Journal of Remote Sensing & GIS

Robert Cifelli

Biography

Dr. Cifelli is a radar meteorologist with over 20 years experience in precipitation research. He received his B.A. in Geology from the University of Colorado, M.S. in Hydrogeology from West Virginia University, and a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from Colorado State University. Before coming to NOAA in 2009, his career included a Visiting Scientist Fellowship at the University of Colorado Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, Research Faculty position at the Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology-National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and a Senior Research Faculty position at Colorado State University. Prior to his work at NOAA, Dr. Cifelli designed and participated in field campaigns around the world and conducted research to improve understanding of precipitation and kinematic processes in mesoscale convective systems. Since 2009 he has led a group of NOAA scientists dedicated to improving precipitation and hydrologic observations and forecasts in complex terrain regions. He is currently lead of the Hydrometeorology Modeling and Applications Team within the Physical Sciences Division at NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory. He co-leads NOAA'™s Hydrometeorology Testbed (HMT) and is also responsible for the planning, coordination, and execution of HMT field and research to operations (R2O) activities. He also co-chairs the NOAA Steering Group on Precipitation Measurement from Space and a member of the interagency Climate Change and Water Working Group. Dr. Cifelli has over 40 publications in reviewed literature.

Research Interest

Radar Meteorology, Hydrology, Precipitation, Advanced microwave scanning radiometer; Soil moisture; Downscaling; exponential rainfall adjustment technique; Geographic information system.