthly Weather Review, Weather and Forecasting, Geophysical Research Letters, Electronic Journal of Severe Storms Meteorology, Electronic Journal of Operational Meteorology, Atmosphere.
- Undergraduate committee, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Purdue University, 2015 – present.
Selected Publications - Google Scholar Page for a complete list of publications
Peer-reviewed publications • Conference Proceedings • Theses and Dissertations Listed in reverse chronological order.
Peer-reviewed publications:
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Tanamachi, R. L., S. J. Frasier, J. Waldinger, A. T. LaFleur, D. D. Turner, and F. Rocadenbosch,
2018: Atmospheric boundary layer observations by a vertically pointing, S-band profiling radar in
northern Alabama during VORTEX-Southeast. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., conditionally accepted. -
Wood, V. T., R. L. Tanamachi, and L. W. White, 2017:
Influences of larger-scale vortex variability
on tornado pressure minima in an outer-flow region: Explorations using a parametric tangential wind
model . Mon. Wea. Rev., 145, 1597–1614 -
Tanamachi, R. L., and P. L. Heinselman, 2016:
Rapid-scan, polarimetric observations of central
Oklahoma severe storms on 31 May 2013 . Wea. Forecasting, 31, 19-42 - Tanamachi, R. L., P. L. Heinselman, L. J. Wicker, 2015: Impacts of a storm merger on the 24 May 2011 El Reno, Oklahoma tornadic supercell . Wea. Forecasting , in press.
- Tanamachi, R. L., H. B. Bluestein, M. Xue, W.-C. Lee, K. A. Orzel, S. J. Frasier, and R. M. Wakimoto, 2013: Near-surface vortex structures in a tornado and a sub-tornado-strength, convective-storm vortex observed by a mobile, W-band radar during VORTEX2 . Mon. Wea. Rev. , 141 , 3661-3690.
- Tanamachi, R. L., L. J. Wicker, D. C. Dowell, H. B. Bluestein, D. T. Dawson II, and M. Xue, 2013: EnKF assimilation of high-resolution, mobile Doppler radar data of the 4 May 2007 Greensburg, Kansas supercell into a numerical cloud model . Mon. Wea. Rev. , 141 , 625-648.
- Tanamachi, R. L., H. B. Bluestein, J. B. Houser, K. M. Hardwick, and S. J. Frasier, 2012: Mobile, X-band, polarimetric Doppler radar observations of the 4 May 2007 Greensburg, Kansas tornadic supercell . Mon. Wea. Rev. , 140 , 2103-2125.
- Dawson, D. T., L. J. Wicker, E. R. Mansell, and R. L. Tanamachi, 2012: Impact of the environmental low-level wind profile on ensemble forecasts of the 4 May 2007 Greensburg, KS tornadic storm and associated mesocyclones . Mon. Wea. Rev. , 140 , 696-716.
- Tanamachi, R. L., W. F. Feltz, and M. Xue, 2008: Observations and numerical simulation of upper boundary layer rapid drying and moistening events during the International H2O Project (IHOP_2002) . Mon. Wea. Rev. , 136 , 3106-3120.
- Walden, V. P., R. L. Tanamachi, P. M. Rowe, H. E. Revercomb, D. C. Tobin, and S. A. Ackerman, 2010: Improvements in the data quality of the Interferometric Monitor for Greenhouse Gases . Appl. Opt. , 49 , 520-528.
- Bluestein, H. B., M. M. French, R. L. Tanamachi, S. Frasier, K. Hardwick, F. Junyent, and A. L. Pazmany, 2007: Close-range observations of tornadoes in supercells made with a dual-polarization, X-band, mobile Doppler radar . Mon. Wea. Rev. , 135 , 1522-1543.
- Tanamachi, R. L., H. B. Bluestein, W.-C. Lee, M. Bell, and A. Pazmany, 2007: Ground-Based Velocity Track Display (GBVTD) analysis of W-Band Doppler radar data in a tornado near Stockton, Kansas, on 15 May 1999 . Mon. Wea. Rev. , 135 , 783-800.
- Bluestein, H. B., C. C. Weiss, M. M. French, E. M. Holthaus, R. L. Tanamachi, S. Frasier, and A. L. Pazmany, 2007: The structure of tornadoes near Attica, Kansas, on 12 May 2004: High-resolution, mobile, Doppler radar observations . Mon. Wea. Rev. , 135 , 475-506.
- Tanamachi, R. L., H. B. Bluestein, S. S. Moore, and R. P. Madding, 2006: Infrared thermal imagery of cloud base in tornadic supercells . J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol. , 23 , 1445-1461.
Conference Preceedings
- Tanamachi, R. L., and P. L. Heinselman, 2015: Rapid-scan, dual-polarized observations of severe Oklahoma Thuberstorms on 31 May 2013. 37th Conf. on Radar Meteorology, Norman, Iklahoma, American Meteorological Society, P107.
- Tanamachi, R. L., P. L. Heinselman, and L. J. Wicker, 2014: Investigation of a cell merger accompanying cyclic tornado production . 27th Conf. on Severe Local Storms , Madison, Wisconsin, American Meteorological Society, 8A.5.
- Wood, V. T., R. L. Tanamachi, and L. White, 2014: A parametric wind-pressure relationship for concentric cyclostrophic vortices . 27th Conf. on Severe Local Storms , Madison, Wisconsin, American Meteorological Society, P161.
- Tanamachi, R. L., P. L. Heinselman, L. J. Wicker, V. Lakshmanan, and D. L. Priegnitz, 2013: Objective identification and tracking of merging and splitting storms in the 24 May 2011 Oklahoma tornadic supercell outbreak . 36th Conf. on Radar Meteorology , Breckenridge, Colorado, American Meteorological Society, P389.
- Tanamachi, R. L., M. Xue, and Y. Jung, 2013: EnKF assimilation of single-elevation, near-surface radar data beneath a supercell: OSSE explorations . 36th Conf. on Radar Meteorology , Breckenridge, Colorado, American Meteorological Society, P378.
- Tanamachi, R. L., M. Xue, Y. Jung, K. A. Brewster, and M. I. Biggerstaff, 2012: EnKF assimilation of storm-scale, mobile Doppler radar data into high-resolution analyses of a weakly tornadic supercell . 26th Conf. on Severe Local Storms , Nashville, Tennesee, American Meteorological Society, P168. ( Note: Wrong extended abstract linked at the above site. Here's the correct one: PDF .)
- Tanamachi, R. L., H. B. Bluestein, K. A. Orzel, S. J. Frasier, and M. Xue, 2012: GBVTD-retrieved near-surface axisymmetric vortex structure in a tornado and tornado-like vortices observed by a W-band radar during VORTEX2 . 26th Conf. on Severe Local Storms , Nashville, Tennessee, American Meteorological Society, 14.11.
- Tanamachi, R. L., Y. Jung, K. A. Brewster, M. Xue, and M. I. Biggerstaff, 2012: EnKF assimilation of storm-scale, mobile Doppler radar data for high-resolution analyses of a weakly tornadic supercell . 7th European Conf. on Radar in Meteorology and Hydrology , Toulouse, France, Météo France, paper 379.
- Tanamachi, R. L., L. J. Wicker, D. C. Dowell, D. T. Dawson II, H. B. Bluestein, and M. Xue, 2012: EnKF assimilation of high-resolution, mobile Doppler radar data of the 4 May 2007 Greensburg, Kansas supercell storm into a numerical cloud model. 7th European Conf. on Radar in Meteorology and Hydrology , Toulouse, France, Météo France, paper 378.
- Tanamachi, R. L., M. Wang, M. Xue, H. B. Bluestein, K. A. Orzel, and S. Frasier, 2012: GBVTD-retrieved near-surface vortex structure in a tornado and tornado-like vortices observed by a W-band radar during VORTEX2. 7th European Conf. on Radar in Meteorology and Hydrology , Toulouse, France, Météo France, paper 377.
- Tanamachi, R. L., H. B. Bluestein, W.-C. Lee, K. A. Orzel, and S. J. Frasier, 2011: GBVTD-retrieved vortex structure in the 26 May 2010 Prospect Valley, Colorado tornado-like vortices . 35th Conf. on Radar Meteorology , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, American Meteorological Society, P57.
- Bluestein, H. B., V. Venkatesh, K. A. Orzel, I. PopStefanija, C. Baldi, R. L. Tanamachi, M. M. French, J. C. Snyder, J. B. Houser, S. J. Frasier, G. D. Emmitt, and R. Bluth, 2011: Mobile Doppler-radar data collected during year 2 of VORTEX2: The U. Mass. X-Pol and W-band radars and the Naval Postgraduate School MWR-05XP/TWOLF . 35th Conf. on Radar Meteorology , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, American Meteorological Society, 7B.3.
- Houser, J. B., H. B. Bluestein, R. L. Tanamachi, K. M. Hardwick, and S. J. Frasier, 2011: Dual-Doppler analyses of the supercell that produced the Greensburg, KS tornado on 4 May 2007 . 35th Conf. on Radar Meteorology , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, American Meteorological Society, P12.
- Tanamachi, R. L., D. C. Dowell, L. J. Wicker, H. B. Bluestein, S. J. Frasier, and K. M. Hardwick, 2010: Impact of initial environmental velocity profiles on numerical model-based storm-scale analyses of the 5 May 2007 Greensburg, Kansas tornadic storm . 25th Conf. on Severe Local Storms , Denver, Colorado, American Meteorological Society, 3A.6.
- Tanamachi, R. L., H. B. Bluestein, S. J. Frasier, and K. M. Hardwick, 2010: Evolution of the 4 May 2007 Greensburg, Kansas tornadic supercell storm as inferred from mobile, X-band Doppler radar observations . 25th Conf. on Severe Local Storms , Denver, Colorado, American Meteorological Society, P8.18.
- Tanamachi, R. L., D. Dowell, L. J. Wicker, H. B. Bluestein, S. Frasier, and K. Hardwick, 2009: Numerical simulation of a cyclic tornadic thunderstorm augmented by EnKF assimilation of mobile Doppler radar data . 34th Conf. on Radar Meteorology, Williamsburg, Virginia, American Meteorological Society, 14.11.
- Bluestein, H. B., M. M. French, J. C. Snyder, J. B. Houser, R. L. Tanamachi, I. PopStefanija, C. Baldi, G. D. Emmitt, V. Venkatesh, K. A. Orzel, R. Bluth, and S. J. Frasier, 2010: A summary of data collected during VORTEX-2 by MWR-05XP/TWOLF, UMass X-Pol, and the UMass W-band radar . 25th Conf. on Severe Local Storms , Denver, Colorado, American Meteorological Society, 5.4.
- Tanamachi, R. L., L. J. Wicker, D. C. Dowell, H. B. Bluestein, S. J. Frasier, and K. M. Hardwick, 2008: X-band, mobile Doppler radar data collected in a tornadic thunderstorm: Data assimilation experiments . 24th Conf. on Severe Local Storms , Savannah, Georgia, American Meteorological Society, 2.6.
- Tanamachi, R. L., R. Davies-Jones, H. B. Bluestein, D. C. Dowell, and H. Cai, 2008: Diagnostic calculations of motions of vertical velocity and low-level vertical vorticity maxima in radar data and numerically simulated supercell thunderstorms . 24th Conf. on Severe Local Storms , Savannah, Georgia, American Meteorological Society, P3.10.
- Bluestein, H. B., K. Hardwick, M. Umscheid, R. L. Tanamachi, J. B. Houser, and S. Frasier, 2008: Polarimetric-radar signatures associated with the Greensburg, Kansas tornado . 24th Conf. on Severe Local Storms , Savannah, Georgia, American Meteorological Society, 2.5.
- Bluestein, H. B., I. PopStefanija, V. Venkatesh, P. Tsai, R. L. Tanamachi, M. M. French, J. C. Snyder, J. B. Houser, D. T. Dawson II, C. Baldi, B. Seeger, S. J. Frasier, J. B. Knorr, and R. Bluth, 2008: Severe-storm data collected in the Southern Plains by three mobile Doppler radars during the spring, 2007 and 2008 . 24th Conf. on Severe Local Storms , Savannah, Georgia, American Meteorological Society, 5.3.
- Tsai, P., S. Frasier, R. L. Tanamachi, and H. B. Bluestein, 2008: The UMass mobile W-Band Doppler radar: System overview and sample observations . 24th Conf. on Severe Local Storms , Savannah, Georgia, American Meteorological Society, P13.15.
- Bluestein, H. B., R. Bluth, J. B. Knorr, I. PopStefanija, B. Seeger, R. L. Tanamachi, J. B. Houser, J. C. Snyder, and M. M. French, 2008: Observations of severe convective storms with a mobile, phased-array, X-band Doppler radar . 88th AMS Annual Meeting , New Orleans, Louisiana, American Meteorological Society, P2.11.
- Bluestein, H. B., R. L. Tanamachi, M. M. French, J. B. Houser, J. C. Snyder, R. P. Bluth, J. Knorr, I. Popstefanjia, B. Seeger, C. Baldi, S. J. Frasier, and P. Tsai, 2007: Preliminary results from the fielding of a disparate triad of mobile Doppler radars to study severe convective storms . 33rd Int. Conf. on Radar Meteorology , Cairns, Australia, American Meteorological Society, 13A.12.
- Tanamachi, R. L., H. B. Bluestein, M. Bell, and W.-C. Lee, 2006: Progress toward improved Ground-Based Velocity Track Display (GBVTD) analysis of mobile Doppler radar data collected in tornadoes . 23rd Conf. on Severe Local Storms , St. Louis, Missouri, American Meteorological Society, P9.3.
- Bluestein, H. B., C. C. Weiss, M. M. French, E. M. Holthaus, R. L. Tanamachi, S. J. Frasier, and A. L. Pazmany, 2006: High-resolution structure of tornadoes in south-central Kansas on 12 May 2004: Analysis of mobile Doppler radar data . 23rd Conf. on Severe Local Storms , St. Louis, Missouri, American Meteorological Society, 15.13.
- Snyder, J. C., R. L. Tanamachi, H. B. Bluestein, W.-C. Lee, M. Bell, and A. Pazmany, 2006: Reconstruction of wind profiles in dust devils: Analyses of W-band mobile radar data using the Ground-Based Velocity Track Display (GBVTD) technique . 23rd Conf. on Severe Local Storms , St. Louis, Missouri, American Meteorological Society, P9.6.
- Wood, V. T., L. White, C. Alexander, and R. L. Tanamachi, 2006: An analytical model of one- and two-celled vortices: preliminary testing . 23rd Conf. on Severe Local Storms , St. Louis, Missouri, American Meteorological Society, P10.11.
- Tanamachi, R. L., H. B. Bluestein, M. Bell, W.-C. Lee, A. Pazmany, and C. C. Weiss, 2005: The evolution of a tornado: Ground-Based Velocity Track Display (GBVTD) analysis of mobile, W-band Doppler radar data on 15 May 1999 near Stockton, Kansas . 32nd Conf. on Radar Meteorology , Albuquerque, New Mexico, American Meteorological Society, P15R.13.
- Tanamachi, R. L., H. B. Bluestein, C. C. Weiss, M. Bell, W.-C. Lee, and A. L. Pazmany, 2004: The structure of a tornado: Ground-based velocity track display (GBVTD) analysis of mobile, W-band, Doppler radar data on 15 May 1999 near Stockton, Kansas . 22nd Conf. on Severe Local Storms , Hyannis, Massachusetts, American Meteorological Society, P11.15.
- Tanamachi, R. L., H. B. Bluestein, S. S. Moore, R. P. Madding, and C. R. Alexander, 2004: Infrared thermal imagery of cloud base in tornadic supercells . 22nd Conf. on Severe Local Storms , Hyannis, Massachusetts, American Meteorological Society, 14.14a.
- Tanamachi, R. L., and W. F. Feltz, 2004: Real-time nowcasting with the Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (AERI) . 84th AMS Annual Meeting , Seattle, Washington, American Meteorological Society, P1.4.
- Knuteson, R. O., D. H. Deslover, A. M. Larar, B. Osborne, H. E. Revercomb, J. F. Short, W. L. Smith, and R. Tanamachi, 2003: Infrared land surface remote sensing using high spectral resolution observations . SPIE , 24-35.
- Bluestein, H. B., C. C. Weiss, M. M. French, E. M. Holthaus, R. L. Tanamachi, S. J. Frasier, and A. L. Pazmany, 2002: High-resolution structure of tornadoes in south-central Kansas on 12 May 2004: Analysis of mobile Doppler radar data . 23rd Conf. on Severe Local Storms , St. Louis, Missouri, American Meteorological Society, 15.13.
- Tanamachi, R. L., V. P. Walden, S. A. Ackerman, H. E. Revercomb, and R. O. Knuteson, 2001: Progress towards a high-quality data set of infrared spectra from the Interferometric Monitor for Greenhouse Gases (IMG) . 5th Symp. on Integrated Observing Systems , Albuquerque, New Mexico, American Meteorological Society, P1.2.
- Tanamachi, R. L., V. P. Walden, S. A. Ackerman, and R. O. Knuteson, 2001: Quality control and preliminary data analysis of the Interferometric Monitor for Greenhouse Gases (IMG) data set . 11th Conf. on Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography , Madison, Wisconsin, American Meteorological Society, P.5.61.
Theses and dissertations:
- Tanamachi, R. L., 2011: Multiple cyclic tornado production modes in the 5 May 2007 Greensburg, Kansas supercell storm. Ph.D. dissertation, School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, 198 pp.
- Tanamachi, R. L., 2004: The horizontal wind field of the 15 May 1999 Stockton, Kansas tornado as revealed by ground-based velocity-track display (GBVTD) analysis of W-band radar data. M. S. thesis, School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, 110 pp.
- Tanamachi, R. L., 2001: Data Quality Control and Preliminary Data Analysis of the Interferometric Monitor for Greenhouse Gases (IMG) Data Set. Senior Honors Thesis, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 29 pp.
Media Appearances :
- National Geographic Channel, Inside the Mega-Twister. Interview about experiences in the 31 May 2013 El Reno, Oklahoma tornado. 2015.
- The Weather Channel, Weather Caught on Camera. Dust devil segment. 2013.
- Los Angeles Times. Online interview regarding the Moore, Oklahoma tornado of 20 May 2013.
- National Public Radio. Radio interview by John Hamilton about tornado safety. 2011.
- ShocknetRadio.com (defunct), High Instability. Two-hour interview about tornado research. 2011.
- The Weather Channel, VORTEX2: Target: Tornado and VORTEX2: The Great Tornado Hunt. Multiple on-camera interviews recorded during the field program (some aired live). 2009-2010.
- The Discovery Channel, Naked Science: Tornadoes and Raging Planet II. 2009.
- Felix Bassous, 66 Jours dans la Tornado Alley. French independent film about storm chasing / chasers. 2008.