Profile

I joined GSL (then GSD) within the Assimilation and Verification Innovation Division (AVID; formerly the Assimilation and Modeling Branch AMB) in 2010. Since that time, my research interests have revolved around the use of observations in numerical weather prediction, applications of high-resolution model guidance in complex terrain, and data mining. I have played a key role in maintaining real-time experimental model forecasts from the hourly Rapid Refresh (RAP) and High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR), and have carried out numerous retrospective experiments for the purpose of various aspects of data assimilation or model physics improvements. I have been involved with many projects and outreach efforts associated with new capabilities developed in the HRRR system, including especially the HRRR-smoke system for prediction of wildfire smoke plumes. Outside of work, I am currently pursuing a PhD in Atmospheric Science; in my very limited free time, I enjoy hiking, backpacking, and trail running.

Research Interests

Observing System Experiments (OSEs) for quantification of observation impacts upon model forecast skill
Use of commercial aircraft weather observations within rapidly-updating numerical weather prediction systems
Short-range prediction of excessive rainfall based on convection-allowing model guidance
Anticipation of extreme fire weather based on convection-allowing model guidance
Incorporating simple representations of aerosol tracers (i.e., smoke and dust) in rapidly-updating numerical weather prediction systems

Education

BS in Meteorology, University of Utah, 2006
BS in Geography, University of Utah, 2006
MS in Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, 2009

Experience

Lab Aide at the University of Utah MesoWest program, 2005-06, under Dr. John Horel
Graduate Research Assistant at Colorado State University Department of Atmospheric Science, 2006-09, under Dr. Richard Johnson
Research Associate at Colorado State University Department of Atmospheric Science, 2009-10, under Dr. Richard Johnson
Associate Scientist at Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, within the Global Systems Laboratory Assimilation and Verification Innovation Division, 2010-present, under Dr. Curtis Alexander

Professional Activities

Hazardous Weather Testbed Experimental Forest Program, NOAA National Severe Storms Lab / Storm Prediction Center, Norman, OK, 2011-2013, 2015-2018, 2020
Front Range Computer Research Consortium Symposium, Fort Collins, CO, 2012
Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation Tutorial, Boulder, CO, 2012
WRF Workshop, Boulder, CO, 2013
Winter Experiment, NOAA Aviation Weather Center, Kansas City, MO, 2016
Unmanned Aerial System Traffic Management Workshop, San Jose, CA, 2016
Utility Variable Integration Group Forecasting Workshop, Denver, CO, 2016
Workshop on Opportunities to Apply Remote Sensing in Boreal / Arctic Wildfire Management and Science, Fairbanks, AK, 2017
Invited Seminar Speaker at USFS Fire Science Laboratory, Missoula, MT, 2017
Membership Chair, CIRES Members Council, 2017-2020
Presenter at Stakeholder Workshop for Scoping and Development of New Forecast Products Using AMDAR Data, Naivasha, Kenya, 2018
Flash Flood and Intense Rainfall Experiment, NOAA Weather Prediction Center, College Park, MD, 2018-2020
Presenter at Incident Meteorologist Training, National Interagency Fire Center, Boise, ID, 2018-2019
Led training with the Caribbean Meteorological Organisation on the HRRR-Caribbean modeling system, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, 2020
Led NOAA National Weather Service training on upcoming RAPv5 / HRRRv4, 2020

Honors and Awards

International Baccalaureate Diploma, May 2002
Research Employee of the Year Team Award, CU/CIRES, 2012
Gold Medal Award, CU/CIRES, 2016
Technology Transfer Award, NOAA/GSD, 2017
Achievement Award, UVIG, 2017

Publications

James, E. P., S. G. Benjamin, and B. D. Jamison, 2020: Commercial aircraft-based observations for NWP: Global coverage, data impacts, and COVID-19. J. Appl. Meteor. Climatol., in press. https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-20-0010.1.

Fujisaki-Manome, A., G. E. Mann, E. J. Anderson, P. Y. Chu, L. E. Fitzpatrick, S. G. Benjamin, E. P. James, T. G. Smirnova, C. R. Alexander, and D. M. Wright, 2020: Improvements to lake-effect snow forecasts using a one-way air-lake model coupling approach. J. Hydrometeor., in press. https://doi.org/10.1175/JHM-D-20-0079.1.

Albers, S., S. M. Saleeby, S. Kreidenweis, Q. Bian, P. Xian, Z. Toth, R. Ahmadov, E. James, and S. D. Miller, 2020: A fast visible-wavelength 3D radiative transfer model for numerical weather prediction visualization and forward modeling. Atmos. Meas. Tech., 13, 3235-3261. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-3235-2020.

Back, A., R. Ahmadov, E. P. James, G. Grell, G. Pereira, S. R. Freitas, I. A. Csiszar, M. Tsidulko, S. Kondragunta, 2020: Use of VIIRS aerosol optical depth information at NOAA GSL to improve smoke, visibility, and weather forecasts in the Experimental High Resolution Rapid Refresh. JCSDA Quarterly, 67, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.25923/4pt1-wx36.

Beck, J., J. Brown, J. Dudhia, D. Gill, T. Hertneky, J. Klemp, W. Wang, C. Williams, M. Hu, E. James, J. Kenyon, T. Smirnova, J.-H. Kim, 2020: An evaluation of a hybrid, terrain-following vertical coordinate in the WRF-based RAP and HRRR models. Wea. Forecasting, 35, 1081-1096. https://doi.org/10.1175/WAF-D-19-0146.1.

Benjamin, S. G., E. P. James, J. M. Brown, E. J. Szoke, J. S. Kenyon, and R. Ahmadov, 2020: Diagnostic fields developed for hourly updated NOAA models. NOAA Tech. Memo. OAR GSL-66. https://doi.org/10.25923/98fy-xx71.

Hung, W.-T., C.-S. Lu, B. Shrestha, H.-C. Lin, C.-A. Lin, D. Grogan, J. Hong, R. Ahmadov, E. James, and E. Joseph, 2020: The impacts of transported wildfire smoke aerosols on surface air quality in New York State: A case study in summer 2018. Atmos. Environment, 227, 117415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117415.

Banta, R. M., Y. L. Pichugina, W. A. Brewer, E. P. James, J. B. Olson, S. G. Benjamin, J. R. Carley, L. Bianco, I. V. Djalalova, J. M. Wilczak, R. M. Hardesty, J. Cline, and M. C. Marquis, 2018: Evaluating and improving NWP forecast models for the future: How the needs of offshore wind energy can point the way. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 99, 1155-1176. https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-16-0310.1.

Ahmadov, R., G. Grell, E. James, I. Csiszar, M. Tsidulko, B. Pierce, S. McKeen, S. Benjamin, C. Alexander, G. Pereira, S. Freitas, and M. Goldberg, 2017: Using VIIRS fire radiative power data to simulate biomass burning emissions, plume rise and smoke transport in a real-time air quality modeling system. Proceedings of the 2017 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS), 2806-2808. https://doi.org/10.1109/IGARSS.2017.8127581.

James, E. P., S. G. Benjamin, and M. Marquis, 2017: Offshore wind speed estimates from a high-resolution rapidly updating numerical weather prediction model forecast dataset. Wind Energy, 21, 264-284. https://doi.org/10.1002/we.2161.

James, E. P., S. G. Benjamin, and M. Marquis, 2017: A unified high-resolution wind and solar dataset from a rapidly updating numerical weather prediction model. Renewable Energy, 102, 390-405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2016.10.059.

Pichugina, Y. L., R. M. Banta, J. B. Olson, J. R. Carley, M. C. Marquis, W. A. Brewer, J. M. Wilczak, I. Djalalova, L. Bianco, E. P. James, S. G. Benjamin, and J. Cline, 2017: Assessment of NWP forecast models in simulating offshore winds through the lower boundary layer by measurements from a ship-based scanning Doppler lidar. Mon. Wea. Rev., 145, 4277-4301. https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-16-0442.1.

James, E. P., and S. G. Benjamin, 2017: Observation system experiments with the hourly updating Rapid Refresh model using GSI hybrid ensemble-variational data assimilation. Mon. Wea. Rev., 145, 2897-2918. https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-16-0398.1.

Benjamin, S. G., S. S. Weygandt, J. M. Brown, M. Hu, C. R. Alexander, T. G. Smirnova, J. B. Olson, E. P. James, D. C. Dowell, G. A. Grell, H. Lin, S. E. Peckham, T. L. Smith, W. R. Moninger, J. S. Kenyon, and G. S. Manikin, 2016: A North American hourly assimilation and model forecast cycle: The Rapid Refresh. Mon. Wea. Rev., 144, 1669-1694. https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-15-0242.1.

James, E. P., and R. H. Johnson, 2010: A climatology of midlatitude mesoscale convective vortices in the Rapid Update Cycle. Mon. Wea. Rev., 138, 1940-1956. https://doi.org/10.1175/2009MWR3208.1.

James, E. P., and R. H. Johnson, 2010: Patterns of precipitation and mesolow evolution in midlatitude mesoscale convective vortices. Mon. Wea. Rev., 138, 909-931. https://doi.org/10.1175/2009MWR3076.1.