5,293 research outputs found
Poet and author Jack Ridl reads his selected works at the Michigan Writers Series
No full textPoet and author Jack Ridl reads his selected poems. The event is convened by Peter Berg, head of Michigan State University Libraries' Special Collections. Part of the MSU Libraries' Michigan Writers Series. Held at the Main Library
Estimating vertical profiles of ice water content and snowfall rate from radar measurements in the G-band
No full textWe present theory and simulations to show that at
frequencies of order 200 GHz (G-band) the radar cross sec-
tion (σr) of ice particles larger than ∼ a quarter wavelength
(0.375 mm) is nearly directly proportional to their mass (m).
Hence measurements of radar reflectivity (Z) at this fre-
quency are directly proportional to the ice water content
(IWC), with no other assumptions about the shape or breadth
of the particle size distribution required. For the same rea-
son, vertically pointing Doppler velocities at this frequency
provide the mass-weighted mean vertical velocity of the par-
ticles, and the product of Z with the mean Doppler velocity
(MDV) is proportional to the snowfall rate (S). This presents
the opportunity for straightforward and accurate retrievals of
ice microphysics.
We explore the sensitivity of such retrievals to the scat-
tering model for ice particles. We find that all seven mod-
els examined, four with random orientation and three with
horizontal orientation, have σr ∝ m in this regime, but that
the coefficient of proportionality varies between models. The
dominant factor controlling this coefficient is the mass-size
relationship for the ice particles, and specifically the mass
of a wavelength-sized ice particle. If this information is
known, or can be assumed, then the ice population param-
eters above can be retrieved with high accuracy. For mass-
weighted mean diameters Dm > 0.5 mm the variation in the
IWC–Z relationship is within ≈ 30 %, and the variation in
the S–(Z × MDV) relationship is within ≈ 15 %.
The method is applied to retrieve IWC and S during two
case studies, with measurements from the GRaCE 200 GHz
Doppler radar at Chilbolton Observatory in the UK. In the
first of these case studies, retrieved snowfall rates from par-
ticles falling aloft in a precipitating ice cloud were com-
pared to gauge data at the surface. In the second case study,
retrieved ice water contents from a deep non-precipitating
stratiform ice cloud were compared to measurements made
using an evaporative water content probe on board the Facil-
ity for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM) BAe-
146 instrumented research aircraft. In both cases a statisti-
cal comparison was necessary because of imperfect coloca-
tion of the radar measurements and in-situ/gauge sampling.
The measurements fall within the distributions of the re-
trieved water content and snowfall fields, and follow consis-
tent trends with time (Case 1) and height (Case 2), providing
evidence that this method produces realistic retrievals.
Application of the same technique at even higher radar fre-
quencies would allow clouds with smaller particles (e.g. in
high altitude cirrus clouds) to be characterised. Because of
the increased gaseous attenuation at such frequencies, the latter may be more practical from airborne or spaceborne platforms
Author and bioregionalist Stephanie Mills reads her selected works at the Michigan Writers Series
No full textAuthor and ecologist Stephanie Mills reads from her first book "Whatever happened to ecology?" and from "Tough little beauties," then answers questions from the audience. The event is convened by Peter Berg, head of Michigan State University Libraries' Special Collections. Part of the Michigan State University Libraries' Michigan Writers Series. Held in the Main Library
Author Jeff Vande Zande reads his selected works at the Michigan Writers Series
No full textAuthor Jeff Vande Zande reads selections from both his poetry and fiction, including "Transient" and "Threatened species", and answers questions from the audience. The event is convened by Peter Berg, head of Michigan State University Libraries' Special Collections. Part of the MSU Libraries' Michigan Writers Series. Held in the MSU Main Library
Short story author Sylvia Watanabe reads her selected works at the Michigan Writers Series
No full textShort story author Sylvia Watanabe reads from her memoir "Knowing Your Place" then answers questions from audience. The event is convened by Director of Special Collections Peter Berg. Part of the Michigan State University Libraries' Michigan Writers Series. Held in the Main Library
Michigan author Liesel Litzenburger reads from her novel in progress at the Michigna Writers Series
No full textMichigan author Liesel Litzenburger reads from her novel in progress which is set in Morthern Michigan like her collection of short stories entitled "Now you love me," published in 2001. The event is convened by Peter Berg, head of the Michigan State University Libraries' Special Collections. Part of the MSU Libraries' Michigan Writers Series. Held in the MSU Main Library
Author Gary Gildner reads his selected works at the Michigan Writers Series
No full textAuthor Gary Gildner reads "Sleepy time gal," "Pavol Hudak, the poet, is talking," and "Genealogy" then answers questions from the audience. The event is convened by Peter Berg, head of the Michigan State University Libraries' Special Collections. Part of the MSU Libraries' Michigan Writers Series. Held at the MSU Main Library
Author Paul Clemens reads from his book "Made in Detroit" at the Michigan Writers Series
No full textAuthor Paul Clemens reads from his book "Made in Detroit" and answers questions from the audience. The event is convened by Peter Berg, head of the Michigan State University Libraries' Special Collections. Part of the MSU Libraries' Michigan Writers Series. Held in the MSU Main Library
Peter Berg interviews prose and poetry writer Kathleen McGookey
No full textAuthor Kathleen McGookey talks about developing her motivation to write during college and getting published for the first time. She also talks about the work required to assemble a number of pieces for publication, her relationship with editor Robert Alexander, balancing writing with being a parent, working on a children's book, the difference between simple prose and a prose poem, and the subtle influence of Michigan on her writing. She is interviewed by Michigan State University Librarian Peter Berg for the Michigan State University Libraries' Michigan Writers Series
Professor and award winning author Ilana Blumberg reads from her memoir in the Michigan Wrtiers Series
No full textProfessor and award winning author Ilana Blumberg reads from her memoir, "House of study : a Jewish woman among books". She describes the book as detailing two educations, one in the Jewish religious and cultural studies, and another in modern secular America. Her readings tell of her memories of libraries and her time studying in Israel, a new opportunity for women at the time. Blumberg also talks about studying ancient Jewish texts and compares that with her education at Columbia University and her specialty in 19th century Victorian literature. A question and answer end the session follows. Blumberg is introduced by MSU Librarian Peter Berg for the Michigan State University Libraries' Michigan Writers Series
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