B. S. (Engineering Physics), 1981, University of Colorado
NCAR Summer Colloquium on Mesoscale Meteorology, 1984
Ph.D. (Atmospheric Science), 1987, University of Washington
National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow, 1987-'88, Naval Postgraduate
School
Research Interests:
Mesoscale and synoptic scale dynamics; role of mountains on atmospheric flow;
numerical weather prediction; use of computers in atmospheric science.
My research interests are in the synoptic and mesoscale processes that result in "weather." In particular, my current interests include the role of moisture and inhomogeneities of the Earth's surface in forcing and modifying mesoscale circulations. This includes phenomena such as orographic and frontal precipitation, terrain modification of frontal circulations, lee cyclogenesis, blocking of flow by mountains, formation of barrier jets, and cold-air damming.
I prefer to combine theoretical and observational methods to advancing our understanding of these phenomena. It is only by considering fairly simple situations that we can advance our understanding of complex observations. Extracting mesoscale information from the existing synoptic scale observational network is difficult and requires special care. This research relies heavily on numerical techniques since the equations that govern mesoscale dynamics are not yet analytically tractable. Atmospheric models are used to help understand the underlying physics behind a phenomenon rather than simulating specific observations. The use of a numerical model helps isolate physical processes occurring in nature and will narrow the gap between simple analytic models and more complicated observations.
I am also interested in the use of computers in atmospheric science. In particular how they can be utilized to visualize atmospheric structure and processes. Currently my primary responsibility in the Department is supervising the management of our UNIX computing facilities.
Selected Publications:
Knight, D. J. and P. V. Hobbs, 1988: The mesoscale and microscale structure and organization of clouds and precipitation in midlatitude cyclones XV: A numerical modeling study of frontogenesis and cold-frontal rainbands. J. Atmos. Sci., 45, 915-930.
Knight, D. J. and S. H. Young, 1991: Cold air damming: An orographic mechanism for frontogenesis. International Conference on Fronts and Orography, June 11-14, 1991, Burghausen, FRG.
Schumacher, P. N., D. J. Knight and L. F. Bosart, 1992: Frontal retardation along the Appalachian mountains. Fifth Conference on Mesoscale Processes, January 5-10, 1992, Atlanta, GA., 175-176.
Knight, D. J., 1992: The effects of boundary layer processes on flow over mesoscale mountains. Sixth Conference on Mountain Meteorology, September 29-October 2, 1992, Portland, OR., 6-7.
Knight, D. J., 1994: Moist flow over mesoscale mountains. Sixth Conference on Mesoscale Processes, 18-22 July 1994, Portland OR.
Ramamurthy, M., C. Murphy, J. Moore, M. Wetzel, D. Knight, P. Ruscher, S. Mullen, R. DeSouza, D. Hawk, D. Fulker, 1995: Teaching mesoscale meteorology in the age of the modernized National Weather Service: A report on the Unidata/COMET workshop. Bull. Amer. Met. Soc., 76, 2463-2473.
Schumacher, P. N., D. J. Knight, and L. F. Bosart, 1996: Frontal interaction with the Appalachian mountains. Part I: A climatology. Mon. Wea. Rev., 124, 2453-2468.
Molinari, J., D. J. Knight, M. J. Dickinson, D. Vollaro, and S. Skubis, 1997: Potential vorticity, easterly waves, and eastern Pacific tropical cyclogenesis. Mon. Wea. Rev., 125, 2699-2708.
Wetzel, M., D. Dempsey, S. Nilsson, M. Ramamurthy, S. Koch, J. Moody, D. Knight, C. Murphy, D. Fulker, M. Marlino, M. Morgan, D. Yarger, D. Vietor, G. Cox, 1998: Faculty workshop on using instructional technologies and satellite data for college-level education in the atmospheric and earth sciences. Bull. Amer. Met. Soc., 79, 2153-2160.
Dickinson, M. J., and D. J. Knight, 2000: Frontal interaction with mesoscale topography. J. Atmos. Sci., accepted for publication.
Lupo, A. R., L. F. Bosart, J. J. Nocera, E. G. Hoffman and D. J. Knight, 2001: South American cold surges: Type, composites, and case studies. Mon. Wea. Rev., 129.
Recently Advised Thesis:Stephen Young, M. S., 1992, A Two-Dimensional Numerical Simulation of Cold Air Damming.
Philip Schumacher, M. S., 1993, Frontal Retardation Along the Appalachian Mountains.
Michael Dickinson, M. S., 1995, Frontal Interaction with Mesoscale Topography.
Eric Hoffman, M. S., 1995, The Evolution and Mesoscale Structure of Fronts in the Western United States: A Case Study.
Joe Nocera, M. S., 1999, A Climatology and modeling Study of Cold Surges in South America.