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Kay Suselj

Photo of Kay Suselj

Address:

4800 Oak Grove Drive
M/S 233-300

Pasadena, CA 91109

Phone:

818.354.0897

Fax:

818.393.4619

Curriculum Vitae:

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Member of:

Atmospheric Physics And Weather

Biography

I started at JPL as a postdoctoral fellow in 2009 working on planetary boundary layer and convection parameterization development with Joao Teixeira. Since then, I’ve branched out in several new directions. Although I am an atmospheric scientist by training, I have varied research interests in modeling the atmosphere, ocean, and wildfire dynamics. Doing impactful work that will ultimately benefit society is very important to me.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Physics, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Germany (2009)
  • M.Sc. in Meteorology, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia (2006)
  • B.Sc. in Meteorology, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia (2001)

Professional Experience

I have been a scientist at JPL since 2013, with a one-year hiatus during which I worked at the climate-tech startup Running Tide, focusing on marine carbon dioxide removal. Previously, I was a research scientist at JIFRESSE (2012–2013) and a postdoctoral fellow at Caltech (2009–2012), building expertise in atmospheric modeling. I earned a PhD with a dissertation on wind energy from the University of Oldenburg (2006–2009) and began my career in weather and hydrological forecasting at the Slovenian Environment Agency, following BS and MS degrees from the University of Ljubljana.

Research Interests

(i) Modeling and observing planetary boundary layer (PBL) processes, with a focus on using observations to improve PBL physics. (ii) Improving understanding and modeling of CO₂ fluxes in the Earth system, including evaluating strategies for CO₂ removal. (iii) Wildfire modeling and data assimilation to improve prediction and design effective prevention strategies.

Selected Awards

  • Discovery Award (2020)
  • Voyager Award (2019)
  • NASA Group Achievement Award (2017)
  • NASA Early Career Public Achievement Medal (2016)

Selected Publications

  1. Suselj, K., D. Posselt, M. Smalley, M. D. Lebsock and J. Teixeira, 2020. A new methodology for observation-based parameterization development. Mon Weather Rev (EOR)
  2. Kurowski, M. J., W. Grabowski, K. Suselj, J. Teixeira, 2020. The strong impact of weak horizontal convergence on continental shallow convection. J Atmos Sci (EOR)
  3. Wu, El., H. Yang, J. Kleissl, K. Sušelj, M. J Kurowski, and J. Teixeira, 2020. On the Parameterization of Convective Downdrafts for Marine Stratocumulus Clouds. Mon Weather Rev 148 (5), pp. 1931-1950.
  4. Sušelj, K., M. J. Kurowski, and J. Teixeira, 2019. On the Factors Controlling the Development of Shallow Convection in Eddy-Diffusivity/Mass-Flux Models. J Atmos Sci 76 (2), pp. 433-456.
  5. Kurowski, M. J., K. Sušelj, and W. W. Grabowski, 2019. Is Shallow Convection Sensitive to Environmental Heterogeneities? Geophy Res Lett 46, pp. 1-9.
  6. Sušelj, K., M. J. Kurowski, and J. Teixeira, 2019. A Unified Eddy-Diffusivity/Mass-Flux Approach for Modeling Atmospheric Convection. J Atmos Sci 76 (8) , pp. 2505-2537.
  7. Kurowski, M. J. , H. Th. Thrastarson, K. Sušelj, and J. Teixeira, 2019. Towards Unifying the Planetary Boundary Layer and Shallow Convection in CAM5 with the Eddy-Diffusivity/Mass-Flux Approach. Atmosphere 10 (9).
  8. Smalley, M., K. Sušelj, M. Lebsock, and J. Teixeira, 2019. A Novel Framework for Evaluating and Improving Parameterized Subtropical Marine Boundary Layer Cloudiness. Mon Weather Rev 147 (9), pp. 3241-3260.
  9. Olson, J. B., J. S. Kenyon, and W. A. Angevine J. M. Brown, M. Pagowski and K. Sušelj, 2019. A Description of the MYNN-EDMF Scheme and the Coupling to Other Components in WRF-ARW. NOAA Technical Memorandum OAR GSD-61.
  10. Bhattacharya, R., S. Bordoni, K. Sušelj, and J. Teixeira, Parameterization Interactions in Global Aquaplanet Simulations. J Adv Model Earth Syst 10(2).
  11. Pires, L. B. M., K. Sušelj, L. Rossato, and J. Teixeira, 2018. Analyses of Shallow Convection over the Amazon Coastal Region Using Satellite Images, Data Observations and Modeling. Revista Brasileira de Meteorologia 33 (2), pp. 366-379
  12. Angevine, W. M., J. Olson, J. Kenyon, W. I. Gustafson, S. Endo, K. Sušelj, et al., 2018. Shallow Cumulus in WRF Parameterizations Evaluated against LASSO Large-Eddy Simulations. Mon Weather Rev 146 (12), pp. 4303-4322.
  13. Kurowski, M. J., K. Sušelj, W. W. Grabowski, and J. Teixeira, 2018. Shallow-to-Deep Transition of Continental Moist Convection: Cold Pools, Surface Fluxes, and Mesoscale Organization. J Atmos Sci 75 (12), pp. 4071-4090.
  14. Cesana, G., K. Sušelj, and F. Brient, On the Dependence of Cloud Feedbacks on Physical Parameterizations in WRF Aquaplanet Simulations. Geophy Res Lett 44 (20) pp. 10,762-10,771.
  15. Schreier, M., and K. Sušelj, 2016. Analysis of collocated AIRS and MODIS data: a global investigation of correlations between clouds and atmosphere in 2004-2012. International Journ Remote Sensing 37 (11), pp. 2524-2540.
  16. Schreier, M. M., B. H. Kahn, K. Sušelj, J. Karlsson, S. C. Ou, Q. Yue and S. L. Nasiri, 2014. Atmospheric parameters in a subtropical cloud regime transition derived by AIRS and MODIS: observed statistical variability compared to ERA-Interim. Atmos Chem Phy 14 (7), pp. 3573-3587.
  17. Sušelj, K., T. F. Hogan, and J. Teixeira, 2014. Implementation of a Stochastic Eddy-Diffusivity/Mass-Flux Parameterization into the Navy Global Environmental Model. Weather Forecast 29 (6), pp. 1374-1390.
  18. Sušelj, K., J. Teixeira, and D. Chung, 2013. A Unified Model for Moist Convective Boundary Layers Based on a Stochastic Eddy-Diffusivity/Mass-Flux Parameterization. J Atmos Scie 70 (7), pp. 1929-1953.
  19. Yue, Q., B. H. Kahn, H. Xiao, Mathias M. Schreier, Eric J. Fetzer, J. Teixeira and K. Sušelj, 2014. Transitions of cloud-topped marine boundary layers characterized by AIRS, MODIS, and a large eddy simulation model. Journal of Geophy Res: Atmospheres 118 (15), pp. 8598-8611.
  20. Sušelj, K., J. Teixeira, and G.s Matheou, Eddy Diffusivity/Mass Flux and Shallow Cumulus Boundary Layer: An Updraft PDF Multiple Mass Flux Scheme. Journal Atmos Sci 69 (5) pp. 1513-1533.
  21. Semedo, A., K. Sušelj, A. Rutgersson, and A. Sterl,2010. A Global View on the Wind Sea and Swell Climate and Variability from ERA-40. J Climate 24 (5), pp. 1461-1479
  22. Sušelj, K., A. Sood, and D. Heinemann, 2010. North Sea near-surface wind climate and its relation to the large-scale circulation patterns. Theoret Appl Clim 99 (3-4), pp. 403-419.
  23. Sušel, K., and A. Sood, 2010. Improving the Mellor-Yamada-Janji? Parameterization for wind conditions in the marine planetary boundary layer. Boundary-Layer Meteorology 136, no. 2 pp. 301-324.
  24. Sušelj, K., M. N. Tsimplis, and K. Bergant, 2008. Is the Mediterranean Sea surface height variability predictable? Phys Chem Earth, Parts A/B/C 33, no. 3-4, pp. 225-238.
  25. Kobold, M., and K. Sušelj, 2005 Precipitation forecasts and their uncertainty as input into hydrological models. Hydrology and Earth Syst Sciences 9, no. 4 pp. 322-332.