Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences

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Melville E. Nicholls

Senior Research Scientist, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), University of Colorado in Boulder


E-Mail: melville.nicholls [at] colorado.edu

Mel Nicholls received an undergraduate degree in Physics from the University of Birmingham, UK in 1979, and a master’s degree in Atmospheric Physics from Imperial College, London in 1980. He moved to the United States in 1981 and studied Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University, receiving an M.S. in 1983, and a Ph. D. in 1987. He continued to work at the Department of Atmospheric Science, first as a Research Associate and then as a Research Scientist. Research interests included numerical modeling, squall lines, convective storms, gravity waves, compression waves, energy transfer, airflow around buildings, the atmospheric boundary layer, sources and sinks of carbon dioxide, infrasound and tropical cyclones. He taught classes in numerical modeling, and in extreme weather and its consequences for society. In 2006 he joined CIRES and ATOC at the University of Boulder as a Senior Research Scientist. His current research is focused on tropical cyclones and infrasound from tornadic storms.

List of Publications

Nicholls, M. E., and M. T. Montgomery, 2010: An examination of two pathways to tropical cyclogenesis occurring in idealized simulations with a cloud-resolving numerical model. (submitted to Atmos. Chem. Phys.)

Riemer, M. T. Montgomery, M. E. Nicholls, 2011: Further examination of the thermodynamic modification of the inflow layer of tropical cyclones by vertical wind shear. Atmos. Chem. Phys. (accepted)

Riemer, M., M.T. Montgomery, and M.E. Nicholls, 2010: A new paradigm for intensity modification of tropical cyclones: thermodynamic impact of vertical wind shear on the inflow layer. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 10 (7), 3163-3188, issn: 1680-7316, ids: 583HD

Schecter, D.A., and M.E. Nicholls, 2010: Generation of Infrasound by Evaporating Hydrometeors  in a Cloud Model. J. Appl. Meteor. Climatol., 49 (4), 664-675, doi:10.1175/2009JAMC2226.1 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/2009JAMC2226.1),  issn: 15588424, ids: 594KU, APR 2010.

Schecter, D., M.E. Nicholls, J. Persing, A. J. Bedard and R.A. Pielke Sr., 2008: Infrasound emitted by tornado-like vortices: Basic theory and a numerical comparison to the acoustic radiation of a single-cell thunderstorm. J. Atmos. Sci., 65, 685-713.

Miller, C.E., Crisp, D., De Cola, P., Olsen, S.C., Randerson, J. T., Michaelak, A. M., Alkhaled, A., Rayner, P., Jacob, D. J., Suntharalingam, P., Jones, D. B. A., Denning, A. S., Nicholls, M. E., Doney, S. C., Pawson, S., Boesch, H., Connor, B. J., Fung, I. Y., O’Brien, D. O., Salawitch, R. J., Sander, S. P., Sen, B., Tans, P., Toon, G. C., Wennberg, P. O., Wofsy, S. C., Yung, Y. L., and Law, R. M. (2007). Precision requirements for space-based XCO2 data. Journal of Geophysical Research - Atmospheres, 112 (D10314): D10314, doi:10.1029/2006JD007659.

Montgomery, M. T., M. E. Nicholls, T. A. Cram, and A. B. Saunders, 2006: A vortical hot tower route to tropical cyclogenesis. J.Atmos. Sci., 63, 355-386.

Nicholls, M. E., A. S. Denning, L. Prihodko, P.-L. Luigi, I. Baker, K. Davis and P. Bakwin, 2004: A multiple-scale simulation of variations in atmospheric carbon dioxide using a coupled biosphere-atmospheric model. J. Geophys. Res., 109, D18117.

Denning, A S., M. E. Nicholls, L. Prihodko, P.-L. Luigi, I. Baker, K. Davis, and P. Bakwin, 2003: Simulated and observed variations in atmospheric carbon dioxide over a Wisconsin forest. Accepted to Global Change Biology, 9, 1241-1250.

Clark, D. B., C. M. Taylor, A. J. Thorpe, R. J. Harding and M. E. Nicholls, 2003: The influence of spatial variability of boundary layer moisture on tropical squall lines. Quart. J Roy. Meteor. Soc.,129, pp. 1101-1121.

Cotton, W. R., R. A. Pielke Sr., R. L. Walko, G. E. Liston, C. T. Tremback, H. Jiang, R. L. McAnelly, J. Y. Harrington, M. E. Nicholls, 2003: RAMS 2001: Current status and future directions. Meteor. and Atmos. Physics, 82, 5-29.

Eastman, J. L., R. A. Pielke Sr., T. Fountain, M. E. Nicholls, A. Townsend Peterson, R. Waide, 2001: Fine-tuned atmospheric model simulates hurricanes to climate change. Earth Science, July-Sepember 2001.

Nicholls, M. E. and R.A. Pielke, 2000: Thermally-induced compression waves and gravity waves generated by convective storms. J. Atmos. Sci. 57, 3251-3271.

McAnelly, R.L., J.E. Nachamkin, W.R. Cotton and M.E. Nicholls, 1997: Upscale evolution of MCSs: Doppler radar analysis and analytical investigation. Mon. Wea. Rev., 125, 1083-1110.

Pielke R. A. and M. E. Nicholls, 1997: Use of meteorological models in computational wind engineering. J. Wind Eng. Ind. Aerodyn. 67&68, 363-372.

Cotton, W.R., G.D. Alexander, R. Hertenstein, R.L. Walko, R.L. McAnelly, and M. E. Nicholls, 1995: Cloud venting. Earth Sciences Reviews, 39, 169-206.

Pielke, R., M.E. Nicholls, R.L. Walko, T.A. Nygaard, and X. Zeng, 1997: Several unresolved issues in numerical modeling of geophysical flows. In: Numerical Methods in Atmospheric and Oceanic Modelling, The Andre J. Robert Memorial Volume, C.A. Lin, R. Laprise, and H. Ritchie, Eds., 557-581.

Nicholls, M.E. and R.A. Pielke, 1994: Thermal compression waves. Part I: Total energy transfer. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 120, 305-332.

Nicholls, M.E. and R.A. Pielke, 1994: Thermal compression waves. Part II: Mass adjustment and vertical transfer of total energy. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 120, 333-359.

Pielke, R.A., M. E. Nicholls, and A. J. Bedard, 1993: Using thermal compression waves to assess latent heating from clouds. EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union,  74, 493.

Nicholls, M. E., R. A. Pielke and R. N. Meroney, 1993: Large eddy simulation of microburst winds flowing around a building. J. Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 46 & 47, 229-237.

Pielke, R.A., W.R. Cotton, R.L. Walko, C. J. Tremback, W. A. Lyons, L. D. Grasso, M. E. Nicholls, M.D. Moran, D. A. Wesley, T.J. Lee and J.H. Copeland, 1992: A comprehensive meteorological modeling system -- RAMS. Meteor. Atmos. Phys., 49, 69-91.

Nicholls, M. E., R. A. Pielke, and W.R. Cotton, 1990: Thermally forced gravity waves in an atmosphere at rest. J. Atmos. Sci., 48, 1869-1884.

Nicholls, M. E., R. A. Pielke and W.R. Cotton, 1990: A two-dimensional numerical investigation of the interaction between sea-breezes and deep convection over the Florida Peninsula. Mon. Wea. Rev., 119, 298-323.

Nicholls, M. E., R. H. Johnson, and W. R. Cotton, 1988: The sensitivity of two-dimensional simulations of tropical squall lines to environmental profiles. J. Atmos. Sci., 45, 3625-3649.

Nicholls, M. E. and M. Weissbluth, 1988: A comparison of two-dimensional and quasi-three-dimensional simulations of a tropical squall line. Mon. Wea. Rev., 116, 2437-2452.

Nicholls, M. E., 1987: A comparison of the results of two-dimensional numerical simulation of a tropical squall line with observations. Mon. Wea. Rev.,115, 3055-3077.

Nicholls, M. E., and R.H. Johnson, 1984: A model of a tropical squall line boundary layer wake. J. Atmos. Sci.,41, 2774-2792.

Johnson, R.H. and M. E. Nicholls, 1983: A composite analysis of the boundary layer accompanying a tropical squall line. Mon. Wea. Rev., 111, 308-319.

Chapters in books

Nicholls, M. E., 1996: Gravity waves. In: Encyclopedia of Climate and Weather. S.H. Schnieder, Editor. Oxford University Press, 365-368.

Nicholls, M.E., R.A. Pielke, J.L. Eastman, C.A. Finley, W. A. Lyons, C. J. Tremback, R.L. Walko and W.R. Cotton, 1995: Applications of the RAMS numerical model to dispersion over urban areas. In: The Effect of Urbanization on Windfields, Air Pollution Spreading, and Wind Forces. E.J. Plate, Editor. Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands, 703-732.

Pielke, R.A., J.L. Eastman, L.D. Grasso, J. B. Knowles, M.E. Nicholls, R. L. Walko, and X. Zeng, 1995: Atmospheric vortices. In: Fluid Vortices. S.I. Green, Editor. Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands, 617-650.