Severe Thunderstorms
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Dr. Leigh Orf's research interests include the structure and evolution of severe thunderstorms. His approach primarily involves the use of computer models to simulate the storms using sophisticated computer models running on some of the world's most powerful supercomputers. Recent areas of specific interest include the behavior of Descending Reflectivity Cores (DRCs) in supercell thunderstorms; the environmental factors contributing towards long-lived, near-ground mesocyclones (rotating updrafts) in supercells; and the structure and evolution of microbursts, severe downdrafts which are sometimes produced by ordinary thunderstorms. |
Tornadogenesis
One of Orf's ultimate research goals is to better understand the specific factors which contribute towards tornadogenesis, the formation of tornadoes in supercell thunderstorms. This work is being conducted in collaboration with scientists at the University of Oklahoma and the National Center for Atmospheric Research.
Microbursts
Orf's modeling work on microbursts is being conducted in collaboration with engineers at the University of Western Ontario who are using his model data to better understand the near-ground wind flow created by microbursts in order to lead to better designs of structures and transmission lines that can withstand these types of winds.
3-D Visualization
Orf is also interested in the ways visualization can be used to better interpret the model data that is produced by these large simulations. A page dedicated to some of these images and animations can be viewed on his research web site.
HDFtools
In order to accomodate the large amount of model data produced by numerical models running on massively parallel supercomputers, Orf has developed HDFtools, a collection of freely available software. This code, which is being actively developed, allows researchers to read from thousands of separate data files (each file produced by one member of a supercomputer cluster) as if they were all one large file, greatly simplifying post-processing of model data. The code also contains converters which allow users to create single netCDF and Vis5D files.
Undergraduate Research Projects
Orf typically works with one or two undergraduates who are conducting independent study projects. Recent undergraduate projects include:
- Effects of varying hail intercept parameters in a simulated supercell thunderstorm;
- Estimation of lake effect snowfall using radar reflectivity data;
- and Severe Weather Null Cases in Southeastern Michigan
