Stephen Saleeby

stephen.saleeby@colostate.edu


Biosketch

I am currently a Senior Research Associate, and have been in this department since July 2000. My primary interests in atmospheric science relate to numerical modeling of cloud microphysical processes, with particular emphasis on how aerosols affect precipitation production in various types of cloud systems ranging from supercells to winter orographic clouds to stratocumulus. I have been involved in a lot of development and refinement of the RAMS mesoscale model. Aside from work, I am involved in my church, I do a lot of running and racing (from the 400 meters up to the marathon), and I love to hike, camp, bike, and play most sports.

Education

B.S. in Physics - 1997 - College of Charleston
M.S. in Atmospheric Science - 2000 - North Carolina State University

Outreach

Science Olympiad Meteorology Coach - Kinard Middle School, Fort Collins (2017-2018)

Publications

Saleeby, S. M., S. C. van den Heever, P. J. Marinescu, M. Oue, A. I. Barrett, C. Barthlott, R. Cherian, J. Fan, A. M. Fridlind, M. Heikenfeld, C. Hoose, T. Matsui, A. K. Miltenberger, J. Quaas, J. Shpund, P. Stier, B. Vie, B. A. White, Y. Zhang, 2024: Model intercomparison of the impacts of varying cloud droplet nucleating aerosols on the lifecycle and microphysics of deep convection. (In review)

Stier, P., S. C. van den Heever, M. W. Christensen, E. Gryspeerdt, G. Dagan, S. M. Saleeby, M. Bollasina, L. Donner, K. Emanuel, A. M. L. Ekman, G. Feingold, P. Field, P. Forster, J. Haywood, R. Kahn, I. Koren, C. Kummerow, T. L’Ecuyer, U. Lohmann, Y. Ming, G. Myhre, J. Quaas, D. Rosenfeld, B. Samset, A. Seifert, G. Stephens, and W.-K. Tao, 2024: Multifaceted aerosol effects on precipitation. (In review)

Patnaude, R. J., K. A. Moore, R. J. Perkins, T. C. J. Hill, A. Bailey, P. Lawson, Q. Mo, S. C. van den Heever, S. M. Saleeby, Q. Bian, J. C. Chiu, P. J. DeMott, and S. M. Kreidenweis, 2024: On the role of airborne ice nucleating particles in primary and secondary ice formation processes in convective midlatitude clouds. (In review)

Ascher, B., S. M. Saleeby, P. J. Marinescu, and S. C. van den Heever, 2024: Forest breezes along vegetation boundaries initiate convective storms. (In review)

Ascher, B., S. M. Saleeby, P. J. Marinescu, and S. C. van den Heever, 2024: Lake Huron enhances snowfall downwind of Lake Erie: A modeling study of the 2010 New Year’s lake effect snowfall event. (In review)

Sokolowsky, G. A., S. W. Freeman, W. K. Jones, J. Kukulies, F. Senf, P. J. Marinescu, M. Heikenfeld, K. N. Brunner, E. C. Bruning, S. M. Collis, R. C. Jackson, G. R. Leung, N. Pfeifer, B. A. Raut, S. M. Saleeby, P. Stier, and S. C. van den Heever, 2023: tobac v1.5: Introducing Fast 3D Tracking, Splits and Mergers, and Other Enhancements for Identifying and Analysing Meteorological Phenomena. EGUsphere [preprint], https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1722.

Leung, G. R., S. M. Saleeby, G. A. Sokolowsky, S. W. Freeman, and S. C. van den Heever, 2023: Aerosol–cloud impacts on aerosol detrainment and rainout in shallow maritime tropical clouds. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 5263–5278, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-5263-2023.

Schulte, R. M., C. D. Kummerow, S. M. Saleeby, and G. G. Mace, 2023: How Accurately Can Warm Rain Realistically Be Retrieved with Satellite Sensors? Part II: Horizontal and Vertical Heterogeneities. J. Appl. Meteorol. Climatol., 62, 155–170, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-22-0051.1.

Matsui, T., D. B. Wolff, S. Lang, K. Mohr, M. Zhang, S. Xie, S. Tang, S. M. Saleeby, D. J. Posselt, S. A. Braun, J-D. Chern, B. Dolan, J. L. Pippitt, and A. M. Loftus, 2023: Systematic Validation of Ensemble Cloud‐Process Simulations Using Polarimetric Radar Observations and Simulator Over the NASA Wallops Flight Facility. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 128, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JD038134.

Dolan, B., S. M. Saleeby, S. A. Rutledge, S. C. van den Heever, and K. Van Valkenburg, 2023: A Statistical Framework for Evaluating Rain Microphysics in Model Simulations and Disdrometer Observations. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 128, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JD038902.

Saleeby, S. M., B. Dolan, J. Bukowski, K. Van Valkenburg, S. C. van den Heever, and S. A. Rutledge, 2022: Assessing Raindrop Breakup Parameterizations Using Disdrometer Observations. J. Atmos. Sci., 79, 2949–2963, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-21-0335.1.

Oue, M., S.M. Saleeby, P.J. Marinescu, P. Kollias, and S.C. van den Heever, 2022: Optimizing radar scan strategies for tracking isolated deep convection using observing system simulation experiments. Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 4931–4950, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-4931-2022.

Albers, S., S.M. Saleeby, S. Kreidenweis, Q. Bian, P. Xian, Z. Toth, R. Ahmadov, E. James, and S.D. Miller, 2020: A fast visible-wavelength 3D radiative transfer model for numerical weather prediction visualization and forward modeling. Atmos. Meas. Tech., 13, 3235–3261, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-3235-2020, 2020.

Park, J. M., S.C. van den Heever, A.L. Igel, L.D. Grant, J.S. Johnson, S.M. Saleeby, S.D. Miller, and J.S. Reid, 2020: Environmental controls on tropical sea breeze convection and resulting aerosol redistribution. J. Geophy. Res. Atmos., 125, e2019JD031699. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JD031699.

Toms, B.A., S.C. van den Heever, E.M Riley Dellaripa, S.M. Saleeby, and E.D. Maloney, 2020: The relationship between the boreal summertime Madden-Julian Oscillation and tropical moist convective morphology. J. Atmos. Sci., https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-19-0029.1.

Riley Dellaripa, E.M., E.D. Maloney, B.A. Toms, S.M. Saleeby, and S.C. van den Heever, 2020: Topographic Effects on the Luzon Diurnal Cycle during the BSISO. J. Atmos. Sci., 77, 3–30, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-19-0046.1.

Saleeby, S.M., S.C. van den Heever, J. Bukowski, A.L. Walker, J.E. Solbrig, S.A. Atwood, Q. Bian, S.M. Kreidenweis, Y. Wang, J. Wang, and S.D. Miller, 2019: The influence of simulated surface dust lofting and atmospheric loading on radiative forcing. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 10279–10301, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-10279-2019.

Clavner, M., W.R. Cotton, S.C. van den Heever, S.M. Saleeby, and J.R. Pierce, 2018: The response of a simulated mesoscale convective system to increased aerosol pollution: Part I: Precipitation intensity, distribution and efficiency. Atmos. Res., 199, 193-208.

Igel, M.R., S.R. Herbener and S.M. Saleeby, 2017: The tropical precipitation pickup threshold and clouds in a radiative convective equilibrium model: 1. Column moisture. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 122, 6453–6468, doi:10.1002/2016JD025907.

Marinescu, P., S.C. van den Heever, S.M. Saleeby, S.M. Kreidenweis, and P.J. DeMott, 2017: The microphysical roles of lower-tropospheric versus midtroposphreic aerosol particles in mature-stage MCS precipitation. J. Atmos. Sci., 74, 3657-3678.

Herbener, S.R., S.M. Saleeby, S.C. van den Heever, and C.H. Twohy, 2016: Tropical storm redistribution of Saharan dust to the upper troposphere and ocean surface, Geophys. Res. Lett., 43, doi:10.1002/2016GL070262.

Saleeby, S.M., S.C. van den Heever, P.J. Marinescu, S.M. Kreidenweis, and P.J. DeMott, 2016: Aerosol Effects on the Anvil Characteristics of Mesoscale Convective Systems, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 121, doi:10.1002/2016JD025082.

Marinescu, P.J., S.C. van den Heever, S.M. Saleeby, and S.M. Kreidenweis,2016: The microphysical contributions to and evolution of latent heating profiles in two MC3E MCSs, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 121, 7913–7935, doi:10.1002/2016JD024762.

Nelson, E., T. L'Ecuyer, S.M Saleeby, W. Berg, S.R. Herbener, and S.C. van den Heever, 2016: Toward an Algorithm for Estimating Latent Heat Release in Warm Rain Systems. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 33, 1309-1329.

Sheffield, A.M., S.M. Saleeby, and S.C. van den Heever, 2015: Aerosol-induced mechanisms for cumulus congestus growth. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 120, doi:10.1002/2015JD023743.

Saleeby, S.M., S.R. Herbener, and S.C van den Heever, and T. L'Ecuyer, 2015: Impacts of cloud droplet nucleating aerosols on shallow tropical convection. J. Atmos. Sci., 72, 1369-1385.

Herbener, S.R, S.C van den Heever, G.G. Carrio, S.M. Saleeby, and W.R. Cotton 2014: Aerosol indirect effects on idealized tropical cyclone dynamics. J. Atmos. Sci., 71, 2040-2055.

Saleeby, S.M., and S.C van den Heever, 2013: Developments in the CSU-RAMS aerosol model: Emissions, Nucleation, Regeneration, Deposition, and Radiation. J. Appl. Meteor. Climatol., 52, 2601-2622.

Seigel, R.B., S.C. van den Heever, and S.M. Saleeby, 2013: Mineral dust indirect effects and cloud-radiation feedbacks of a simulated idealized noctural squall line. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 4467-4485.

Igel, A., S.C. van den Heever, C. Naud, S.M. Saleeby, and D. Posselt, 2013: Sensitivity of warm frontal processes to cloud-nucleating aerosol concentrations. J. Atmos. Sci., doi.10.1175/JAS-D-12-0170.1.

Saleeby, S.M., W.R. Cotton, D. Lowenthal, and J. Messina, 2013: Aerosol impacts on the microphysical growth processes of orographic snowfall. J. Appl. Meteor. Climatol., doi:10.1175/JAMC-D-12-0193.1.

Saleeby, S.M., W.R. Cotton, and J.Fuller, 2011: The cumulative impact of cloud droplet nucleating aerosols on orographic snowfall in Colorado. J. Appl. Meteor. Climatol., 48, 903-922.

Lowenthal, D.H., R.D. Borys, W.R. Cotton, S.M. Saleeby, S.A. Cohn, and W.O.J. Brown, 2011: The altitude of snow growth by riming and vapor deposition in mixed-phase orographic clouds. Atmos. Environ., 45, 519-522.

Saleeby, S.M., W. Berg, T. LEcuyer, and S.C. van den Heever, 2010: Impact of cloud-nucleating aersosols in cloud-resolving model simulations of warm-rain precipitation in the East China Sea. J. Atmos. Sci., 67, 3916-3930.

Saleeby, S.M., W.R. Cotton, D. Lowenthal, R.D. Borys, and M.A. Wetzel, 2009: Influence of cloud condensation nuclei on orographic snowfall. J. Appl. Meteor. Climatol., 48, 903-922.

Cheng, W.Y.Y, G.G. Carrio, W.R. Cotton, and S.M. Saleeby, 2009: Influence of atmospheric aerosols on the development of precipitating trade wind cumuli in a large eddy simulation. J. Geophys. Res., 114, D08201, doi:10.1029/2008JD011011.

Lee, S.S., J.E. Penner, and S.M. Saleeby, 2009: Aerosol effects on liquid-water path of thin stratocumulus clouds. J. Geophys. Res., 114, D07204, doi:10.1029/2008JD010513.

Rowe, A.K., S.A. Rutledge, T.J. Lang, P.E. Ciesielski, and S.M. Saleeby, 2008: Elevation-dependent trends in precipitating features observed by the NAME radar networ k. Mon. Wea. Rev., 136, 4962-4979.

Saleeby, S.M., and W.R. Cotton, 2008: A binned approach to cloud droplet riming implement in a bulk microphysics model. J. Appl. Meteor. Climatol., 47, 694-703.

Hindman, E.E., S.M. Saleeby, and O. Liechti, 2007: A meteorological system for planning and analyzing soaring flights in Colorado USA. Technical Soaring, 31, 68-78.

Zhang H., G.M. McFarquhar, S.M. Saleeby, W.R. Cotton, 2007: Impacts of Saharan dust as CCN on the evolution of an idealized tropical cyclone. Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L14812, doi:10.1029/2007GL029876.

Cotton, W.R., H. Zhang, G.M. McFarquhar, and S.M. Saleeby, 2007: Should we consider polluting hurricanes to reduce their intensity. J. Wea. Mod., 39, 70-73.

Saleeby, S.M., W.Y.Y. Cheng, and W.R. Cotton, 2007: New developments in the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System suitable for simulations of snowpack augmentation over complex terrain. J. Wea. Mod., 39, 37-49.

Saleeby, S.M., and W.R. Cotton, 2005: A large-droplet mode and prognostic number concentration of cloud droplets in the Colorado State University Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS). Part II: Sensitivity to a Colorado winter snowfall event. J. Appl. Meteor., 44, 1912-1929.

Saleeby, S.M., and W.R. Cotton, 2004: Simulations of the North American monsoon system Part I: Model analysis of the 1993 monsoon season. J. Climate, 17, 1997-2018.

Saleeby, S.M., and W.R. Cotton, 2004: A large-droplet mode and prognostic number concentration of cloud droplets in the Colorado State University Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS). Part I: Module descriptions and supercell test simulations. J. Appl. Meteor., 43, 182-195.

Koch, S.E., and S.M. Saleeby, 2001: An automated system for the analysis of gravity waves and other mesoscale phenomena. Wea. Forecasting, 16, 661-679.

Field Experience

2007 Jan-Feb, "Inhibitation of Snowfall by Pollution Aerosols II (ISPA-2)", conducted at Storm Peak Lab, Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

2010 Jan-Feb, "Inhibitation of Snowfall by Pollution Aerosols III (ISPA-3)", conducted at Storm Peak Lab, Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

In both projects phases I made elevation dependent snow depth and SWE measurements, worked with the FSSP and 2DP cloud and ice probes, CPC, APS, and SMPS aerosol counters, snow and rime-ice collection, and realtime modeling of orographic snowfall events.

Last Updated: 4/2024