STANLEY G. BENJAMIN - Curriculum Vitae - April 2012

 

EDUCATION

Ph.D. Meteorology (1983), Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

M.S. Meteorology (1980), Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

B.A. Mathematics (1973), Albion College, Albion, Michigan

 

EXPERIENCE:

Current position

§  Chief, Assimilation and Modeling Branch (AMB), Global Systems Division, NOAA Earth Systems Research Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado

o   AMB is the development group for RUC (Rapid Update Cycle), Rapid Refresh, and HRRR (High-Resolution Rapid Refresh) regional models, and the FIM global model.  All of these models are currently or planned to be operational models at NOAA/NWS/NCEP.

o   Various Branch Chief positions (5/92-present) and Research Meteorologist (4/90-present)

§  Directing development of the global icosahedral isentropic atmospheric model (FIM – Flow-following finite-volume Icosahedral Model) at NOAA, 2005-present.

§  Lead for Global Modeling Team for the NOAA HFIP (Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project)

§  Directed development of the RUC, an operational data assimilation/numerical forecast system running at the NWS National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) that provides analyses and short-range forecasts at high frequency (every 1h) using asynoptic observations.

§  Developed, with other scientists, objective analysis techniques and numerical prediction models for use in RUC, including radar assimilation technique implemented at NCEP (Nov 2008).  Performed research on data assimilation methods (3DVAR and optimal interpolation) for in situ and remotely sense observations, model numerics and parameterizations. Directed projects on RUC applications for aviation, severe weather forecasting, regional climate simulations and land-surface modeling, wind energy forecasting.

§  Co-directing development of HRRR model (3km High-Resolution Rapid Refresh, updated hourly with radar reflectivity assimilation over US)

§  Directing development of WRF-based Rapid Refresh planned to replace RUC in 2011.

Research scientist (6/83-4/90) employed by: National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado working at NOAA, Boulder, CO (formerly PROFS). Performed research on the effects of terrain and soil moisture distribution on short-range forecasts of the regional environment for severe convective storms using the Penn State/NCAR mesoscale model. Studied impact of terrain on local circulations using same model. Developed multivariate optimal interpolation schemes in isobaric and isentropic coordinates for use in earlier versions of MAPS (development version of RUC), and implemented first versions of MAPS intermittent data assimilation system.

 

OTHER POSITIONS, HONORS:

ˇ      Fellow – Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES, Boulder, CO) (2011)

ˇ      Fellow - American Meteorological Society (2004)

ˇ      U.S. Department of Commerce Bronze Medals: 1998, 2010

ˇ      U.S. Department of Commerce Gold Medal: 2006

ˇ      NOAA Research Paper of Year Awards, lead author – 2006, 1st co-author – 2008

ˇ      Lead for FAA Model Development and Enhancement Research Team (2006-present).

ˇ      Member of FAA Aviation Weather Forecasting Task Force, 1985-1987

 

REFEREED PUBLICATIONS

 

1.    Bleck, R., S. Benjamin, J.-L. Lee, A.E. MacDonald; 2010: On the use of an adaptive, hybrid-isentropic vertical coordinate in global atmospheric modeling. Mon. Wea. Rev., 138, 2188-2210.

2.    Benjamin, S.G., B.D. Jamison, W.R. Moninger, S. R. Sahm, B. Schwartz, T.W. Schlatter, 2010: Relative short-range forecast impact from aircraft, profiler, radiosonde, VAD, GPS-PW, METAR, and mesonet observations via the RUC hourly assimilation cycle. Mon. Wea. Rev., 138, 1319-1343.

3.    Moninger, W.R., S.G. Benjamin, B.D. Jamison, T.W. Schlatter, T.L. Smith, and E.J. Szoke, 2010: Evaluation of regional aircraft observations using TAMDAR. Wea. Forecasting, 25, 647-655.

4.    Pondeca, M.S.F.V. de , G.S. Manikin, G. DiMego, S.G. Benjamin, D.F. Parrish, R.J. Purser, W.-S. Wu, J. Horel, Y. Lin, R.M. Aune, D. Keyser, L. Anderson, B. Colman, G. Mann, and J. Vavra, 2010: The Real-Time Mesoscale Analysis at NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Prediction: Current Status and Development. Submitted to Wea. Forecasting

5.    Stensrud, D., M. Xue, L. Wicker, K. Kelleher, M. Foster, J. Schaefer, R. Schneider, S. Benjamin, S. Weygandt, J. Ferree, J. Tuell, 2009:  Convective-scale Warn-on-Forecast: A Vision for 2020. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 90, 1487-1499.  doi: 10.1175/2009BAMS2795.1

6.    Smith, T.L., S.G. Benjamin, S.I. Gutman, and S. Sahm, 2007: Short-range forecast impact from assimilation of GPS-IPW observations into the Rapid Update Cycle. Mon. Wea. Rev., 135, 2914-2930.  (NOAA Research Paper of Year Award – 2008)

7.    Lu, C., H. Yuan, B.E. Schwartz, and S.G. Benjamin, 2007,  Short-range numerical weather prediction using time-lagged ensembles, Wea. Forecasting, 22, 580-595.

8.    Stensrud, D.J., N. Yussouf, M.E. Baldwin, J.T. McQueen, J. Du, B. Zhou, B. Ferrier, G. Manikin, F.M. Ralph, J.M. Wilczak, A.B. White, I. Djalalova, J. Bao, R. Zamora, S. Benjamin, P.A. Miller, T.L. Smith, T. Smirnova, M. F. Barth, 2006: The New England High-Resolution Temperature Program. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 87, 491-498.  

9.    Benjamin, S.G., D. Devenyi, S.S. Weygandt, K.J. Brundage, J.M. Brown, G. Grell, D. Kim, B.E. Schwartz, T.G. Smirnova, T.L. Smith, G.S. Manikin, 2004: An hourly assimilation/forecast cycle:  the RUC.  Mon. Wea. Rev., 132, 495-518.  (NOAA Research Paper of Year Award – 2006).

10. Benjamin, S.G., G.A. Grell, J.M. Brown, T.G. Smirnova, and R. Bleck, 2004:  Mesoscale weather prediction with the RUC hybrid isentropic/terrain-following coordinate model.   Mon. Wea. Rev., 132, 473-494.

11. Benjamin, S.G., B.E. Schwartz, E.J. Szoke, and S.E. Koch, 2004: The value of wind profiler data in U.S. weather forecasting. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 85, 1871-1886.

 

12. Benjamin, S.G., B.E. Schwartz, E.J. Szoke, and S.E. Koch, 2004: The value of wind profiler data in U.S. weather forecasting. Case studies. (online supplement).  Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 85, E21-E29.

 

13. Devenyi, D., and S.G. Benjamin, 2003: A 3-dimensional atmospheric variational assimilation technique in a hybrid isentropic-sigma coordinate. Meteor. and Atmospheric Physics , 82, 245-257.

 

14. Gutman, S.I. and S.G. Benjamin, 2001: The role of ground-based GPS meteorological observations in numerical weather prediction. GPS Solutions, 4, 16-24.

 

15. Schwartz, B.E., S.G. Benjamin, S.M. Green, and M.R. Jardin, 2000: Accuracy of RUC-1 and RUC-2 wind and aircraft trajectory forecasts by comparison with ACARS observations. Wea. Forecasting, 15, 313-326.

 

16. Smirnova, T.G., J.M. Brown, S.G. Benjamin, and D. Kim, 2000: Parameterization of cold-season processes in the MAPS land-surface scheme. J. Geophys. Res., 105, D3, 4077-4086.

 

17. Smith, T.L., S.G. Benjamin, B.E. Schwartz, and S.I. Gutman, 2000: Using GPS-IPW in a 4-D data assimilation system. Earth, Planets, and Space, 52, 951-956.

 

18. Berbery, E.H., K. Mitchell, S. Benjamin, T. Smirnova, H. Ritchie, R. Hogue, and E. Radeva, 1999: Assessment of land-surface energy budgets from regional and global models. J. Geophys. Res., 104, , 19329-19348.

 

19. Benjamin, S.G., B.E. Schwartz, and R.E. Cole, 1999: Accuracy of ACARS wind and temperature observations determined by collocation. Wea. Forecasting, 14, 1032-1038.

 

20. Smirnova, T.G., J.M. Brown, and S.G. Benjamin, 1997: Performance of different soil model configurations in simulating ground surface temperature and surface fluxes. Mon. Wea. Rev., 125, 1870-1884.

 

21. Westphal, D.L., S. Kinne, J.M. Alvarez, P. Minnis, D.F. Young, S.G. Benjamin, W.L. Eberhard, R.A. Kropfli, S.Y. Matrosov, J.B. Snider, T.A. Uttal, A.J. Heymsfield, G.G. Mace, S.H. Melfi, D.O`C. Starr, and J.J. Soden, 1996: Initialization and validation of a simulation of cirrus using FIRE-II data. J. Atmos. Sci., 53, 3397-3429.

 

22. Schwartz, B., and S. G. Benjamin, 1995: A comparison of temperature and wind measurements from ACARS-equipped aircraft and rawinsondes. Wea. Forecasting, 11, 528-544.

 

23. Pan, Z.-T., S. G. Benjamin, J. M. Brown, and T. G. Smirnova, 1994: Comparative experiments with MAPS on different parameterization schemes for surface moisture flux and boundary-layer processes. Mon. Wea. Rev., 122, 449-470.

 

24. Schlatter, T. W., and S. G. Benjamin, 1994: A mesoscale data assimilation system adapted for trajectory calculations over Alaska. U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin, 2047, 269-276.

 

25. Bleck, R., and S. G. Benjamin, 1993: Regional weather prediction  with a model combining terrain-following and isentropic coordinates.  Part I: model description. Mon. Wea. Rev.,121, 1770-1785.

 

26. Benjamin, S. G., T. L. Smith, P. A. Miller, D. Kim, T. W. Schlatter, D. Dévényi, J.-M. Carričre, R. Bleck, 1993: Recent developments in the MAPS isentropic-sigma data assimilation system. Idöjárás, 97, 1-19.

 

27. Smith, T. L., and S. G. Benjamin, 1993: Impact of network profiler data on a 3-h data assimilation system. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 74, 801-807.

 

28. Miller, P.A., and S.G. Benjamin, 1992: A system for the hourly assimilation of surface observations in mountainous and flat terrain. Mon. Wea. Rev., 120, 2342-2359.

29. Benjamin, S. G., K. A. Brewster, R. L. Brummer, B. F. Jewett, T. W. Schlatter, T. L. Smith, and P. A. Stamus, 1991:  An isentropic three-hourly data assimilation system using ACARS aircraft observations. Mon. Wea. Rev., 119, 888-906.

30. Benjamin, S. G., and P. A. Miller, 1990: An alternate sea-level pressure reduction and a statistical comparison of surface geostrophic wind estimates with observed winds. Mon. Wea. Rev., 118, 2099-2116.

31. Benjamin, S. G., 1989:  An isentropic meso-alpha scale analysis system and its sensitivity to aircraft and surface observations. Mon. Wea. Rev., 117, 1586-1603.

32. Benjamin, S., 1987: Family stormchasing. StormTrack.

33. Benjamin, S. G. and T. N. Carlson, 1986:  Some effects of surface heating and topography in the regional severe storm environment. Part I:  three-dimensional simulations.  Mon. Wea. Rev., 114, 307-329.

34. Benjamin, S. G., 1986:  Some effects of surface heating and topography on the regional severe storm environment.  Part II:  two-dimensional idealized experiments.  Mon. Wea. Rev., 114, 330-343.

 

35. Benjamin, S. G. and N. L. Seaman, 1985: A simple scheme for objective analysis in curved flow. Mon. Wea. Rev., 113, 1184-1198.

36. Carlson, T. N., S. G. Benjamin, G. S. Forbes and Y.-F. Li, 1983: Elevated mixed layers in the regional severe storm environment: Conceptual model and case studies. Mon. Wea. Rev., 111, 1453-1473.

37. Anthes, R. A. Y.-H. Kuo, S. G. Benjamin and Y.-F. Li, 1982: The evolution of the mesoscale environment of severe local storms: preliminary modeling results. Mon. Wea. Rev., 110, 1187-1213.

38. Carlson, T. N., J. K. Dodd, S. G. Benjamin and J. N. Cooper, 1981: Satellite estimation of the surface energy balance, moisture availability and thermal inertia. J. Appl. Meteor., 20, 67-87.

39. Carlson, T. N. and S. G. Benjamin, 1980: Radiative heating rates for Saharan dust. J. Atmos. Sci., 37, 193-213.

40. Carlson, T. N., R. A. Anthes, M. Schwartz, S. G. Benjamin and D. G. Baldwin, 1980: Analysis and prediction of severe storms environment. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 61, 1018-1032.