Staff information

Biography

Sally McFarlane's research focuses on the remote sensing and radiative transfer of cloud and aerosol particles. The primary goal of her research is to improve understanding of the radiative effect of clouds and aerosols on the Earth’s atmosphere and its representation in climate models. Her past projects include performing theoretical radiative transfer closure studies of clouds in the tropics and of aerosols in sub-Saharan Africa, developing a new method of retrieving liquid cloud properties from millimeter wave radar and microwave radiometer measurements, and retrieving ice crystal shape from multi-angular satellite measurements. Dr. McFarlane is currently involved in several projects studying tropical clouds, both through NASA funding and as part of the Tropical Western Pacific (TWP) Site Scientist Team for the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program. She is using ground-based and satellite remote sensing observations along with model simulations to explore the role that the vertical structure of tropical clouds plays in their effects on the radiation budget. Dr. McFarlane is currently the Science Translator for the ARM Program’s Radiative Processes Working Group, which includes acting as co-chair of the Working Group and leading the development effort to produce ARM Value Added Products associated with the working group.

Research Interests

• Remote sensing methods for retrieving cloud properties
• Improved understanding of the radiative effect of clouds on the Earth’s atmosphere

Education and Credentials

• Ph.D., Astrophysical, Planetary, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Colorado (2002); Thesis Advisor: Dr. K. Franklin Evans
• M.S., Astrophysical, Planetary, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Colorado (1999)
• B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Mount Holyoke College (summa cum laude) (1997)

Affiliations and Professional Service

• American Meteorological Society
• American Geophysical Union

Awards and Recognitions

• NASA New Investigator Program Award, 2008
• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, 1997-2000
• University of Colorado Chancellor's Fellowship, 1997-1999

Selected Publications

2008

• McFarlane SA, and RT Marchand. 2008. "Analysis of Ice Crystal Habits Derived From MISR and MODIS Observations Over the ARM Southern Great Plains Site." Journal of Geophysical Research. D. (Atmospheres) 113:Art. no. D07209.  doi:10.1029/2007JD009191
• Barnard JC, CN Long, EI Kassianov, SA McFarlane, JM Comstock, M Freer, and G McFarquhar. 2008. "Development and Evaluation of a Simple Algorithm to Find Cloud Optical Depth with Emphasis on Thin Ice Clouds." Open Atmospheric Science Journal 2:46-55.  doi:10.2174/1874282300802010046

2007

• McFarlane SA, and WW Grabowski. 2007. "Optical properties of shallow tropical cumuli derived from ARM ground-based remote sensing ." Geophysical Research Letters 34(6):Art. No. L06808.  doi:10.1029/2006GL028767
• McFarlane SA, JH Mather, and TP Ackerman. 2007. "Analysis of tropical radiative heating profiles: A comparison of models and observations ." Journal of Geophysical Research. D. (Atmospheres) 112:D14218.  doi:10.1029/2006JD008290
• Comstock JM, R d'Entremont, D DeSlover, GG Mace, SY Matrosov, SA McFarlane, P Minnis, D Mitchell, K Sassen, MD Shupe, DD Turner, and Z Wang. 2007. "An Intercomparison of Microphysical Retrieval Algorithms for Upper-Tropospheric Ice Clouds." Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 88(2):191-204.  doi:10.1175/BAMS-88-2-191
• Mather JH, SA McFarlane, M Miller, and KL Johnson. 2007. "Cloud Properties and Associated Radiative Heating Rates in the Tropical Western Pacific ." Journal of Geophysical Research. D. (Atmospheres) 112:D05201.  doi:doi:10.1029/2006JD007555
• Turner DD, AM Vogelmann, RT Austin, JC Barnard, K Cady-Pereira, C Chiu, SA Clough, CJ Flynn, MM Khaiyer, JC Liljegren, KL Johnson, B Lin, CN Long, A Marshak, SY Matrosov, SA McFarlane, MA Miller, Q Min, P Minnis, W O'Hirok, Z Wang, and WJ Wiscombe. 2007. "Thin Liquid Water Clouds: Their Importance and Our Challenge." Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 88(2):177-190.  doi:10.1175/BAMS-88-2-177

2006

• Slingo A, TP Ackerman, RP Allan, EI Kassianov, SA McFarlane, GJ Robinson, JC Barnard, M Miller, JE Harries, JE Russell, and S Dewitte. 2006. "Observations of the impact of a major Saharan dust storm on the atmospheric radiation balance." Geophysical Research Letters 33:L24817 (5 pages).  doi:10.1029/2006GL027869

2005

• McFarlane SA, RT Marchand, and TP Ackerman. 2005. "Retrieval of Cloud Phase and Crystal Habit from Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Data." Journal of Geophysical Research. D. (Atmospheres) 110(D14):D14201, doi: 10.1029/2004JD004831. 
• McFarlane SA, CN Long, and DM Flynn. 2005. "Impact of Island-Induced Clouds on Surface Measurements: Analysis of the ARM Nauru Island Effect Study Data." Journal of Applied Meteorology 44(7):1045-1065. 

2004

• McFarlane SA, and KF Evans. 2004. "Clouds and Shortwave Fluxes at Nauru. Part I: Retrieved Cloud Properties." Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences 61(6):733-744. 
• McFarlane SA, and KF Evans. 2004. "Clouds and Shortwave Fluxes at Nauru. Part II: Shortwave Flux Closure." Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences 61(21):2602-2615.