Email: jvigh@ucar.edu
Phone: 303-497-8205

Professional Interests

Jonathan Vigh's main research interests include hurricanes and tropical meteorology. Recently, he has studied the problem of eye formation in hurricanes and other geophysical vortices to learn how the eye/eyewall structure impacts the subsequent intensification of the storm. He is working on several new aircraft-based data sets to further investigate structure and intensity changes in tropical cyclones, with a particular focus on the radius of maximum winds (RMW). His current work focuses on the role of contraction of the RMW in subsequent intensification of the vortex, and also seeks to understand what sets the maximum possible intensification rate of a tropical cyclone.

Current Resarch Topics

Formation of the Hurricane Eye

Controls on the Radius of Maximum Winds (RMW)

Relationship between Intensification and Contraction During the Primary Intensification Phase

Past Research Topics

Kilo-Ensemble Track Forecasting of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones

Recent Publications

To search my complete list of publications, please see The NESL Publications Search.

Peer-Reviewed Papers

Musgrave, K. D., R. K. Taft, J. L. Vigh, B. D. McNoldy, and W. H. Schubert, 2011: Time evolution of the intensity and size of tropical cyclones. J. Adv. Model. Earth Syst., submitted.
Vigh, J. L., J. A. Knaff, and W. H. Schubert, 2011a: A climatology of hurricane eye formation. Mon. Wea. Rev., accepted pending minor revisions.
Vigh, J. L. and W. H. Schubert, 2009: Rapid development of the tropical cyclone warm core. J. Atmos. Sci., 66, 3335-3350, doi:10.1175/2009JAS3092.1.* (pdf file)
Schubert,W. H., C.M. Rozoff, J. L. Vigh, B. D. McNoldy, and J. P. Kossin, 2007: On the distribution of subsidence
in the hurricane eye. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 133, 595-605, doi:10.1002/qj.49. (pdf file)
Vigh, J., S. R. Fulton, M. DeMaria, and W. H. Schubert, 2003: Evaluation of a multigrid barotropic tropical cyclone
track model. Mon. Wea. Rev., 131, 1629-1636.* (pdf file)

Work in progress

Vigh, J. L., J. A. Knaff, and W. H. Schubert, 2011b: Observations of hurricane eye formation: Intensity changes and the role of the environment. Mon. Wea. Rev., in preparation.
Vigh, J. L., J. A. Knaff, and W. H. Schubert, 2011c: Observations of hurricane eye formation: Dynamic and thermodynamic structure. Mon. Wea. Rev., in preparation.
Vigh, J. L.,W. H. Schubert, and G. Holland, 2011: A review of eye formation in tropical cyclones and other geophysical vortices. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., in preparation.

* Please note that the AMS Copyright Notice applies to the articles that have been published in any of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) publication. Permission to place a copy of these works on this server has been provided by the American Meteorological Society. The AMS does not guarantee that the copy provided here is an accurate copy of the published work.

Conference Papers, Posters, and Presentations

Holland, G. J. and J. L. Vigh, 2011: Targeting as a mode of science communication: principles, issues,and a practical example. Poster, AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA, Amer. Geophys. Union., Abstract ED33B-0786. [Poster presented by Greg Holland 07 Dec 2011]
Vigh, J. L., 2010: Structure and intensity changes during hurricane eye formation. Extended Abstract (pdf file), 29th Conf. on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, Tucson, AZ, Amer. Meteor. Soc., Paper 8B.1. [Recorded presentation given 12 May 2010]
Vigh, J. L. and W. H. Schubert, 2008: The role of inertial stability in the rapid development of the tropical cyclone warm core. Extended Abstract (pdf file), 28th Conf. on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, Orlando, FL, Amer. Meteor. Soc., Paper 17C.1. [Recorded presentation given 2 May 2008]
Vigh, J., 2006: Formation of the hurricane eye. Extended Abstract (pdf file), 27th Conf. on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, Monterey, CA, Amer. Meteor. Soc., Paper 1B.6. [Recorded presentation given 24 Apr 2006]
Vigh, J., 2004: Evaluation of a kilo-member ensemble for track forecasting. Preprints (pdf file), 26th Conf. on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, Miami, FL, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 160-161. [Recorded presentation given 5 May 2004]
Vigh, J., 2002: Track forecasting of 2001 Atlantic tropical cyclones using a kilo-member ensemble. Preprints (pdf file), 25th Conf. on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, San Diego, CA, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 212-213. [ppt file for presentation given 30 Apr 2002]

Seminars

22 Jun 2011: Hurricane eye formation: observations of structure and intensity change. Meteorologisches Institut, Universität Hamburg, Germany. [ppt file]
29 Jan 2010: Formation of the hurricane eye. Doctoral Defense, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. [ppt file]
16 Apr 2004: Forecasting of Atlantic tropical cyclones using a kilo-member ensemble. Masters Defense, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. [ppt file]

Other Non-Peer Reviewed Works

Thesis and Dissertation
- Vigh, J. L., 2010a: Formation of the hurricane eye. Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523, 538 pp. [Available in the official graduate school format (best for printing) or a single-spaced format with hyperlinks (best for viewing onscreen)].
- Vigh, J. L., 2004: Forecasting of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Using a Kilo-Member Ensemble. M.S. thesis (pdf file), Dept. of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, 174 pp.
Workshop Proceedings
- Elizabeth A. Ritchie, Mai Nguyen, Peter Otto, Greg Tripoli, Jonathan Vigh, 2010: Inner core impacts. Subtopic 1.2. Tropical Cyclone Structure and Intensity Change. Report for the Seventh International Workshop on Tropical Cyclones (pdf file), World Meteorological Organization, La Réunion, France.
Non-peer reviewed journal contributions (e.g. solicited pieces, meeting summaries, or essays):
- Vigh, J., 2006: Hurricane eye formation remains unexplained. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 87, 1314-1315 (solicited piece for meeting summary).
SOARS Summer Research Reports
- Vigh. J., 2000. A fuzzy logic system for predicting hurricane intensity in the eastern North Pacific. Unpublished manuscript (pdf file). Science reseach mentor: Kevin Petty.
- Vigh, J., 1999. Diagnosing sources of error in the cloud parameterizations of the NCAR Climate Community Model. Unpublished manuscript (pdf file - doesn't include figures). Science research mentor: Joel Norris.
Class papers and presentations
- Vigh, J., 2005: Downslope windstorms and rotors: Class presentation (pdf file) for Atmospheric Waves and vortices (AT 707, Dr. Michael Montgomery), Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University.
- Vigh, J., 2003: Costs of greenhouse gas mitigation: A Brief Overview. Class presentation (ppt file) for Global Carbon Cycle (AT 760, Dr. Scott Dennig), Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University.
- Vigh, J., 2001: Mechanisms by which the atmosphere adjusts to an extremely large explosive event. Class paper (pdf file) for Mesoscale Meteorology (AT 735, Dr. Richard Johnson), Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University.
NCAR Fellows Newsletter, Feature Articles
- April 2011: "SOARS and ASP: Coming Full Circle" (pdf file)
- January 2011: "Predicting tropical cyclones: Meeting summary of the Seventh International Workshop on Tropical Cyclones (IWTC-VII), La Réunion, France, 2010" (pdf file)

Jonathan Vigh UCAR | NCAR | NESL | MMM