Science - Climate Physics: People: Terry Kubar

Dr. Kubar is a Research Scientist in the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University, working remotely at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the Climate Physics Research Group. His research interests include satellite remote sensing of clouds, precipitation, and convection using a plethora of multi-sensor A-Train data, and he has published several papers on the vertical structure of tropical clouds, relationships between high cloud top temperature and the level of clear-sky convergence, radiative forcing of tropical high clouds, high-topped cloud and rain rate relationships, as well as controlling factors of deep convective clouds. Recently, Dr. Kubar and a colleague have used the CloudSat cloud classification product to characterize the relationships between the distribution of tropical cloud types and SSTs, suggesting the onset, peak, and drop-off of deep convection with increasing SST. In a separate study using multi-sensor A-Train data (Calipso, CloudSat, and MODIS) and ERA-analysis data, dynamic and thermodynamic controls on vertical cloud structure and coverage were also documented in a Pacific cross section from the California coast to the equator.

Additional primary research interests and experience encompass a wide breadth of boundary layer cloud properties, from microphysical versus macrophysical contributions to warm rain sensitivity to control factors as low-level stability, SST, and vertical velocity on horizontal and vertical low cloud fraction, height, and homogeneity. A manuscript in press quantifies correlations between low-topped cloud fraction and large-scale variables using MODIS and ERA-Interim data as a function of averaging timescale, as well as annual cycle properties of low cloud, SST, and vertical velocity as well as lead-lag relationships and feedbacks.

Education

Ph.D. University of Washington (Atmospheric Sciences), 2008
B.S. San Jose State University, (Major: Meteorology, Minor: Applied Mathematics), 2003

Professional Experience

Research Scientist, (affiliated with Climate Physics Research Group at JPL), Colorado State University (2011-Present)
Caltech Postdoctoral Scholar - Climate Physics Research Group , Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (2010- 2011)
Postdoctorate Research Associate/NASA Fellow, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, (2008-2010)
Graduate Research Assistant, University of Washington, Seattle, (2003-2008)
Graduate Student Private Tutor, (2007)
Teaching Assistant, University of Washington, Seattle, (2004-2005)
Summer Intern, Weathernews, Sunnyvale, CA, (2000-2002)

Selected Awards

University of Washington Department of Atmospheric Sciences forecasting competition champion (2005)
Graduate School Top Scholar Award recipient (2003)
Golden Key International Honour Society Member (2001-2003)
Dean's Scholar, San Jose State University (2001-2003)
President's Scholar (five awards per year), San Jose State University (1999-2003)

Selected Publications

Kubar, T. L., D. E. Waliser, J.-L. Li, and X. Jiang, 2012: On the annual cycle, variability, and correlations of oceanic low-topped clouds with large-scale circulation using Aqua MODIS and ERA-Interim. J. Climate, in press, doi: 10.1175/JCLI-D-11-00478.1.
Behrangi, A., T. L. Kubar, and B. Lambrigtsen, 2012: Phenomenological insights of tropical clouds using Cloudsat cloud classification. Mon. Wea. Rev, in press, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-11-00247.1.
Li, J.-L., D. E. Waliser, W.-T. Chen, B. Guan, T. Kubar, G. Stephens, H.-Y. Ma, M. Deng, L. Donner, C. Seman, and L. Horowitz, 2012: An observationally based evaluation of cloud ice water in CMIP3 and CMIP5 GCMs and contemporary reanalyses using contemporary satellite data. J. Geophys. Res., in press, doi: 10.1029/2012JD017640.
Kubar, T. L., D. E. Waliser, and J.-L. Li, 2011: Boundary layer and cloud structure controls on tropical low cloud cover using A-Train satellite data and ECMWF analyses. J. Climate, 24, 194-215.
Winker, D. M., J. Pelon, J. A. Coakley, Jr., S. A. Ackerman, R.J. Charlson, P. R. Colarco, P. Flamant, Q. Fu, R. M. Hoff, C. Kittaka, T. L. Kubar, H. LeTreut, M. P. McCormick, G. Megie, L. Poole, K. Powell, C. Trepte, M. A. Vaughan, and B. A. Wielicki, 2010: The Calipso mission: a global 3D view of aerosols and clouds, Bull. Am. Met. Soc., 91, 1211-1229.
Kubar, T. L., Hartmann, D.L. and Wood, R., 2009: Understanding the Importance of Microphysics and Macrophysics for Warm Rain in Marine Low Clouds - Part I. Satellite Observations. J. Atmos. Sci., 66, 2953-2972.
Wood., R., T. L. Kubar, and D. L. Hartmann, 2009: Understanding the importance of microphysics and macrophysics for warm rain in marine low clouds: Part II. Heuristic models of rain formation. J. Atmos. Sci.,66, 2973-2990.
Kubar, T. L. and D. L. Hartmann, 2008: Vertical structure of tropical oceanic convective clouds and its relation to precipitation. Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L03804, doi: 10.1029/2007GL032811.
Kubar, T. L., D. L. Hartmann, and R. Wood, 2007: Radiative and convective driving of tropical high clouds. J. Climate, 20, 5510-5526.
Lopez, M. A., D. L. Hartmann, P. N. Blossey, R. Wood, C. S. Bretherton, and T. L. Kubar, 2009: A test of the simulation of tropical convective cloudiness by a cloud-resolving model. J. Climate., 22, 2834-2849.

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