Michelle M. Gierach

Education:

• 2006 – present: Ph.D. Marine Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
• 2006: M.S. Meteorology, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
• 2004: B.S. Meteorology, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

Research Interests:

• Application of satellite observations, in situ observations, and model simulations to understand ocean dynamics and biological responses
• The upper ocean response and coupled ocean-atmospheric interactions during tropical cyclones
• Satellite near-surface wind estimates using QuikSCAT
• Physical and biological modeling
• Hurricane contribution to air-sea fluxes of CO2

Awards and Honors:

• Spring – Fall 2008: Graduate Research Assistant
• Fall 2007: Teaching Assistant for Introduction to Oceanography (MSCI 101)
• Spring – Summer 2007: Graduate Research Assistant
• Fall 2006: Teaching Assistant for Introduction to Oceanography (MSCI 101)
• Summer 2006: Graduate Research Assistant
• Fall 2004 – Spring 2006: Graduate Research Assistant at the Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies
• Spring 2004: Undergraduate Research Assistant at the Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies
• Fall 2003 – Spring 2004: Teaching Assistant for Introductory Meteorology Laboratory (MET 1010L)

Professional Activities:

• Journal Reviewer: Remote Sensing of Environment

Refereed Publications:

• Gierach, M. M. , and B. Subrahmanyam, 2008: Biophysical responses of the upper ocean to major Gulf of Mexico hurricanes in 2005. J. Geophys. Res. Oceans, 113, C04029, doi:10.1029/2007JC004419.
• Gierach, M. M. , and B. Subrahmanyam, 2007: "Global ocean color and phytoplankton," State of the Climate in 2006. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 88, S43-45.
• Gierach, M. M. , and B. Subrahmanyam, 2007: Satellite data analysis of the upper ocean response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (2005) in the Gulf of Mexico. IEEE Geosci. Remote Sens. Lett., 4, 132-136.
• Gierach, M. M., M. A. Bourassa, P. Cunningham, P. D. Reasor, and J. J. O’Brien, 2007: Vorticity-based detection of tropical cyclogenesis. J. Appl. Meteorol. Climatol., 46, 1214-1229.

Conference Presentations:

• Gierach, M. M., and B. Subrahmanyam, 2008: Multi-sensor satellite and HYCOM analysis of the upper ocean response to Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf of Mexico, 28th Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, American Meteorological Society, April, Orlando, FL.
• Gierach, M. M., B. Subrahmanyam, and P. Thoppil, 2008: Upper ocean response to Hurricane Katrina (2005) in a 1/25 degree nested Gulf of Mexico HYCOM. 2008 Ocean Sciences Meeting, American Geophysical Union, March, Orlando, FL.
• Gierach, M. M., and B. Subrahmanyam, 2006: Upper ocean response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (2005) from multi-sensor satellites. 2006 Fall Meeting, American Geophysical Union, December, San Francisco, CA.
• Hite, M. M., M. A. Bourassa, P. Cunningham, J. J. O'Brien, and P.D. Reasor, 2006: Vorticity-based detection of tropical cyclogenesis. 27th Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, American Meteorological Society, April, Monterey, CA.
• Hite, M. M. , M. A. Bourassa, and J. J. O'Brien, 2006: Vorticity-based detection of tropical cyclogenesis. 14th Conference on Interaction of the Sea and Atmosphere, American Meteorological Society, February, Atlanta, GA.

Presentations at Professional Meetings:

• Gierach, M. M., and B. Subrahmanyam, 2008: Gulf of Mexico response to Hurricane Katrina (2005). NASA Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop, April 28 – May 2.
• Gierach, M. M., and B. Subrahmanyam, 2007: Biophysical feedback mechanisms during Gulf of Mexico hurricanes using satellite observations and HYCOM simulations. NASA Ocean Color Science Team, April 11 – 13.

Invited Presentations:

• Gierach, M. M., 2008: Analysis of the upper ocean response to Hurricane Katrina (2005) using a 1/25 degree nested Gulf of Mexico HYCOM. University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, April 2.
• Gierach, M. M., 2008: Hurricanes: Misunderstood giants. 2008 Ocean Science Bowl, Columbia, SC, February 23.
• Gierach, M. M., 2007: Upper ocean response to hurricanes: A satellite oceanographer's perspective. Marine Science Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, April 27.
• Gierach, M. M., 2007: Biophysical feedback mechanisms during Gulf of Mexico hurricanes. University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, April 4.
• Gierach, M. M., 2006: Satellite observations and model simulations of the upper ocean response to hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, December 7.