UNC Charlotte

Dept. of Geography and Earth Sciences

Dr. Matthew D. Eastin

Assistant Professor of Meteorology

Current Projects:

Tropical Cyclone Intensity and Structure:

Current research efforts are directed toward better understanding the various mechanisms that control the timing, location, and intensity of convection in the tropical cyclone core.  Our primary approach is through extensive analysis of a wide variety of aircraft-based observations (e.g. Doppler radar, GPS dropwindsondes, and traditional flight-level data).  The observational results will then be compared to any theoretical expectations or previous numerical simulations of tropical cyclones.

This research is funded through a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF ATM-0652264) in collaboration with Dr. Paul Reasor at Florida State University, Dr. David Nolan at the University of Miami, and Dr. Frank Marks at the NOAA Hurricane Research Division.

Results:

• Reasor, P. D., M. D. Eastin, and J. F. Gamache, 2009:  Rapidly intensifying Hurricane Guillermo (1997).  Part I: Low wavenumber structure and evolution. Monthly Weather Review, 603-631.
  Download PDF File

• Eastin M. D., P. D. Reasor, D. S. Nolan, F. D. Marks Jr., and J. F. Gamache, 2006: Evolution of low-wavenumber vorticity during rapid intensification: A dual-Doppler analysis.  Preprints, 27^th Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, Monterey, CA, American Meteorological Society
  Download PDF File

• Eastin M. D., P. D. Reasor, F. D. Marks Jr., and J. F. Gamache, 2005: A dual-Doppler analysis of Hurricane Guillermo (1997): Interactions between the eye and eyewall during rapid intensification.  Preprints, 32^nd Conference on Radar Meteorology, Albuquerque, NM, American Meteorological Society
  Download PDF File

• Eastin M. D., P. D. Reasor, J. F. Gamache, F. D. Marks Jr., and M. L. Black, 2004: Observed evolution of eyewall convection and low-wavenumber flow in Hurricane Guillermo (1997). Preprints 26^th Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, Miami, FL, American Meteorological Society, 445-446.
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Tornado Formation in the Outer Rainbands of Landfalling Tropical Cyclones:

Current research efforts are also directed toward better understanding the various mechanisms and conducive environments that lead to tornado formation in the rainbands of landfalling tropical cyclones.  Our primary approach is through extensive analysis of aircraft and land-based observations (e.g. Doppler radar, GPS dropwindsondes, rawindsondes, and traditional flight-level data).

Results:

• Eastin, M. D., and M. C. Link, 2009:  Mini-supercells in an offshore outer rainband of Hurricane Ivan (2004). Monthly Weather Review, 137, 2081-2014.
  Download PDF File

• Baker, A. K., M. D. Parker, and M. D. Eastin, 2009:  Environmental ingredients for supercells and tornadoes within Hurricane Ivan. Weather and Forecasting, 24, 223-244.
  Download PDF File

• Eastin M. D., and M. C. Link, 2008: Mini-supercells observed in an offshore outer rainband of Hurricane Ivan (2004). Preprints, 28^th Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, Orlando, FL, American Meteorological Society
  Download PDF File

• Eastin M. D., M. C. Link, H. B. Anderson, 2007: Analysis of offshore deep convection within landfalling hurricanes just prior to tornadogenesis. Preprints, 7^th Conference on Coastal Processes, San Diego, CA, American Meteorological Society
  Download PDF File

Surface Observations in Outer Rainbands of Tropical Cyclones:

Current research efforts are also directed toward better understanding of the frequency and magnitude convective downdrafts and outflow boundaries associated with tropical cyclone rainbands.  Such events may promote the baroclinic enhancement of miniature supercells and the tornadoes they often spawn during a landfalling tropical cyclone.  Our primary approach is through extensive analysis of coastal surface and radar observations. This project is in its preliminary stages.

This research is primarily funded through a grant from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) with additional support from the Renaissance Computing Institute (RENCI) and the communities of Brunswick County, North Carolina.

 

Current Research Opportunities:

Undergraduate Students

Graduate Students

 

The Tropical Cyclone and Severe Weather Research Group:

• Dr. Matthew Eastin (faculty advisor)

• Kelly Smith (graduate research assistant and M.S. candidate)

• Chris Link (graduate research assistant and M.S. candidate)

• Betsy Grim (soon to be graduate research assistant and M.S. candidate)

• Brian Hays (soon to be graduate research assistant and M.S. candidate)

• Kenny Griffin (undergraduate student)

• Tiffany Gardner (undergraduate student)

• Jennifer Edwards (undergraduate student)

 

Group Alumni:

Thomas Hinson (B.S. 2009) - currently an M.S. candidate at Penn State University

Robbie Manion (B.S. 2009) - currently an M.S. candidate at Penn State University

Heather Anderson (B.S. 2008) - currently at the National Climate Data Center (NCDC), Asheville, NC

Garon Odom (B.S. 2008) - currently an M.S. candidate at UNC Charlotte

 

Links:

Data and Software Help Page for Students

Data Page

 

Last Updated:  Wednesday, July 29, 2009