The Observing Facilities Assessment Panel (OFAP) acts as an independent advisory body to NCAR and the other LAOF Partner Organizations. Composed of a diverse pool of scientists with broad-based experience in observational studies of Earth system sciences, the role of the Panel is to
Conduct reviews of field project plans and experiment designs requesting NSF Lower Atmosphere Observing Facilities early in the project cycle and
Provide objective input and recommendations on issues associated with operational and technical challenges linked to facility support requirements.
The overall goal of the OFAP process is to optimize support of NSF-sponsored observational science to assure that the scientific objectives of each campaign can be accomplished successfully.
In this role, the Panel provides valuable feedback and evaluation concerning experiment design, the appropriate and efficient use of NSF resources as related to a specific field campaign, technical and operational challenges as well as data management strategies. These recommendations will be provided to the relevant Facility Managers and shared with the requesting principal investigators as well as the responsible NSF Program Officers. The comments and technical evaluation presented by the OFAP, together with feasibility analyses and cost estimates provided by Facility Managers, are taken into consideration before a final decision is made by individual NSF Program Officers whether or not to fund a project.
The Panel meets bi-annually in the spring and fall of each year at NCAR. It is EOL's responsibility to coordinate all aspects related to requesting LAOF among principal investigators, facility providers, panel members, and NSF, including the preparation of feasibilities and cost estimates for NSF-funded field campaigns.
Current OFAP Members
Panel Member Name and Affiliation
Research Area and Expertise
Term
Dr. Michael Bell (Co-Chair)
Colorado State University
Department of Atmospheric Sciences
radar meteorology
tropical cyclones
atmospheric radiation
through Spring 2020
Dr. Katja Friedrich (Co-Chair)
University of Colorado
Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
kinematic and microphysical processes
convective initiation
orographic precipitation
Fall 2017 through
Spring 2020
Dr. Phil Chilson
University of Oklahoma
weather radar
remote sensing
boundary layer observations
unmanned aerial systems
Fall 2017 through
Spring 2020
Dr. Ronald Cohen
University of California, Berkeley
Department of Chemistry
atmospheric chemistry
water isotopes
hydrological cycle
Fall 2018 through
Spring 2021
Dr. Daniel Cziczo
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences
aerosols and clouds
chemical composition
Spring 2018 through
Fall 2020
Dr. Gijs de Boer
University of Colorado
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences
arctic clouds and climate
aerosol-cloud interactions
UAVs
remote sensing
Fall 2018 through
Spring 2021
Dr. Wiebke Deierling
University of Colorado, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department
and NCAR/RAL
atmospheric electricity & lightning meteorology
aviation meteorology
radar remote sensing
cloud physics
Fall 2019 through
Fall 2021
Dr. David Delene
University of North Dakota
Atmospheric Sciences Department
cloud microphysics
atmospheric aerosols
climate change
Spring 2018 through
Fall 2020
Dr. Stephan de Wekker
University of Virginia
atmospheric boundary layer
micrometeorology
complex terrain
Spring 2017 through
Fall 2019
Dr. James Doyle
Naval Research Lab
mesoscale predictability
mountain meteorology
Spring 2018 through
Fall 2020
Dr. Jose Fuentes
Penn State University
atmospheric chemistry
boundary layer and turbulence
earth - atmosphere interactions
Spring 2018 through
Fall 2020
Dr. Alex Guenther
University of California, Irvine
atmospheric and terrestrial ecosystems
air quality
climate modeling
biogenic emissions
Spring 2018 through
Fall 2020
Dr. William Shaw
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Atmospheric Sciences & Global Change Division
atmospheric boundary layer in complex terrain
turbulence
mesoscale atmospheric flux
Spring 2018 through
Fall 2020
Dr. Joel Thornton
University of Washington
atmospheric chemistry
organic aerosols
Spring 2018 through
Fall 2020
Dr. Ryan Torn
University at Albany, State University of New York
Department of Atmospheric and Environment Sciences
predictability
synoptic and mesoscale meteorology
Spring 2019 through
Fall 2022
Dr. Paquita Zuidema
University of Miami
Department of Atmospheric Sciences
