Mike Pavolonis
Cooperative Research Program
Advanced Satellite Products Branch, in Madison, Wisconsin
Research Scientist
Mike
Pavolonis is a physical scientist at the NOAA/NESDIS Center
for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR). He works within the
Advanced Satellite Products Branch (ASPB), located in Madison, WI.
Mike received his B.S. in Meteorology from the Pennsylvania State
University (2000) and his M.S. in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
from the University of Wisconsin - Madison (2002). Prior to joining
STAR in September of 2005, Mike worked as a researcher in the
Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) at
the University of Wisconsin from May 2002 - August 2005.
Research Interests
Early on, while working at CIMSS,
Mike's research focused on studying
the energy budget in the Antarctic using satellite-derived data sets and
a regional climate model. Since then, Mike's research has primarily
focused on developing new remote sensing techniques for inferring cloud
properties from space. He developed automated multilayered cloud and
thermodynamic phase detection algorithms for both heritage (e.g. AVHRR)
and new sensors (e.g. MODIS,
VIIRS, and
ABI), with an emphasis on
improving satellite-derived climate data sets. In addition, Mike has
worked on developing new techniques to automatically detect volcanic
aerosols from space in an effort to help prevent dangerous aircraft
encounters with volcanic clouds.
With the advent of new, more advanced, hyperspectral sensors such as
the AIRS and the
IASI
and active spaceborne sensors such as the GLAS,
CALIPSO,
and CloudSat, cloud research has benefited greatly. Mike is
currently utilizing the active sensors, which are capable of providing
vertical profiles of extinction through cloud layers, to help validate
products derived from passive sensors. He is also utilizing high-
resolution infrared spectra, such as from the AIRS, both alone and in
concert with high spatial resolution imager data and active sensor data,
to study ice cloud microphysical and dynamic processes on a global
scale.
Mike has also worked on developing remote sensing techniques for
future instruments such as the GOES-R
ABI and VIIRS on
NPOESS.
He is a
member of the GOES-R Algorithm Working Group Cloud and Aviation
Application Teams. He developed the Geostationary Cloud Algorithm
Testbed (GEOCAT) software, which is used for developing, implementing,
and testing GOES-R algorithms. He also developed the Low Earth Orbiting
Cloud Algorithm Testbed (LEOCAT) for developing, implementing, and
testing NPOESS algorithms.
Recent Publications
Pavolonis, Michael J.; Feltz, Wayne F.; Heidinger, Andrew K. and
Gallina, Gregory M. A daytime complement to the reverse absorption
technique for improved automated detection of volcanic ash. Journal of
Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, Volume 23, Issue 11, 2006, pp. 1422-1444.
Pavolonis, Michael J.; Heidinger, Andrew K. and Uttal, Taneil.
Daytime global cloud typing from AVHRR and VIIRS: Algorithm description,
validation, and comparisons. Journal of Applied Meteorology, Volume 44,
Issue 6, 2005, pp. 804-826.
Pavolonis, Michael J.; Key, Jeffrey R. and Cassano, John J.. A study
of the Antarctic surface energy budget using a polar regional
atmospheric model forced with satellite-derived cloud properties.
Monthly Weather Review, Volume 132, Issue 2, 2004, pp. 654-661.
Pavolonis, Michael J. and Heidinger, Andrew K. Daytime cloud overlap
detection from AVHRR and VIIRS. Journal of Applied Meteorology, Volume 43, Issue 5, 2004, pp. 762-778.
A complete publication listing can be found at Schwerdtfeger Library Publications Database
E-mail to: Mike.Pavolonis@noaa.gov
