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Jerry M. Straka

Associate Professor
School of Meteorology
University of Oklahoma

Education

Ph.D. in Meteorology, May 1989
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Dissertation title: "Hail Growth in a Highly Glaciated Central High Plains Multi-cellular Hailstorm"
Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Pao Wang

M.S. in Geophysical Sciences, August 1986
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Thesis title: "A Mesoscale Numerical Study of Environmental Conditions Preceding the 08 June 1984
Tornado Outbreak over South Central Wisconsin"
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Robert Ballentine

B.S. in Geophysical Sciences, December 1984
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Professional Experience

Aug. 1996 - Present, Associate Professor, School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma
Aug. 1990 - 1996, Assistant Professor, School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma
Jan. 1989 - Aug. 1990, Research Associate-Post Doctorate position, Space Science and Engineering Center,
University of Wisconsin, Madison (with Dr. John R. Anderson)
Sept.1984 - Jan. 1989 Research and teaching assistant in the University of Wisconsin system

Awards

1986 - Schwerdtfeger Award: Best academic record during first year of graduate studies at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison (based on course load, difficulty, and GPA)

Research Activities

Tornadogenesis

Supercell dynamics

Theory and parameterization of cloud and precipiation processes

Intepretation of Polarimetric radar data

Observational and numerical modeling of thunderstorms
          microphysics
            hail
            lightning processes

Numerical Techniques for Fluid Flow

Dynamics and numerical modeling of mammatus clouds

Some tornadogenesis results:

Vortex-line arching with a downdraft next to an updraft

Schematic of Walko’s (1993) hypothesis and two versions
of the arching hypothesis. The letters “A” (“C”) denote
cyclonic (anticyclonic), solid lines are vortex lines, and
t1, t2, and t3 are increasing relative time increments.
From Straka, Rasmussen, Davies-Jones and Markowski
(EJSSM, 2007)

Field observing instruments

Mobile Mesonet Instruments

Straka, J. M., E. N. Rasmussen and S. E. Fredrickson, 1996: A mobile mesonet for fine-scale meteorological observations. J. Atmos. Oceanic Tech., 13, 921-936.

Teaching

• Students

    • Student Committees

    • Full List of Peer-Reviewed Publications

     • Full List of Non Peer-Reviewed Publications

    • Recent List of Collaborators:

Katharine M. Kanak
Erik Rasmussen
Matthew Gilmor e
Robert Davies-Jones
Ted Mansell
Bob Wilhelmson
Mike Biggerstaff
Lou Wicker
Ming Xue
Dusan Zrnic
Aaron Kennedy
Paul Markowski
Brian Argrow
Eric Frew