Roger M. Wakimoto

Roger M. Wakimoto

The future sustainability of our planet places the American Meteorological Society at the center of the grand chal­lenge of our times. As a result, the relevance of the AMS has never been more compelling, with a number of fundamental and interdisciplinary scientific problems that must be addressed. Illustrative examples of topics in­clude the changing climate, pre­diction of and resilience against extreme events, the nexus of food–energy–water systems, the increasing threat of sea-level rise, urbanization and megacities, and understanding and predicting the rapid changes occurring in the Arctic. To tackle this chal­lenge will require the collective expertise of the private, govern­ment, and scientific sectors of the community (including our next-generation workforce—stu­dents). It also requires a Society that is nimble and responsive by providing the up-to-date services (e.g., meetings, publications, and workshops) that meet member­ship needs. The latter can be achieved with AMS leadership, at headquarters and through its Council, being strategic and visionary while soliciting constructive feedback from the community.

Other challenges facing the AMS with possible paths forward include

  • continuing to emphasize the recruitment of underrepresented minorities by increasing outreach, em­phasizing community-based research, and working with other professional and scientific organizations;
  • increasing AMS membership by reaching out to students, early-career professionals, and the international community in order to communicate the importance and relevance of the Society;
  • increasing the scientific profile of the Annual Meeting by highlighting important discoveries/break­throughs within the STAC disciplines and ensuring that the appropriate topical sessions are offered that allow scientists to discuss and debate the most important research questions and hypotheses that our community faces;
  • examining the various outreach mechanisms such as social media, e-mails, and the web pages in order to optimize their effectiveness.

 It is truly an honor to be a candidate for AMS President. Much of what I have achieved to date has been through my involvement with the AMS, including publishing in their journals and attending a wide variety of their meetings and workshops. I can commit to being a tireless advocate for the AMS, listen and be re­sponsive to the needs of all sectors of the Society to the greatest extent possible, and be forward-looking to prepare the AMS for the future challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Wakimoto, Roger M., Assistant Director, Directorate for Geosciences, National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia. Born December 11, 1953, San Jose, California.  B.S., Meteorology, San Jose State University, San Jose, California, 1976; Ph.D., Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 1981.

Professional Experience: Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor, Department of Atmospheric SciencesUCLA, Los Angeles, California,1983-2005; Director, Earth Observing Laboratory, 2005-2010, Director, 2010-2013, NCAR, Boulder, Colorado; Assistant Director, National Science Foundation, Geosciences, Arlington, Virginia, 2013- present. 

Professional Activities: UCAR University Relations Committee, 1986-1988; Chair from 1987-1988; CHILL Radar Advisory Committee, 1991-1995; UCAR Board of Trustees 1993-1996; USWRP Science Advisory Committee,1995-1998; NOAA/NCEP Advisory Panel, 1998-2012; NSF Committee of Visitors, 2001; NRC Board of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, 2003-2006; NOAA’s Data Archiving and Access Requirements Working Group, 2007-2012; External Review Panel for Purdue University, 2009, NSSL, 2009, Howard University, 2012; Executive Committee for NOAA’s Weather Ready Nation Workshop, 2012; Subcommittee on Global Change Research for the USGCRP, 2013-present; White House OSTP Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Sustainability, 2013-present; White House OSTP Arctic Executive Steering Committee, 2015-present.

AMS Activities: Committee on Undergraduate Awards, 1987-1988, Chair, 1987-1988; Committee on Severe Local Storms, 1987-1991, Chair,1988-1991; Councilor, 1997-2000; Associate Editor, Monthly Weather Review, 1999-2004; Committee on Radar Meteorology (2000-2004, Chair 2001-2004); STAC Commissioner, 2006-2010; Awards Oversight Committee, 2006-2010.

Honors and Awards: EPA Science and Technology Achievement Award, 1988; AMS Meisinger Award, 1992; AMS Fellow, 1996; University of Utah Distinguished Lecture (2000); University of Illinois Ogura Lecture, 2002; NCAR Thompson Lecture, 2002; AMS Brooks Award, 2013.

Publications: Fujita, T.T., and R.M. Wakimoto, 1981: Five scales of airflow associated with a series of  downbursts of 16 July 1980. Mon. Wea. Rev., 109, 1438-1456; Fujita, T.T., and R.M. Wakimoto, 1982: Effects of miso- and mesoscale obstructions on PAM winds obtained during Project NIMROD. J. Appl.Meteor., 21, 840-858; Wakimoto, R.M., 1982: The life cycle of thunderstorm gust fronts as viewed with Doppler radar and rawinsonde data. Mon. Wea. Rev.110, 1060-1082; Forbes, G.S., and R.M. Wakimoto, 1983: A concentrated outbreak of tornadoes, downbursts, and microbursts, and implications regarding vortex classification. Mon. Wea. Rev., 111, 220-235; Wakimoto, R.M., 1983: The West Bend, Wisconsin storm of 3-4 April 1981: A problem in operational meteorology. J. Clim. Appl. Meteor., 22, 181-189; Wakimoto, R.M., 1985: Forecasting dry microburst activity over the High Plains. Mon. Wea. Rev., 113, 1131-1143; Wakimoto, R.M., 1986: Clear-air mesocyclone during the JAWS Project. Mon. Wea. Rev., 114, 736-744; Wakimoto, R.M., and J.L. McElroy, 1986: Lidar observations of elevated pollution layers over Los Angeles, J. Clim. Appl. Meteor., 25, 1583-1599; Wakimoto, R.M., 1987: The Catalina Eddy and its effect on pollution over southern California. Mon. Wea. Rev., 115, 837-855; Wakimoto, R.M., and K.R. Durkee, 1987: A case of mesoscale eddies: An oceanic versus continental comma cloud.  Mon. Wea. Rev., 115, 2202-2213; Wakimoto, R.M., and V.N. Bringi, 1988: Dual-polarization observations of microbursts associated with intense convection: The 20 July storm during the MIST Project. Mon. Wea. Rev., 116, 1521-1539; Stirling, J., and R.M. Wakimoto, 1989: Mesoscale vortices in the stratiform region of a decaying midlatitude squall line. Mon. Wea. Rev., 117, 452-458; Wakimoto, R.M., and J.W. Wilson, 1989: Non-supercell tornadoes. Mon. Wea. Rev., 117, 1113-1140; Christian, T.W., and R.M. Wakimoto, 1989: The relationship between radar reflectivities and clouds associated with horizontal convective rolls. Mon. Wea. Rev., 117, 1530-1544; Kingsmill, D.E., and R.M. Wakimoto, 1991: Kinematic, dynamic and thermodynamic analysis of a weakly sheared severe thunderstorm over northern Alabama. Mon. Wea. Rev., 119, 262-297; Atkins, N.T., and R.M. Wakimoto, 1991: Wet microburst activity over the southeastern United States: Implications for forecasting. Weather and Forecasting, 6, 470-482; Wakimoto, R.M., and B.E. Martner, 1992: Observations of a Colorado tornado. Part II: Combined photogrammetric and Doppler radar analysis. Mon. Wea. Rev., 120, 522-543; Wakimoto, R.M., W. Blier and C. Liu, 1992: On the frontal structure of an explosive oceanic cyclone: Airborne radar observations of ERICA IOP #4. Mon. Wea. Rev., 120, 1135-1155; Lee, W.-C., R.E. Carbone and R.M. Wakimoto, 1992: The evolution and structure of a “Bow echo/microburst” event. Part I: The microburst. Mon. Wea. Rev., 120, 2169-2187; Lee, W.-C., R.M. Wakimoto and R.E. Carbone, 1992: The evolution and structure of a “Bow echo/microburst” event. Part II: The bow echo. Mon. Wea. Rev., 120, 2188-2210; Weckwerth, T.M., and R.M. Wakimoto, 1992: The initiation and organization of convective cells atop a cold air outflow boundary. Mon. Wea. Rev., 120, 2169-2187; Wakimoto, R.M., and J.K. Lew, 1993: Observations of a Florida waterspout during CaPE. Weather and Forecasting, 8, 412-423; Paldor, N., C.-H. Liu, M. Ghil, and R.M. Wakimoto, 1994: A new frontal instability: Theory and ERICA observations. J. Atmos. Sci., 22, 3227-3237; Wakimoto, R.M., and N.T. Atkins, 1994: Observations of the sea-breeze front during CaPE. Part I: Single-Doppler, satellite, and cloud photogrammetric analysis.  Mon. Wea. Rev., 122, 1092-1114; Wakimoto, R.M., and P.G. Black, 1994: Damage survey of Hurricane Andrew and its relationship to the eyewall. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 75, 189-200; Wakimoto, R.M., C.J. Kessinger and D.E. Kingsmill, 1994: Kinematic, thermodynamic and visual structure of low-reflectivity microbursts. Mon. Wea. Rev., 122, 72-92; Wilson, J.W., T.M. Weckwerth, J. Vivekanandan, R.M. Wakimoto, and R.W. Russell, 1994: Boundary-layer clear-air radar echoes and accuracy of derived winds.  J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech., 11, 1184-1206; Blier, W., and R.M. Wakimoto, 1995: Observations of the early evolution of an explosive oceanic cyclone during ERICA IOP 5. Part I: Synoptic overview and mesoscale structure. Mon. Wea. Rev., 123, 1288-1310; Wakimoto, R.M., and D.E. Kingsmill, 1995: Structure of an atmospheric undular bore generated from colliding boundaries during CaPE. Mon. Wea. Rev., 123, 1374-1393; Atkins, N.T., R.M. Wakimoto, and T.M. Weckwerth, 1995: Observations of the sea-breeze front during CaPE. Part II: Dual-Doppler and aircraft analysis. Mon. Wea. Rev., 123, 944-969; Wakimoto, R.M., N.T. Atkins, and C. Liu, 1995: Observations of the early evolution of an explosive oceanic cyclone during ERICA IOP 5. Part II: Airborne Doppler analysis of the mesoscale circulation and frontal structure. Mon. Wea. Rev., 123, 1311-1327; Wakimoto, R.M., and N.T. Atkins, 1996: Observations on the origins of rotation: The Newcastle tornado during VORTEX 94. Mon. Wea. Rev, 124, 384-407; Wakimoto, R.M., W.-C. Lee, H.B. Bluestein, C.-H. Liu, and P.H. Hildebrand, 1996: ELDORA observations during VORTEX 95. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 77, 1465-1481; Weckwerth, T.M., J.W. Wilson, and R.M. Wakimoto, 1996: Thermodynamic variability within the convective boundary layer due to horizontal convective rolls. Mon. Wea. Rev., 124, 769-784; Liu, C.-H., R.M. Wakimoto, and F. Roux, 1997: Observations of mesoscale circulations within extratropical cyclones over the North Atlantic Ocean during ERICA. Mon. Wea. Rev., 125, 341-364; Weckwerth, T.M., J.W. Wilson, R.M. Wakimoto, and N.A. Crook, 1997: Horizontal convective rolls: Determining the environmental conditions supporting their existence and characteristics. Mon. Wea. Rev., 125, 505-526; Atkins, N.T., and R.M. Wakimoto, 1997: Influence of the synoptic-scale flow on sea-breezes observed during CaPE. Mon. Wea. Rev., 125, 2112-2130; Atkins, N.T., R.M. Wakimoto, and C.L. Ziegler, 1998: Observations of the fine-scale structure of a dryline during VORTEX 95.  Mon. Wea. Rev., 126, 525-550; Wakimoto, R.M., and C.-H. Liu, 1998: The Garden City, Kansas storm during VORTEX 95. Part II: The wall cloud and tornado. Mon. Wea. Rev., 126, 393-408; Wakimoto, R.M., C.-H. Liu, and H. Cai, 1998: The Garden City, Kansas storm during VORTEX 95. Part I: Overview of the storm's life cycle and mesocyclogenesis. Mon. Wea. Rev., 126, 372-392; Joly, A., K.A. Browning, P. Bessemoulin, J.-P. Cammas, G. Caniaux, J.-P. Chalon, S.A. Clough, R. Dirks, K.A. Emanuel, L. Eymard, R. Gall, T.D. Hewson, P.H. Hildebrand, D. Jorgensen, F. Lalaurette, R.H. Langland, Y. Lemaitre, P. Mascart, J.A. Moore, P.O.G. Perrson, F. Roux, M.A. Shapiro, C. Snyder, Z. Toth, and R.M. Wakimoto, 1999: Overview of the fronts and Atlantic storm-track experiment (FASTEX), Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 125, 3165-3188; Neiman, P.J., and R.M. Wakimoto, 1999: The interaction of a Pacific cold front with shallow air masses east of the Rocky Mountains. Mon. Wea. Rev., 127, 2102-2127; Wakimoto, R.M., and B.L. Bosart, 2000: Airborne radar observations of a cold front during FASTEX. Mon. Wea. Rev. 128, 2447-2470; Wakimoto, R.M., and H. Cai, 2000: Analysis of a non-tornadic storm during VORTEX 95.  Mon. Wea. Rev., 128, 565-592; Bluestein, H.B., B.A. Albrecht, R.M. Hardesty, W.D. Rust, D. Parsons, R. Wakimoto, and R.M. Rauber, 2001: Ground-based mobile instrument workshop, 23-24 February 2000. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 82, 681-694; Wakimoto, R.M., 2001: Convectively Driven High Wind Events. Severe Convective Storms, Meteor. Monogr., 28, no. 50, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 255-298; Cai, H., and R.M. Wakimoto, 2001: Retrieved pressure field and its influence on the propagation of a supercell thunderstorm. Mon. Wea. Rev., 129, 2695-2713; Wakimoto, R.M., and B.L. Bosart, 2001: Airborne radar observations of a warm front during FASTEX.  Mon. Wea. Rev., 129, 254-274; Wilson, J.W., and R.M. Wakimoto, 2001: The discovery of the downburst: T.T. Fujita's contribution. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 82, 49-62; Bosart, B.L., W.-C. Lee, and R.M. Wakimoto, 2002: Procedures to improve the accuracy of airborne Doppler radar data.   J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 19, 322-339; Wakimoto, R.M., 2002: Microbursts. Encyclopedia of Atmos. Sci., J.R. Holton, Ed., Academic Press, San Diego, 1294-1300; Wakimoto, R.M. , and H. Cai, 2002: Airborne Observations of a Front near a Col during FASTEX.  Mon. Wea. Rev., 130, 1898-1912; Bluestein, H.B., and R.M. Wakimoto, 2003: Mobile radar observations of severe convective storms. Radar and Atmospheric Science: A Collection of Essays in Honor of David Atlas, Meteor. Monogr., 30, No. 52, 105-136; Wakimoto, R.M., H. Murphey, D.C. Dowell, and H.B. Bluestein, 2003: The Kellerville tornado during VORTEX: Damage survey and Doppler radar analyses. Mon. Wea. Rev., 131, 2197-2221; Wakimoto, R.M., H. Cai, and H.V. Murphey, 2004: The Superior, Nebraska supercell during BAMEX. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 85, 1095-1106; Wakimoto, R.M., H.V. Murphey, and H. Cai, 2004: The San Angelo Supercell of 31 May 1995: Visual observations and tornadogenesis.  Mon. Wea. Rev., 132, 1269-1293; Wakimoto, R.M. H. Murphey, R. Fovell, and W.-C. Lee, 2004: Mantle echoes associated with deep convection: Observations and numerical simulations. Mon. Wea. Rev., 132, 1701-1720; Smith, P.L., A.P. Barros, V. Chandrasekar, G.S. Forbes, E. Gruntfest, W.F. Krajewski, T.D. Potter, R. Roberts, M. Steiner, and R.M. Wakimoto, 2005: Flash flood forecasting over complex terrain: With an assessment of the Sulphur Mountain NEXRAD in southern California. National Research Council, The National Academies Press, Wash. D.C.., 191 pp. [ISBN No. 0-309-09316-3.]; Wakimoto, R.M., H.V. Murphey, E.V. Browell, and S. Ismail, 2006: The “Triple Point” on 24 May 2002 during IHOP. Part I: Airborne Doppler and LASE Analyses of the Frontal Boundaries and Convection Initiation. Mon. Wea. Rev., 134, 231-250; Murphy, H.V., R.M. Wakimoto, C. Flamant, and D.E. Kingsmill, 2006: Dryline on 19 June 2002 during IHOP. Part I: Airborne Doppler and LEANDRE II analyses of the thin line structure and convection initiation.  Mon. Wea. Rev., 134, 406-430; Wakimoto, R.M., H.V. Murphey, A. Nester, D.P. Jorgensen, and N.T. Atkins, 2006: High winds generated by bow echoes.  Part I: Overview of the Omaha bow echo 5 July 2003 storm during BAMEX.  Mon. Wea Rev., 134, 2793–2812; Wakimoto, R.M., H.V. Murphey, C.A. Davis, and N.T. Atkins., 2006: High winds generated by bow echoes.  Part II: The relationship between the mesovortices and damaging straight-line winds. Mon. Wea. Rev., 134, 2813–2829; Friedrich, K., D.E. Kingsmill, C. Flamant, H.V. Murphey, and R.M. Wakimoto, 2008: Kinematic and moisture characteristics of a nonprecipitating cold front observed during IHOP. Part I: Across-front structures. Mon. Wea. Rev., 136, 147-172; Wakimoto, R.M., and Hanne V. Murphey, 2008: Airborne Doppler Radar and Sounding Analysis of an Oceanic Cold Front. Mon. Wea. Rev., 136, 1475-1491; Friedrich, K., D.E. Kingsmill, C. Flamant, H.V. Murphey, and R.M. Wakimoto, 2008: Kinematic and moisture characteristics of a nonprecipitating cold front observed during IHOP. Part II: Along-front structure. Mon. Wea. Rev., 136, 3796-3821; Wakimoto, R.M., and H.V. Murphey, 2009: Analysis of a dryline during IHOP: Implications for convection initiation. Mon.Wea. Rev., 137, 912-936; Wakimoto, R.M., and H.V. Murphey, 2010: Frontal and radar refractivity analyses of the dryline on 11 June 2002 during IHOP. Mon. Wea. Rev., 138, 228-241; Wakimoto, R.M., and H.V. Murphey, 2010: Analysis of convergence boundaries during IHOP. Mon. Wea. Rev., 138, 2737-2760; Wakimoto, R.M., N.T. Atkins, and J. Wurman, 2011: The LaGrange tornado during VORTEX2. Part I: Photogrammetric analysis of the tornado combined with single-Doppler radar data. Mon. Wea. Rev., 139, 2233-2258; Atkins, N.T., A. McGee, R. Ducharme, R. Wakimoto, and J. Wurman, 2012: The LaGrange tornado during VORTEX 2.  Part II: Photogrammetric analysis of the tornado combined with dual-Doppler radar data. Mon. Wea. Rev., 140, 2939-2958; Wakimoto, R.M., P. Stauffer, W.-C. Lee, N.T. Atkins, and J. Wurman, 2012: Finescale structure of the LaGrange, Wyoming tornado during VORTEX2: GBVTD and photogrammetric analyses. Mon. Wea. Rev., 140, 3397-3418; Tanamachi, R.L., H.B. Bluestein, M. Xue, W.-C. Lee, K.A. Orzel, S.J. Frasier, R.M. Wakimoto,  2013: Near-surface vortex structure in a tornado and in a tornado-like vortex observed by a mobile, W-band radar during VORTEX2. Mon. Wea. Rev., 141, 3661-3690; Atkins, N.A., K. Butler, K. Flynn, and R.M. Wakimoto, 2014: Damage analysis of the 2013 Moore Oklahoma tornado.  Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 95, 1549-1561; Wakimoto, R.M., P. Stauffer, and W.-C. Lee, 2015: The vertical vorticity structure within a squall line observed during BAMEX: Banded vorticity features and the evolution of a bowing segment.  Mon. Wea. Rev., 143, 341-362; Wakimoto, R.M., N.T. Atkins, K.M. Butler, H.B. Bluestein, K. Thiem, J. Snyder, and J. Houser, 2015: Photogrammetric analysis of the 2013 El Reno tornado combined with mobile X-band polarimetric radar data. Mon. Wea. Rev., 143, 2657-2683; Wakimoto, R.M., N.T. Atkins, K.M. Butler, H.B. Bluestein, K. Thiem, J.C. Snyder, J. Houser, K. Kosiba, and J. Wurman, 2016: Aerial damage survey of the 2013 El Reno tornado combined with mobile radar data. Mon. Wea. Rev., 144, 1749-1776.