Welcome to Phil Durkee's Home Page

Philip A. Durkee
Professor of Meteorology
Department of Meteorology, Code MR/De
Naval Postraduate School
589 Dyer Road, Room 254
Monterey, CA 93943-5114
phone: (831)656-3465 FAX: -3061 durkee@nps.navy.mil

Courses I Teach

MR3421 - CLOUD PHYSICS
MR3480 - ATMOSPHERIC THERMODYNAMICS AND RADIATIVE PROCESSES
MR3522 - REMOTE SENSING OF THE ATMOSPHERE AND OCEAN/LABORATORY
SS3525 - REMOTE SENSING FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY CURRICULA
MR4520 - TOPICS IN SATELLITE REMOTE SENSING

Here are some locations that are of interest to me:

NPS Remote Sensing Lab

Personal Information

Education

University of Minnesota, Physics: 1978, B. Physics, with distinction
Colorado State University, Atmospheric Science: 1980, M.S.
Colorado State University, Atmospheric Science: 1984, Ph.D.

Inspiration

I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowlege is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind; it may be the beginning of knowledge, but you have scarcely, in your thoughts, advanced to the stage of Science, whatever the matter may be. -Lord Kelvin (Do you agree with this?)

Thesis Topics

Studies of the Effects of Ships on Clouds (Shiptracks)

During June 1994 the Monterey Area Ship Track Experiment was conducted off the coast of California. Aircraft and ship data is available for analysis and study of the effects of ship type and environmental conditions. Work is also needed to examine the track-producing potential of US Navy ships. Several theses have been produced over the past few years and could serve as valuable reading material.

Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE-1)

Aerosols affect electro-optical propagation and the transfer of radiant energy in the atmosphere. In November-December 1995, ACE-1 was conducted to describe the aerosol particles of the southern ocean and investigate their radiative properties. The focus of NPS contributions to ACE-1 centers on satellite observations of aerosol properties.

Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE-2)

ACE-2 is scheduled for June-July 1997 in the eastern North Atlantic with ground sites in the Canary Islands and southern Portugal. The CIRPAS Pelican (see below) will operate for the first time as a remotely-piloted aircraft in a science experiment. Pelican will contribute to the LAGRANGIAN and CLEAR COLUMN experiments with some contribution to the CLOUDY COLUMN activities. Thesis opportunities include participation in the Canary Islands during the experiments and processing/analyzing data following ACE-2.

Tropospheric Aerosol Radiative Forcing Observational eXperiment (TARFOX)

TARFOX was conducted during July 1996 at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA. TARFOX was the first set of science missions for CIRPAS and the Pelican aircraft.

Center for Interdisciplinary Remotely-Piloted Aircraft Studies (CIRPAS)

Check out the CIRPAS Home Page and discover the capabilities of this new facility at NPS. Many projects are beginning that offer exciting opportunities for thesis research that are state-of-the-art technologically and address critical Navy problems. Some upcoming projects include:

EW test using the Pelican aircraft at PMTC (October 1996). Includes flights coordinated with ship-board jamming systems.
Hyperspectral radiometer tests (November 1996). Remote sensing of atmosphere and ocean constituents with comparisons with satellite observations including ADEOS OCTS measurements.
NASA Ames Suntracking Sunphotometer operations (November 1996). Includes in situ and remote sensing of column aerosol, water vapor, ozone, and other constituents.