Northern Research Station
11 Campus Blvd., Suite 200
Newtown Square, PA 19073
(610) 557-4017
(610) 557-4132 TTY/TDD
Joseph J. (Jay) Charney
Title: Research Meteorologist
Unit: Climate, Fire, and Carbon Cycle Sciences
Address: Northern Research Station
Stephen S. Nisbet Bldg., 1407 S. Harrison Road, Room 220
East Lansing, MI 48823
Phone: 517-355-7740; ext. 105
E-mail: Contact Joseph J. (Jay) Charney
Education
- The Pennsylvania State University, Ph.D. Meteorology, 1997
- University of Maryland, M.S. Meteorology, 1992
- The Pennsylvania State University, B.S. Physics, 1990
Civic & Professional Affiliations
Southern Michigan Prescribed Fire Council,International Association of Wildland Fire
Current Research
I am studying the atmospheric impacts on fire behavior, fire danger, and smoke dispersion. I employ atmospheric numerical weather prediction models to predict the weather conditions that could impact a fire.
Why is This Important
This research is working toward an improved understanding of fire-atmosphere interactions that will help produce the next generation of fire-weather and fire behavior products. These products are used by fire weather meteorologists, fire managers, and smoke managers to allow them to make more informed decisions that can save lives and property and can prevent illness and respiratory distress.
Future Research
I will continue to develop the science of fire-atmosphere interactions, focusing on the next generation of fire behavior models and weather prediction models. Models that explicitly resolve the combustion process, its impact on the atmosphere above the fire, and feedbacks on the fire itself are currently being developed. I will be working to validate and incorporate these models into fire operations. Additionally, as the next generation of numerical weather prediction models come into use, I will continue to develop fire weather products to take advantage of the more detailed information from these models. This information will enable fire weather forecasters and fire managers to continue to carry out prescribed burns and fight wildfires using state-of-the-science tools to aid in their decision-making.
Featured Publications
- Woodall, Christopher W.; Charney, Joseph; Liknes, Greg; Potter, Brian. 2006. Linking Fuel Inventories With Atmospheric Data for Assessment of Fire Danger. In: Proceedings of the sixth annual forest inventory and analysis symposium; 2004 September 21-24; Denver, CO. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-70. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. 126p.
- Woodall, Christopher W.; Charney, Joseph J.; Liknes, Greg C.; Potter, Brian E. 2005. What's the fire danger now? Linking fuel inventories with atmospheric data. Journal of Forestry 103: 293-298.
- Heilman, Warren E.; Bian, Xindi; Charney, Joseph J.; Potter, Brian E. 2003. Combining the Haines Index and turbulent kinetic energy for fire-weather predictions.. In: 5th Symposium on fire and forest meteorology joint with 2nd International wildland fire ecology and fire management congress; 2003 November 16-20; Orlando, FL. Boston, MA: American Meteorlogical Society: n.p. Available only on CD.
Additional Online Publications
- Lu, Wei; Charney, Joseph J. (Jay); Zhong, Sharon; Bian, Xindi; Liu, Shuhua. 2011. A North American regional reanalysis climatology of the Haines Index. International Journal of Wildland Fire. 20: 91-103.
- Sturtevant, Brian; Achtemeier, Gary; Anderson, Dean; Charney, Joseph; Cooke, Barry. 2011. Long-distance dispersal of eastern spruce budworm in Minnesota (USA) via the atmospheric pathway. In: 26th annual landscape ecology symposium. Sustainability in dynamic landscapes; 2011 April 3-7; Portland, Oregon. U.S. International Association for Landscape Ecology: 112-113. Abstract.
- Kiefer, Michael T.; Parker, Matthew D.; Charney, Joseph J. 2009. Regimes of dry convection above wildfires: Idealized numerical simulations and dimensional analysis. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences. 66: 806-836.
- Huang, Chenjie; Lin, Y.L.; Kaplan, M.L.; Charney, Joseph J.J. 2009. Synoptic-scale and mesoscale environments conducive to forest fires during the October 2003 extreme fire event in Southern California. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology. 48: 553-579.
- Clements, Craig B.; Zhong, Shiyuan; Goodrick, Scott; Li, Ju; Potter, Brian E.; Bian, Xindi; Heilman, Warren E.; Charney, Joseph J.; Perna, Ryan; Jang, Meongdo; Lee, Daegyun; Patel, Monica; Street, Susan; Aumann, Glenn. 2007. Observing the dynamics of Wildland grass fires: Fireflux - a field validation experiment. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 88:1369-1382.
- Charney, Joseph J.; Acheson, Ann L.; Stacy, Andrea. 2006. Top ten smoke management questions for fire in eastern oak forests. In: Dickinson, Matthew B., ed. 2006. Fire in eastern oak forests: delivering science to land managers, proceedings of a conference; 2005 November 15-17; Columbus, OH. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-1. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 199-209.
- Charney, Joseph J.; Bian, Xindi; Potter, Brian E.; Heilman, Warren E. 2003. Low Level Impacts on Fire Evolution in the Mack Lake and Other Severe Wildfires. In: 2d International Wildland Fire Ecology and Fire Management Congress: 5th Symposium on Fire and Forest Meteorology; 2033 November 16-20; Orlando, FL. Boston, MA: American Meteorological Society: 1.5.
- Charney, Joseph J.; Bian, Xindi; Potter, Brian E.; Heilman, Warren E. 2003. Low level jet impacts on fire evolutions in the Mack Lake and other severe wildfires.. In: 5th Symposium on fire and forest meteorology joint with 2nd International wildland fire ecology and fire management congress; 2003 November 16-20; Orlando, FL. Boston, MA: American Meteorological Society: n.p.
- Charney, Joseph J.; Bian, Xindi; Potter, Brian E.; Heilman, Warren E. 2003. Mesoscale Simulations During the Double Trouble State Park Wildfire in East-Central New Jersey on June 2, 2002. In: Proceedings of the 10th Conference on Mesoscale Processes; 2003 June 23-27; Portland, OR. American Meteorological Society: n.p.
- Heilman, Warren E.; Bian, Xindi; Charney, Joseph J.; Potter, Brian E. 2003. National Fire Plan--Eastern Area Modeling Consortium: Research, product development, and partnerships.. In: 5th Symposium on fire and forest meteorology joint with 2nd International wildland fire ecology and fire management congress; 2003 November 16-20; Orlando, FL. Boston, MA: American Meteorlogical Society: n.p. Available only on CD.
- Charney, Joseph J.; Bian, Xindi; Potter, Brian E.; Heilman, Warren E. 2003. The role of a stratospheric intrusion in the evolution of the Double Trouble State Park wildfire .. In: 5th Symposium on fire and forest meteorology joint with 2nd International wildland fire ecology and fire management congress; 2003 November 16-20; Orlando, FL. Boston, MA: American Meteorlogical Society: n.p. Available only on CD.
Last Modified: 12/08/2011