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Joseph Olson

Joseph Olson

Joe is the primary developer of the boundary layer and surface layer schemes used in the operational Rapid Refresh (RAP) and High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) forecast systems. Joe also contributes to the development of the gravity wave drag suite, radiation-cloud coupling, horizontal diffusion, and the development of several model diagnostics.

Outside of work, Joe is often mountain biking, walking/playing with his dog (Huxley), reading (usually non-fiction), or enjoying full-bodied spicy red wine. 

Research Interests

  • Boundary layer meteorology
  • Surface-atmosphere exchanges
  • Scale-adaptive turbulent mixing/transport
  • Cloud-radiative interactions
  • Gravity wave drag representation
  • Precipitation processes
  • Numerical Methods

Education

  • Ph.D., Institute for Terrestrial and Planetary Atmospheres, Stony Brook University, 2007

Publications

Olson, Joseph B. and coauthors (2019): Improving wind energy forecasting through numerical weather prediction model development. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 100, 2201–2220, https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-18-0040.1.

Olson, Joseph B., J. S. Kenyon, W. M. Angevine, J. M. Brown, M. Pagowski, and K. Sušelj (2019): A

description of the MYNN-EDMF scheme and coupling to other components in WRF-ARW. NOAA

Technical Memorandum, OAR GSD, 61, pp. 37, doi:10.25923/n9wm-be49.

Shaw, William, L. K. Berg, J. Cline, C. Draxl, E. Grimit, J. K. Lundquist, M. Marquis, J. McCaa, Joseph B. Olson, C. Sivaraman, J. Sharp, and J. M. Wilczak (2019): The second Wind Forecast Improvement Project (WFIP2): General overview. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 100(9), 1687-1699. doi.org:10.1175/BAMS-D-18-0036.1.

Pichugina, Yelena, R. Banta, T. Bonin, A. Brewer, A. Choukulkar, B. McCarty, J. Fernando,

J. Kenyon, R. Krishnamurthy, M. Marquis, Joseph B. Olson, J. Sharp, and M. Stoelinga (2019): Spatial variability of winds and HRRR-NCEP model error statistics at three doppler-lidar sites in the wind-energy generation region of the Columbia River Basin. J. Appl. Meteorol. Clim., 58, 1633–1656, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-18-0244.1

Wilczak, James M. and coauthors (2019): The Second Wind Forecast Improvement Project (WFIP2): Observational Field Campaign. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 100(9), 1701-1723.

Our Mission

Lead research and directed development through the transition of environmental data, models, products, tools, and services to support commerce, protect life and property, and promote a scientifically literate public.

Research Areas

Organizational Excellence, Earth System Prediction, Advanced Technologies, and Decision Support are the foundation to achieving the GSL Grand Challenge: Deliver actionable global storm-scale prediction and environmental information through advanced technologies to serve society.

Global Systems Laboratory