Curtis James

Title
Professor of Meteorology
Department
Applied Aviation Sciences Department
College
College of Aviation

Areas of Expertise

Mountain meteorology, mesoscale meteorology, radar meteorology
Curtis James

Curtis James is Professor of Meteorology at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Prescott, Arizona. He has taught Embry-Riddle courses in basic meteorology, aviation weather, thunderstorms, satellite and radar imagery interpretation, atmospheric physics, mountain meteorology, tropical meteorology and weather forecasting techniques since January 2000. He has also served as the Department Chair of Applied Aviation Sciences, Director of ERAU’s Undergraduate Research Institute and as faculty representative to the university’s Board of Trustees. He participates in ERAU’s Study Abroad program, having led many summer programs in Switzerland, Argentina, and Brazil.

He earned a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Washington (2004) and participated in the Mesoscale Alpine Programme (MAP; 1999), an international field research project in the European Alps. His research specialties include weather radar, mesoscale, and mountain meteorology. He earned his B.S. in Atmospheric Science from the University of Arizona (1995), during which time he gained two years of operational experience as a student intern with the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Tucson, Arizona (1993-1995).

Dr. James is a native of Arizona where he currently resides with his wife and children. He is active in his community, having served as the president of the Prescott SciTechFest Advisory Committee, a member of ARES/RACES, a scoutmaster, and as chairman of the Emergency Preparedness Committee and high councilor serving a number of local church congregations. In his spare time, he enjoys travel, lightning photography, backpacking, camping, fishing, caving, mountain biking, acting, music performance, and spending time with family.

  • Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington-Seattle Campus
  • B.S. - Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Sciences: Mathematics, University of Arizona
  • WX 458: All Hzrd Sup Model and Mapping
  • WX 390: Atmospheric Physics
  • SS 314: Culture, History and Language
  • WX 312: Mountain Meteorology
  • WX 365: Satellite & Radar Interpretet
  • WX 201: Survey of Meteorology
  • WX 363: Thunderstorms

WX 201 Survey of Meteorology

WX 301 Aviation Weather

WX 363 Thunderstorms

WX 364 Weather for Aircrews

WX 365 Satellite and Radar Weather Interpretation

WX 390 Atmospheric Physics

WX 312 Mountain Meteorology

WX 399 Tropical Meteorology and Climate

WX 427 Forecasting Techniques

Articles/Books:

Kaplan, M. L., S. S. Karim, J. T. Wiles, C. N. James, Y. Lin, and J. Riley, 2023: Convective Density Current Circulations That Modulated Meso-γ Surface Winds near the Yarnell Hill Fire. Fire, 6, 130. https://doi.org/10.3390/fire6040130 

Kaplan, M. L., C. N. James, J. Ising, M. R. Sinclair, Y.-L. Lin, A. Taylor, J. Riley, S. M. S. Karim and J. Wiles, 2021: The multi-scale dynamics organizing a favorable environment for convective density currents that redirected the Yarnell Hill Fire. Climate, 9, 170, doi:10.3390/cli9120170. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/cli9120170.

Feldmann, M., C. N. James, M. Boscacci, D. Leuenberger, M. Gabella, U. Germann, D. Wolfensberger and A. Berne, 2020: R2D2 - A region-based recursive Doppler dealiasing algorithm for operational weather radar. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 37, 2341-2356.

James, C. N., and Weber, J., 2016: Cloud computing in education. In: Vance, T.C., Merati, N., Yang, C., Yuan, M. (Eds.), Cloud Computing in Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences. Academic Press, pp. 107-119.

Panziera, L., C. N. James and U. Germann, 2015: Mesoscale organization and structure of orographic precipitation producing flash floods in the Lago Maggiore region. Q.J.R. Meteorol. Soc.., 141, 224-248.

James, C. N., and R. A. Houze, Jr., 2005: Modification of precipitation by coastal orography in storms crossing northern California. Mon. Wea. Rev., 133, 3110–3131.

James, C. N., 2004: Radar observations of orographic precipitation, P.D. dissertation submitted to the University of Washington, 196 pp. (http://www.atmos.washington.edu/MG/PDFs/PHDTHESIS_James.pdf)

James, C. N., and R. A. Houze, Jr., 2001: A real-time four-dimensional Doppler dealiasing scheme. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 18, 1674-1683.

Houze, R. A., Jr., C. N. James, and S. Medina, 2001: Radar observations of precipitation and airflow on the Mediterranean side of the Alps: Autumn 1998 and 1999. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 127, 2537-2558.

James, C. N., S. R. Brodzik, H. Edmon, R. A. Houze, Jr., and S. E. Yuter, 2000: Radar data processing and visualization over complex terrain. Wea. Forecasting, 15, 327-338.

Chong, M., J.-F. Georgis, O. Bousquet, S. R. Brodzik, C. Burghart, S. Cosma, U. Germann, V. Gouget, R. A. Houze, Jr., C. N. James, S. Prieur, R. Rotunno, F. Roux, J. Vivekanandan, and Z.-X. Zeng, 2000: Real-time wind synthesis from Doppler radar observations during the Mesoscale Alpine Programme. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 81, 2953-2962.

 
External Talks/Papers/Posters Presented:

James, C., M. Feldmann, M. Boscacci, D. Leuenberger, M. Gabella, U. Germann, D. Wolfensberger, and A. Berne, 2022: Region-based Recursive Doppler Dealiasing (R2D2)–An operational algorithm for difficult Doppler velocity retrievals. 11th  European Conf. on Radar in Meteorology and Hydrology (ERAD 2022), Locarno, Switzerland. https://www.erad2022.ch/

James, C. N., G. T. Graeler, C. J. Humphreys, J. S. Park, R. Schroeder, M. L. Kaplan, M. R. Sinclair, and A. A. Taylor, 2022. A fine-scale convective climatology for the Southwest. 19th Conf. on Mesocale Processes, Houston, TX, Amer. Meteor. Soc.

James, C. N., G. T. Graeler, M. R. Sinclair, C. J. Humphreys, R. Schroeder, J. S. Park, and E. M. Brower, 2022: The climatology of monsoonal convection cell initiation and propagation in the Southwest. 20th Conf. on Mountain Meteorology, Park City, UT, Amer. Meteor. Soc.

James, C. N., S. E. Koch, C. L. Castro, and M. L. Kaplan, 2022. CREST: A field campaign designed to improve forecasts of orographic convection during the North American Monsoon. 20th Conf. on Mountain Meteorology, Park City, UT, Amer. Meteor. Soc. 

Kaplan, M. L., C. N. James, J. Ising, M. R. Sinclair, Y.-L. Lin, A. A. Taylor, J. G. Riley, S. M. S. Karim, and J. T. Wiles, 2022. The multiscale dynamics organizing a favorable environment for convective density currents that redirected the Yarnell Hill Fire. 31st Conf. on Weather Analysis and Forecasting, Houston, TX, Amer. Meteor. Soc.

Kaplan, M. L., S. M. S. Karim, J. T. Wiles, J. Ising, C. N. James, Y.-L. Lin, and J. G. Riley, 2022: Complex interactions among convective density currents, terrain heating, channeling, and blocking leading to erratic wildfire motions during the Yarnell Hill Fire. 20th Conf. on Mountain Meteorology, Park City, UT, Amer. Meteor. Soc. 

Koch, S. E., C. L. Castro, C. N. James, and M. L. Kaplan, 2022: Review of current understanding and predictability of monsoon orographic convection. 20th Conf. on Mountain Meteorology, Park City, UT, Amer. Meteor. Soc. 

Schroeder, R., K. A. Adkins, C. N. James, M. L. Kaplan, S. E. Koch, D. Ivanova, M. R. Sinclair, M. D. Compere, N. D. Macchiarella, J. Merkt, D. K. Adams, C. L. Castro, D. J. Heon, B. Cortright, A. M. Krishnan, T. M. Mantick, A. C. Oreo, C. Swinford, L. Leighnor, J. S. Elston and A. A. Taylor, 2021: Detection of convective initiation and suppression in northern Arizona’s complex terrain with unmanned and manned aerial systems. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, New Orleans, LA, December 2021.  (https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm21/webprogrampreliminary/Paper822695.html).

Kaplan, M. L., C. N. James, A. A. Taylor, M. Sinclair, Y.-L. Lin, J. Ising, J. G. Riley, 2021: The multi-scale environmental dynamics organizing the convective density currents that redirected the Yarnell Hill Fire. 13th Fire and Forest Meteorology Symposium, Palm Springs, CA, May 2021. (https://ams.confex.com/ams/13FIRE/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/374217)

Feldmann, M., C. N. James, M. Boscacci, D. Leuenberger, D. Wolfensberger, M. Gabella, U. Germann, and A. Berne, 2020: Region-based recursive Doppler dealiasing – R2D2; A novel approach for the retrieval of radar Doppler velocities. ERAD 2020, European Conference on Radar in Meteorology and Hydrology.

Feldmann, M., C. N. James, M. Gabella and A. Berne: 2020. Radar based mesocyclone and tracking in Alpine regions. ERAD 2020, European Conference on Radar in Meteorology and Hydrology.

Swenson, P., C. N. James and R. Schroeder, 2020: October 6th 2010 tornado outbreak. NASA Space Grant Symp., April 2020.

Feldmann, M., C. N. James, M. Gabella and A. Berne, 2019: Operational radar-based mesocyclone detection in Alpine regions. 10th European Conference on Severe Storms, Krakow, Poland, Nov. 2019.

Ivanova D., C. N. James, M. Sinclair, J. Luedtke, J. Perry, and T. Holt, 2019. UAS faculty learning community for meteorology, aeronautics and air traffic management. 28th Symp. on Education, Phoenix, AZ, Amer. Meteor. Soc.

Swenson, P., C. N. James, 2019: October 6th 2010 tornado outbreak. NASA Space Grant Symp., April 2019.

Plunkett, C., and C. James, 2017: Simulations of convective flash flood events in southern Switzerland. 34th Int. Conf. on Alpine Meteorology, Reykjavik, Iceland, June 2017.

James, C. N., and J. Weber, 2016: Cloud computing in atmospheric science education. 25th Symp. on Education, New Orleans, LA, Amer. Meteor. Soc.

James, C. N., and J. Weber, 2016: Cloud computing in atmospheric science education. Aviation / Aeronautics / Aerospace International Research Conference, Phoenix, AZ, Jan 2016. (http://commons.erau.edu/aircon/2016/)

Moreno, C. H., and C. N. James, 2016: Observational study of convective events delaying flight operations at the Atlanta Hartsfield Airport. NASA Space Grant Symp., April 2016.

Diels, E., J. Perry, M. Wetzel, M. Sinclair, and C. James, 2015: Application of meteorological observations from Technologically Advanced Aircraft (TAA) to support flight training operations and regional forecasting. Aviation / Aeronautics / Aerospace International Research Conference, Phoenix, AZ, Jan 2015. (http://commons.erau.edu/aircon/2015/)

James, C. N., J. Weber, G. R. Woodall, and B. A. Klimowski, 2015: A cloud-based mobile weather server to support emergency response meteorology training and operations. 24th Symp. on Education, Phoenix, AZ, Amer. Meteor. Soc.

Woodall, G. R., C. N. James, and B. A. Klimowski, 2015: The “Emergency Response Meteorologist” curriculum development at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, AZ. 24th Symp. on Education, Phoenix, AZ, Amer. Meteor. Soc.

Panziera, L., C. James, and U. Germann, 2014: Frequent flash floods in southern Switzerland: Why? EGU General Assembly Conf. Abstracts, 16, 6642.

Panziera, L., C. N. James and U. Germann, 2014: Mesoscale organization and structure of orographic precipitation producing flash floods in southern Switzerland. Extended abstracts, 28th Conf. on Hydrology, Atlanta, GA, Amer. Meteor. Soc.

Panziera, L., Germann, U., and James, C. N., 2014:  Convective orographic precipitation in sheared flow: a conceptual model. 16th Conf. on Mountain Meteorology, San Diego, CA, Amer. Meteor. Soc.

James, C. N., A. Wardall, L. Panziera, and U. Germann, 2014: Characteristics of synoptically and orographically forced convective flash flood events in southern Switzerland. Southwest U.S. Convective Weather Workshop, May 2014. (http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/psr/pns/2014/convectiveworkshop/)

Wardall, A., and C. N. James, 2014: Dynamical causes of echo training in the southern Swiss Alps. NASA Space Grant Symposium, April 2014.

James, C. N., 2014: Experiential learning on hydrometeorology through a university study abroad program. Extended abstracts, 23rd Symp. on Education, Atlanta, GA, Amer. Meteor. Soc.

Singleton, J. D. and C. N. James, 2013: Numerical simulation of a heavy local rain event. NASA Space Grant Symposium, April 2013.

James, C. N., 2012: Anatomy of a thunderstorm, Southwest Airlines’ Range Magazine, March 2012.

Padian, E. and C. N. James, 2012:  Validation of Polarimetric Data for Hail Reports in the Phoenix Area. SRP-WFO Phoenix Weather Workshop, May 2012.

Collins, M. and C. N. James, 2012: Dynamics of Pre-Frontal Rainfall in the Southern European Alps. NASA Space Grant Symposium, April 2012.

Mazon, J. J. and C. N. James, 2011: Survey of convective weather impacting commercial aviation operations at Sky Harbor International Airport. Southwest Aviation Weather Symposium (SAWS) IV. Albuquerque, NM, Oct. 2011. Reprints available online at the URL: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/psr/SAWS4/index.php.

Space, C. and C. N. James, 2011: Summer heavy precipitation events in the southwest. Southwest Weather Workshop, Phoenix, AZ, May 2011.

Padian, E., M. Collins and C.N. James, 2010. WRF EMS simulation of the Pearl Harbor Day windstorm December 7-8 2009. Southwest Winter Weather Conference, Flagstaff, AZ, November 2010.

James, C. N., 2010: In-flight convective weather avoidance. Southwest Aviation Weather Symposium (SAWS) III. Salt River Project. Phoenix, AZ, April 2010. Reprints available online at the URL: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/psr/aviation/SAWS3_Workshop/.

James, C. N., 2009: Proper weather radar interpretation. M/MOPA 19th Annual Convention.  Scottsdale, AZ, October 2009.

Grey, P., D. Ivanova, and C. James, 2008: A review of the temporal and spatial variability of the monsoonal boundary layer and atmospheric circulation in Arizona. Eos Trans. AGU, 89(53), Fall Meet. Suppl., AbstractGC53A-0690.

Ivanova, D., S. Lackey, B. Peacock, C. N. James, and M. R. Sinclair, 2008. Analysis of a North American monsoonal surge event, and its relation to hazardous aviation weather, Southwest Aviation Weather Symposium (SAWS) II. Phoenix, AZ, October 2008. Preprints available online at the URL: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/psr/aviation/SAWS2_Workshop/.

James, C. N., 2008: Weather radar imagery interpretation in the cockpit. Southwest Aviation Weather Symposium (SAWS) II. Phoenix, AZ, October 2008. Preprints available online at the URL: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/psr/aviation/SAWS2_Workshop/.

James, C. N., 2007: Integration of NEXRAD, Airborne radar and Stormscope. M/MOPA 17th Annual Convention.  Tulsa, OK, April 2007.

James, C. N., 2007: Anticipating aviation weather hazards in the Southwest. Southwest Aviation Weather Symposium, Phoenix, AZ., October 2007.

Ivanova, D., and Curtis N. James, 2007: Mesoscale computer modeling of the North American monsoon in Arizona. American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting.

Germann, U., G. Galli, A. Hering, K. Friedrich, P. Tabary, and C. N. James, 2005: Innovations in monitoring and nowcasting orographic precipitation by radar. Amer. Meteor. Soc. Joint Session of the 32nd Conference on Radar Meteorology and the 11th Conference on Mesoscale Processes, Oct. 2005, paper J8J.4.

Parsons, K., M. Sinclair, C. James, and R. Tomkins, 2005: A Weather Degree Program for the New Millenium: Phase II. 14th Symposium on Education, 85th Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society, San Diego, California, January 9-13, 2005.

James, C. N., and R. A. Houze, Jr. 2004: Radar observations of orographic precipitation over coastal northern California. Preprints, 11th Conference on Mountain Meteorology, June 2004. Preprints online at the URL: http://ams.confex.com/ams/pdfpapers/77273.pdf.

James, C., S. Brodzik, H. Edmon, R. A. Houze, Jr., and S. E. Yuter, 1999: MountainZebra: Real-time archival and 4-D visualization of radar volumes over complex terrain. Preprints, COST-75 Final International Seminar on "Advanced Weather Radar Systems," Locarno, Switzerland, 297-306.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, AZ
Position: Professor of Meteorology
Roles: Teaching, scholarship, and president of Phi Kappa Phi
Duration: Jan. 2000 – Present 

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, AZ
Position: Department Chair, Applied Aviation Sciences
Duration: Aug. 2014 - 2020

Undergraduate Research Institute

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, AZ
Position: Director, Undergraduate Research Institute
Roles: Student research mentorship, administrative duties, budget manager, chair of the Ignite Committee
Duration: Jan. 2012 – Aug. 2014

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, AZ
Position: Board of Trustees Faculty Representative
Roles: Student research mentorship, administrative duties, budget manager, chair of the Ignite Committee
Duration: 2006 - 2009

UW Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Seattle, WA
Position: Research assistant / Teaching assistant / Lead teaching assistant
Courses Taught: Weather (T.A.)
Duration: Sept. 1995 - Dec. 1999
 
Northwest Aviation College, Auburn, WA
Position: Part-time meteorology instructor
Courses Taught: Aviation Weather
Duration: Sept. 1998 - Dec. 1998
 
National Weather Service, Tucson, AZ
Position: Meteorological technician / Student intern
Duration: May 1993 - Aug. 1995

Societies:

Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Officer / Chapter President, 2016 - Present

Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, May 1995 - Present

American Meteorological Society, 2004 - Present

Chair, Department of Applied Aviation Sciences, 2014 - 2020
Distinguished Faculty Award, Prescott, Arizona Campus, 2013 - 2014
Director, Undergraduate Research Institute, 2012 - 2014
College of Aviation Researcher of the Year, 2011 - 2012
IEFAC Committee, 2011 - 2014
Campus Planning Committee, 2009 - 2010
Board of Trustees Representative and Senate Executive Committee, ERAU, 2006 - 2009
Chair of Institutional Effectiveness Committee, ERAU, 2004 - 2006
SGA Faculty of the Semester, ERAU, Fall 2005
Visiting Scientist, MeteoSwiss, 2005, 2012, 2019
Service Excellence Award, ERAU, January 2005
Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers 2002, 2004, 2005
Outstanding Faculty Award, College of Aviation, ERAU, May 2002
Senator on Faculty Senate, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 2001 - 2003
Outstanding Meteorology Faculty, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Dec. 2001
Outstanding Club Advisor, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 2000 - 2001
Senator on Graduate and Professional Student Senate, University of Washington, 1997 - 1998
Outstanding Senior Award: Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, May 1995
American Meteorological Society Dr. Pedro Grau Scholarship, Oct. 1994