Austin Addison Alford | 120 David L. Boren Blvd.

Suite 5900 | Norman, OK 73072

(901) 606-5823 | addisonalford@ou.edu

Education
Ph.D. in Meteorology (2016-Present)
University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Michael I. Biggerstaff
Supported by the NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship 16-EARTH16F-0101, 17-
EARTH17R-72, and 18-EARTH18R-0086.

M. S. in Meteorology (2016)
University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Michael I. Biggerstaff
Thesis: Observational Evidence of Tropical Cyclone Vortex Rossby Waves and Their Role in
Inner Core Rainbands

B. S. in Meteorology, Summa Cum Laude (2014)

University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
Minor in Mathematics

Professional Experience
Graduate Research Assistant (May 2014-Present)
Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies & School of Meteorology,
University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK

Graduate Teaching Assistant (Aug. 2014-Dec. 2014, Jan. 2016-May 2016)

School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK

Undergraduate Research Assistant (Jan. 2012 – May 2014)

Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, Norman, OK

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (Aug. 2013-May 2014)

School of Meteorology, Norman, OK

Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Intern (May 2013-Aug. 2013)

National Weather Service, Birmingham, AL,
Mentor: Kevin Laws

Refereed Publications
1. Alford, A. A., M. I. Biggerstaff, and G. D. Carrie, 2019: Mobile ground-based SMART radar
observations of Hurricane Harvey (2017). Geoscience Data Journal, near submission.

2. Alford, A. A., M. I. Biggerstaff, G. D. Carrie, J. L. Schroeder, B. D. Hirth, and S. M.

Waugh, 2019: Near-surface maximum winds during the landfall of Hurricane Harvey.
Geophysical Research Letters, doi: 10.1029/2018GL080013.
3. Caban P. L. F., A. A. Alford, M. Bell, M. I. Biggerstaff, G. D. Carrie, B. Hirth, K. Kosiba,
B. M. Phillips, J. L. Schroeder, S. M. Waugh, C. E. Williford, J. Wurman, and F. J. Masters,
2018: Observing Hurricane Harvey’s eyewall at landfall. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., accepted
for publication.

4. Bela, M. M., M. C. Barth, O. B. Toon, A. Fried, C. Ziegler, K. A. Cummings, Y. Li, K. E.

Pickering, C. R. Homeyer, H. Morrison, Q. Yang, R. M. Mecikalski, L. Carey, M. I.
Biggerstaff, D. P. Betten, A. A. Alford, 2018: Effects of scavenging, entrainment, and
aqueous chemistry on peroxides and formaldehyde in deep convective outflow over the
central and Southeast U.S. J. of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 123.
https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JD028271

5. Biggerstaff, M. I., Z. Zounes, A. A. Alford, G. D. Carrie, J. T. Pilkey, M. A. Uman, and D.

M. Jordan, 2017: Flash propagation and inferred charge structure relative to radar-observed
ice alignment signatures in a small Florida mesoscale convective system. Geophys. Res. Lett.,
44, 8027–8036, doi:10.1002/2017GL074610.

Conference Presentations
1. Alford, A. A. and M. I. Biggerstaff, 2019: Impacts of mesovortices on the evolution of
Hurricane Harvey (2017). 99th Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 1068.

2. DiGangi, E., D. R. MacGorman, C. L. Ziegler, A. A. Alford, and M. I. Biggerstaff, 2019:

Evolving interrelationships of lightning, microphysics, and kinematics in a mesoscale
convective system observed during DC3. 99th Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ, Amer. Meteor.
Soc., 4.5.

3. Waugh, S., A. A. Alford, and M. I. Biggerstaff, 2019: Upper-air observations in landfalling

hurricanes. 99th Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 761.

4. Ziegler, C. L., T. A. Murphy, K. L. Elmore, M. I. Biggerstaff, Z. Wang, E. N. Rasmussen, D.

P. Jorgensen, and A. A. Alford, 2018: Kinematics, thermodynamics, and microphysics of the
tornadic 13-14 April 2018 Calhoun, LA supercell during VORTEX-SE. 29th Conf. on Severe
Local Storms, Stowe, VT, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 8.4.

5. Murphy, T. A., M. I. Biggerstaff, C. L. Ziegler, E. N. Rasmussen, A. A. Alford, G. D. Carrie,

K. L. Elmore, N. R. Slaughter, and Z. Wang, 2018: An overview of the 13-14 April 2018
North Louisiana severe weather event during VORTEX-SE. 29th Conf. on Severe Local
Storms, Stowe, VT, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 348340.

6. Murphy, T. A., M. I. Biggerstaff, E. N. Rasmussen, C. L. Ziegler, A. A. Alford, G. D. Carrie,

K. L. Elmore, N. R. Slaughter, and Z. Wang, 2018: An overview of Spring 2018 VORTEX-
SE observations in North Louisiana. 29th Conf. on Severe Local Storms, Stowe, VT, Amer.
Meteor. Soc., 348341.

7. Biggerstaff, M. I., A. A. Alford, G. D. Carrie, C. King, T. A. Murphy, N. R. Slaughter, C. L.

Ziegler, and E. N. Rasmussen, Evolution of the tornadic 13-14 April 2018 QLCS observe
 during VORTEX-SE 2018. 29th Conf. on Severe Local Storms, Stowe, VT, Amer. Meteor.
Soc., 348391.

8. Lyza, A. W., K. R. Knupp, M. I. Biggerstaff, and A. A. Alford, 2018: Environment and

evolution of the 3 April 2018 tornadic QLCS across North Alabama during VORTEX-SE.
29th Conf. on Severe Local Storms, Stowe, VT, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 348654.

9. Biggerstaff, M. I. and A. A. Alford, 2018: Maximum wind maps of Harvey’s landfall from
dual-Doppler retrievals. Hurricane Harvey Research Symposium, Port Aransas, TX,
University of Texas.

10. Alford, A. A. and M. I. Biggerstaff, 2017: Mesoscale Processes Observed in the Inner Cores
of Hurricanes Hermine and Matthew. 18th Cyclone Workshop, Montreal, Canada, State Univ.
of New York at Albany.

11. Alford, A. A. and M. I. Biggerstaff, 2017: Mobile radar observations of the kinematics and
microphysics of Hurricanes Isaac (2012) and Hermine (2016). 38th Conf. on Radar
Meteorology., Chicago, IL, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 12B.3.

12. Bela, M., A. A. Alford, D. J. Allen, M. Barth, D. P. Betten, M. I. Biggerstaff, L. Carey, K. A.

Cummings, A. Fried, C. R. Homeyer, Y. Li, R. M. Mecikalski, H. Morrison, K. E. Pickering,
B. Toon, Q. Yang, and C. Ziegler, 2017: Effects of deep convection on upper tropospheric
composition of soluble gases over the central U.S. Meteor. and Climate – Modeling for Air
Quality Conf., 07-B.

13. Miller, R. L., C. L. Ziegler, M. I. Biggerstaff, and A. A. Alford, 2017: Kinematics,

thermodynamics, and microphysics of the 25-26 June 2015 Kansas MCS during PECAN.
38th Conf. on Radar Meteorology, Chicago, IL, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 22B.3.

14. C. L. Ziegler, M. I. Biggerstaff, M. C. Coniglio, M. D. Flournoy, E. R. Mansell, T. J. Schuur,

R. L. Miller, and A. A. Alford, 2017: Kinematics and Thermodynamics of Nocturnal
Tornadogenesis in the Severe 5-6 July 2015 South Dakota MCS During PECAN. 38th Conf.
on Radar Meteorology., Chicago, IL, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 22B.4.

15. Alford, A. A. and M. I. Biggerstaff, 2016: Tropical cyclone inner core precipitation structure
– A revised conceptual model. Hurricane Workshop, Pasadena, CA, Jet Propulsion
Laboratory.

16. Alford, A. A., M. I. Biggerstaff, and D. P. Betten, 2016: Mobile radar observations of vortex
Rossby waves in three landfalling tropical cyclones. 32nd Conf. on Hurricanes and Trop.
Meteor., San Juan, PR, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 13B.4.

17. Alford, A. A. and M. I. Biggerstaff, 2015: High resolution dual-Doppler observations of

tropical cyclone vortex Rossby waves. 37th Conf. on Radar Meteor., Norman, OK, Amer.
Meteor. Soc., 154. (1st Place - Student Poster Presentation)
18. Alford, A. and A. Wade, 2014: The role of descending rear-inflow jets in tornadogenesis in
quasi-linear convective systems across Central Alabama. 26th Conf. on Wea. Analy.
Forecasting, Atlanta, GA, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 4A.4. (Honorable Mention - Outstanding
Student Oral Presentation)

19. Wade, A. and A. Alford, 2014: Quasi-linear convective system and supercell tornado
environments in Central Alabama. 26th Conf. on Wea. Analy. Forecasting, Atlanta, GA,
Amer. Meteor. Soc., 6.5.

Other Selected Presentations

Alford, A. A. and M. I. Biggerstaff, 2017: An update on the SMART Radar observations of
Hurricane Matthew. Science Meeting, Hurricane Research Division, Miami, FL, 9 February
2017.

Alford, A. A., 2016: Radar: With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility. Radar Workshop,
Oklahoma Weather Lab, Norman, OK, 21 September 2016.

Field Programs
Southeastern Tornadogenesis and Risk Reduction Exercise/VORTEX-SE (2018)
• SMART Radar 2 Scientist

SMART Radar Hurricane Field Operations (2017)

• SMART Radar 2 Operator for Hurricanes Harvey and Irma
• Completed real-time dual-Doppler synthesis in Irma
• Assisted National Severe Storms Laboratory mobile sounding operations

SMART Radar Hurricane Field Operations (2016)

• SMART Radar 2 Operator for Hurricanes Hermine and Matthew
• Portable Integrated Precipitation Sensors (PIPS) Operator

Verification for the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX) Southeast

(2016)
• SMART Radar 2 Operator

Plains Elevated Convection at Night (PECAN) Experiment (2015)

• SMART Radar 1 Coordinator and Operator
• DOW 8 Driver

Defense Advanced Research Agency (DARPA) NIMBUS Program (2012, 2014)

• SMART Radar 2 Operator (Keystone Heights, FL)
• PX-1000 Operator (Magdalena, NM)
• Forecaster & Nowcaster
• Triggered Lightning Guidance for International Center for Lightning Testing and
Research (Keystone Heights, FL) and Langmuir Laboratory (Socorro, NM)
Deep Convective Cloud and Chemistry (DC3) Experiment (2012)
• Mobile Mesonet Driver and Operator

Teaching Experience
Guest Lecturer: Introduction to Meteorology – METR 2013 (Fall 2017, Fall 2018)
School of Meteorology, Norman, OK

Guest Lecturer: Radar Meteorology – METR 4624 (Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017)
School of Meteorology, Norman, OK

Instructor: Introduction to Meteorology I Lab – METR 2011 (Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall
2015, Spring 2016)
School of Meteorology, Norman, OK

Leadership and Volunteer Experience

American Meteorological Society Student Conference
• Planning Committee Member (2018)
• “Mastering Your Doctorate” Session Chair

Student Affairs Committee, School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma

• Chairperson (2016-2018)
• Masters Rep. (2015-2016)

University of Oklahoma Student Chapter of the American Meteorological Society

• Graduate Student Rep. (2015-2016)
• President (2013-2014)
• Junior Rep. (2012-2013)
• Sophomore Rep. (2011-2012)
• Freshman Rep. (2010-2011)

National Weather Center

• Tour Guide (2011-Present)

School of Meteorology Peer Mentoring Program

• Coordinator (2011-2014)

Oklahoma Weather Lab

• Shift Leader (2012)
• Forecaster (2010-2012)

Honors and Awards

Director’s Recognition for Outstanding Service to the Department (2018)
University of Oklahoma, School of Meteorology

Graduate Fellowship (September 2016 – August 2019)

 NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship Program

Letzeiser Award (2014)

University of Oklahoma

Named Scholarship (2013)

American Meteorological Society and Naval Weather Association

Award of Service (2013)

National Weather Service, Birmingham, AL

Outstanding Senior – Honorable Mention (2013-2014)

College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, University of Oklahoma

Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship (2012-2014)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Presidential International Travel Fund (2012)

University of Oklahoma

Study Abroad Scholarship (2012)

College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, University of Oklahoma

John T. Snow Study Abroad Scholarship (2012)

College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, University of Oklahoma

Award of Excellence (2010-2014)

University of Oklahoma

Out-of-State Tuition Waiver (2010-2014)

School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma

Professional Society Memberships

Phi Beta Kappa (2014 – Present)
Alpha of Oklahoma Chapter, Invited Spring 2014

American Meteorological Society (2012 – Present)

Student Member