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Derek Posselt

Photo of Derek Posselt

Address:

4800 Oak Grove Drive
M/S 233-304

Pasadena, CA 91109

Phone:

Office: 818.354.8107

Curriculum Vitae:

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Member of:

Atmospheric Physics And Weather

Biography

Dr. Posselt is a research scientist with the Atmospheric Physics and Weather group (329E) in the Earth Science Section at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He is also a visiting Associate Researcher at the Joint Institute for Regional Earth System Science and Engineering (JIFRESSE) at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Dr. Posselt has 18 years of experience working on satellite data applications and the development of satellite missions, and 19 years of experience confronting numerical models with remote sensing and in-situ observations. He served as CYGNSS Deputy Principal Investigator from 2012 – 2016, and currently coordinates extended science team activities for the mission. He is actively involved in the quantitative analysis of satellite information, including the use of uncertainty quantification (UQ) algorithms and observing system simulation experiments (OSSEs). He is also actively engaged in the development of new data assimilation and retrieval algorithms, particularly in a Bayesian probabilistic context.

His research interests include: remote sensing of cloud and precipitation properties, numerical modeling of cloud systems, and the use of Bayesian algorithms in the development of new data assimilation methodologies and remote sensing techniques. He has experience as a user and developer of the NASA Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) model, the NASA Goddard Cumulus Ensemble (GCE) model, the NCAR Cloud Model (CM1), and the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model.

Dr. Posselt is currently a member of the science teams for the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS), Aerosols Clouds Ecosystems (ACE), and CloudSat missions.

Education

  • B.S., Atmospheric Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (1994-1997)
  • M.S., Atmospheric Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (1998-2001)
  • Ph.D., Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO (2003-2006)

Professional Experience

  • Editor, Monthly Weather Review (2021-Present)
  • Member, AMS Probability and Statistics Committee (2020-Present)
  • Deputy Principal Investigator, NASA Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) mission (2012 - 2016)
  • Member, AMS Satellite Meteor., Ocean., and Climatology Committee (2010 - 2016)
  • NASA Langley Science Directorate Peer Review, Active Remote Sensing Sub-Panel Lead (2015)
  • Member, NASA Earth Science Senior Review Panel (2013,2015)
  • Associate Professor, Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (2014 - 2016)
  • Assistant Professor, Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (2011 - 2014)
  • Visiting Scientist, Naval Research Laboratory, Monterey, CA (2010-2011)
  • Assistant Research Scientist, Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (2007 - 2011)
  • Post-doctoral Researcher, Colorado State University and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (2006-2007)

Research Interests

  • Cloud system sensitivity to changes in microphysics and environment
  • Data assimilation and remote sensing theory development
  • Cloud and precipitation property retrievals from active and passive remote sensing instruments
  • Quantitative assessment of information in current and future observing systems, including the use of observing system simulation experiments
  • Evaluation of model uncertainty, especially in the representation of moist processes
  • Cloud and precipitation processes in tropical convection, extratropical cyclones, and mountainous regions

Selected Publications

  1. Naud, C. M., J. A. Crespo, and D. J. Posselt, 2021: On the relationship between CYGNSS surface heat fluxes and the lifecycle of low-latitude extratropical cyclones. J. Appl. Meteor. Clim. 60, 1575-1590. https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-21-0074.1
  2. Crespo, J. A., C. M. Naud, and D. J. Posselt, 2021: CYGNSS Observations and Analysis of Low-Latitude Extratropical Cyclones. J. Appl. Meteor. Clim., 60, 527-541. https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-20-0190.1
  3. Teixeira, J., H. Nguyen, D. J. Posselt, H. Su, and L. Wu, 2021: Using machine learning to model uncertainty for water vapor atmospheric motion vectors. Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 1941-1957. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-1941-2021
  4. Morales, A., D. J. Posselt, and H. Morrison, 2021: Which combinations of environmental conditions and microphysical parameter values produce a given orographic precipitation distribution? J. Atmos. Sci., 78, 619-638. https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-20-0142.1
  5. Suselj, K., D. J. Posselt, M. Smalley, M. Lebsock, and J. Teixeira, 2020: A new methodology for observation-based parameterization development. Mon. Wea. Rev., 148, 4159–4184. https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-20-0114.1
  6. Maahn, M., D. D. Turner, U. Lohnert, D. J. Posselt, K. Ebell, G. G. Mace, and J. M. Comstock, 2020: Optimal Estimation Retrievals and Their Uncertainties: What Every Atmospheric Scientist Should Know. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 101, E1512–E1523, https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-19-0027.1
  7. Zeng, X., R. Atlas, R. J. Birk, F. H. Carr, M. J. Carrier, L. Cucurull, W. H. Hooke, E. Kalnay, R. Murtugudde, D. J. Posselt, J. L. Russell, D. P. Tyndall, R. A. Weller, and F. Zhang, 2020: Use of Observing System Simulation Experiments in the U.S. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 101, E1427–E1438. https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-19-0155.1
  8. Morrison, H., M. van Lier-Walqui, A. M. Fridlind, W. W. Grabowski, J. Y. Harrington, C. Hoose, A. Korolev, M. R. Kumjian, J. A. Milbrandt, H. Pawlowska, D. J. Posselt, O. P. Prat, K. J. Reimel, S.-I. Shima, B. van Diedenhoven, and L. Xue, 2020: Confronting the challenge of modeling cloud and precipitation microphysics. J. Adv. Model. Earth. Sys., 12. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019MS001689
  9. Storer, R. L., and D. J. Posselt, 2019: Environmental Impacts on the Flux of Mass Through Deep Convection. Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 145, 3832-3845. https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.3669
  10. Posselt, D. J. , L. Wu, K. Mueller, L. Huang, F. W. Irion, S. Brown, H. Su, D. Santek, and C. S. Velden, 2019: Quantitative Assessment of State-Dependent Atmospheric Motion Vector Uncertainties. J. Appl. Meteor. Climatol., 58, 2479-2495,https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-19-0166.1
  11. Crespo, J. A., D. J. Posselt, and S. Asharaf, 2019: CYGNSS Surface Heat Flux Product Development. Rem. Sens., 11(19), 2294; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11192294.
  12. Morales, A. M., D. J. Posselt, H. Morrison, and F. He, 2019: Assessing the Influence of Microphysical and Environmental Parameter Perturbations on Orographic Precipitation. J. Atmos. Sci., 76, 1373-1395, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-18-0301.1
  13. Posselt, D. J., F. He, J. Bukowski, and J.S. Reid, 2019: On the Relative Sensitivity of a Tropical Deep Convective Storm to Changes in Environment and Cloud Microphysical Parameters. J. Atmos. Sci., 76, 1163-1185, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-18-0181.1
  14. Posselt, D. J. and C. H. Bishop, 2018: Nonlinear Data Assimilation for Clouds and Precipitation using a Gamma-Inverse Gamma Ensemble Filter. Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., ,144, 2331-2349. https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.3374
  15. Naud, C. M., D. J. Posselt, and S. C. van den Heever, 2017: Observed co-variations of aerosol optical depth and cloud cover in extratropical cyclones. J. Geophys. Res., 122, 10,338-10,356. doi:10.1002/2017JD027240.
  16. Crespo, J. A., D. J. Posselt, C. M. Naud, and C. Bussy-Virat, 2017: CYGNSS Observations of Extratropical Fronts and Cyclones. J. Appl. Meteor. Clim., 56, 2027-2034.
  17. Bukowski, J., D. J. Posselt, J. S. Reid, and S. A. Atwood, 2017: Modes of Thermodynamic and Wind Variability over the Maritime Continent. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 4611-4626, doi:10.5194/acp-17-4611-2017.
  18. Posselt, D. J., J. Kessler, and G. G. Mace, 2017: Bayesian retrievals of vertically resolved cloud particle size distribution properties. J. Appl. Meteor. Clim., 56, 745-765, doi: 10.1175/JAMC-D-16-0276.1.
  19. Li, X., J. R. Mecikalski, and D. J. Posselt, 2017: An Ice-Phase Microphysics Forward Model and Preliminary Results of Polarimetric Radar Data Assimilation. Mon. Wea. Rev., 145, 683-708, doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-16-0035.1.
  20. Zhang, S., Z. Pu, D. J. Posselt, and R. Atlas, 2017: Impact of CYGNSS ocean surface wind speeds on numerical simulations of a hurricane in observing system simulation experiments. J. Atmos. Ocn. Tech., 34, 375-383, doi: 10.1175/JTECH-D-16-0144.1.
  21. Posselt, D. J., J. Kessler, and G. G. Mace, 2017: Bayesian retrievals of vertically resolved cloud particle size distribution properties. J. Appl. Meteor. Clim., 56, 745-765, doi: 10.1175/JAMC-D-16-0276.1.
  22. Bukowski, J., D. J. Posselt, J. S. Reid, and S. A. Atwood, 2017: Modes of Thermodynamic and Wind Variability over the Maritime Continent. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 4611-4626, doi:10.5194/acp-17-4611-2017.
  23. Naud, C. M., D. J. Posselt, and S. C. van den Heever, 2016: Aerosol Optical Depth Distribution in Extratropical Cyclones over the Northern Hemisphere Oceans. Geophys. Res. Lett., 43, 10,504-10,511, doi:10.1002/2016GL070953.
  24. Crespo, J. A., and D. J. Posselt, 2016: A-Train Based Case Study of Stratiform - Convective Transition within a Warm Conveyor Belt, Mon. Wea. Rev., 144, 2069–2084.
  25. Ruf, C., R. Atlas, P. Chang, M. P. Clarizia, J. Garrison, S. Gleason, S. Katzberg, Z. Jelenak, J. Johnson, S. Majumdar, A. O’Brien, D. J. Posselt, A. Ridley, R. Rose, and V. Zavorotny, 2016: New Ocean Winds Satellite Mission to Probe Hurricanes and Tropical Convection. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 97, 385-395.
  26. Posselt, D. J., 2016: A Bayesian Examination of Deep Convective Squall Line Sensitivity to Changes in Cloud Microphysical Parameters. J. Atmos. Sci., 73, 637–665.
  27. Posselt, D. J., B. Fryxell, A. Molod, and B. Williams, 2016: Quantitative Sensitivity Analysis of Physical Parameterizations for Cases of Deep Convection in the NASA GEOS-5 Model. J. Climate, 29, 455-479.
  28. He, F., and D. J. Posselt, 2015: Impact of Parameterized Physical Processes on Simulated Tropical Cyclone Characteristics in the Community Atmosphere Model. J. Climate, 24, 9857-9872.
  29. Tushaus, S. A., D. J. Posselt, M. M. Miglietta, R. Rotunno, and L. Delle Monache, 2015: Bayesian Exploration of Multivariate Orographic Precipitation Sensitivity for Moist Stable and Neutral Flows. Mon. Wea. Rev., 143, 4459-4475.
  30. Naud, C. M., D. J. Posselt, and S. C. van den Heever, 2015: A CloudSat-CALIPSO View of Cloud and Precipitation Properties Across Cold Fronts Over the Global Oceans. J. Climate, 28, 6743-6762.
  31. Posselt, D. J., X. Li, S. A. Tushaus, and J. R. Mecikalski, 2015: Assimilation of Dual-Polarization Radar Observations in Mixed- and Ice- Phase Regions of Convective Storms: Information Content and Forward Model Errors. Mon. Wea. Rev., 143, 2611-2636.
  32. He, F., D. J. Posselt, C. M. Zarzycki, and C. Jablonowski, 2015: A Balanced Tropical Cyclone Test Case for AGCMs with Background Vertical Wind Shear. Mon. Wea. Rev., 143, 1762–1781.
  33. Posselt, D. J., and G. G. Mace, 2014: MCMC-Based Assessment of the Error Characteristics of a Surface-Based Combined Radar–Passive Microwave Cloud Property Retrieval. J. Appl. Meteor. Clim., 53, 2034-2057.
  34. Tao, W.-K., S. Lang, X. Zeng, X. Li, T. Matsui, K. Mohr, D. J. Posselt, J. Chern, P. N. Norris, I.-S. Kang, I. Choi, and Y.-M. Yang, 2014: The Goddard Cumulus Ensemble (GCE) Model: Improvements and applications for Studying Precipitation Processes. Atmos. Res., 143, 392-424.
  35. Posselt, D. J., D. Hodyss, and C. H. Bishop, 2014: Errors in Ensemble Kalman Smoother Estimates of Cloud Microphysical Parameters, Mon. Wea. Rev., 142, 1631-1654.
  36. van Lier-Walqui, M. A., T. Vukicevic, and D. J. Posselt, 2014: Linearization of microphysical parameterization uncertainty using multiplicative process perturbation parameters, Mon. Wea. Rev., 142, 401-413.
  37. Posselt, D. J., 2013: Markov chain Monte Carlo Methods: Theory and Applications. Data Assimilation for Atmospheric, Oceanic and Hydrologic Applications, 2nd Ed. S. K. Park and L. Xu, Eds., Springer, pp 59–87.
  38. Wright, D. M., D. J. Posselt, and A. L. Steiner, 2013: Sensitivity of Lake-Effect Snowfall to Lake Ice Cover and Temperature in the Great Lakes Region. Mon. Wea. Rev., 141, 670-689.
  39. van Lier-Walqui, M., T. Vukicevic, and D. J. Posselt, 2012: Quantification of Cloud Microphysical Parameterization Uncertainty using Radar Reflectivity, Mon. Wea. Rev., 140, 3442-3466.
  40. Posselt, D. J., A. R. Jongeward, C.-Y. Hsu, and G. L. Potter, 2012: Object-Based Evaluation of MERRA-Simulated Cloud Physical Properties and Radiative Fluxes during the 1998 El Nino - La Nina Transition. J. Climate, 25, 7313-7327.
  41. Naud, C. M., D. J. Posselt, and S. C. van den Heever, 2012: Observational analysis of cloud and precipitation in midlatitude cyclones: northern versus southern hemisphere warm fronts. J. Climate, 25, 5135-5151.
  42. Posselt, D. J., and C. H. Bishop, 2012: Nonlinear parameter estimation: Comparison of an Ensemble Kalman Smoother with a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm. Mon. Wea. Rev., 140, 1957-1974.
  43. Posselt, D. J., S. C. van den Heever, G. L. Stephens, and M. R. Igel, 2012: Changes in the interaction between tropical convection, radiation and the large scale circulation in a warming environment. J. Climate, 35, 557-571.
  44. Posselt, D. J., and T. Vukicevic, 2010: Robust Characterization of Model Physics Uncertainty for Simulations of Deep Moist Convection. Mon. Wea. Rev., 138, 1513–1535.
  45. Posselt, D. J., S. C. van den Heever, and G. L. Stephens, 2008: Trimodal cloudiness and tropical stable layers in simulations of radiative convective equilibrium. Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L08802, doi:10.1029/2007GL033029.
  46. Posselt, D. J., G. L. Stephens, and M. Miller, 2008: CloudSat: Adding a New Dimension to a Classical View of Extratropical Cyclones. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 89, 599-609.
  47. Posselt, D. J., T. S. L’Ecuyer, and G. L. Stephens, 2008: Exploring the Error Characteristics of Thin Ice Cloud Property Retrievals Using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo Algorithm. J. Geophys. Res., 113, D24206, doi:10.1029/2008JD010832.
  48. Vukicevic, T., and D. J. Posselt 2008: Analysis of the Impact of Model Nonlinearities in Inverse Problem Solving. J. Atmos. Sci., 65, 2803-2823.
  49. Posselt, D. J., and J. E. Martin, 2004: The Effect of Latent Heat Release on the Evolution of a Warm Occluded Thermal Structure., Mon. Wea. Rev., 132, 578-599.

Projects

ACCP
AIRS
CloudSat
CYGNSS
JIFRESSE