School of Earth and Environment
Untitled Document

Peter Knippertz Dr Peter Knippertz

Reader in Meteorology

Telephone number: +44(0) 113 34 36422
Email address: p.knippertz@leeds.ac.uk
Room: 11.104

Knippertz working group

Biography

Dr Peter Knippertz is a Reader in  Meteorology and has extensive research expertise in analyzing, modelling and forecasting storm systems in the tropics and extratropics.

His current work is focussed on dust storms over the Sahara and windstorms over the North Atlantic/Europe using a wide range of observations (conventional, satellite, aircraft) and modelling tools. He has been involved in several international research programmes and field campaigns such as THORPEX (The Observing System Research and Predictability Experiment), AMMA (African Monsoon Multiscale Analysis), SAMUM (Saharan Mineral Dust Experiment), DIAMET (DIAbatic influence on Mesoscale structures in ExTratropical storms) and FENNEC.

Ongoing projects are being funded by the European Research Council (ERC), the AXA Research Fund and the National Environmental Research Council (NERC). He has authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles on tropical-extratropical interations, the dynamics of dust storms, precipitation dynamics in Africa and extratropical wind storms.

Qualifications

  • Diploma Meteorology, University of Cologne
  • PhD Meteorology, University of Cologne

Memberships/Fellowships

  • Associate Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society
  • Member of the German Meteorological Society and the European Geosciences Union

Research Interests

  • Atmospheric Dynamics
  • Tropical Meteorology
  • Dust Research
  • Wind and Rain Storms

Academic CV (pdf file)

Publications

  • Wiegand, L; Twitchett, A; Schwierz, C; Knippertz, P (2011) Heavy Precipitation at the Alpine South Side and Saharan Dust over Central Europe: A Predictability Study Using TIGGE , WEATHER AND FORECASTING, 26, pp.957-974. doi:10.1175/WAF-D-10-05060.1
  • Marsham, JH; Knippertz, P; Dixon, NS; Parker, DJ; Lister, GMS (2011) The importance of the representation of deep convection for modeled dust-generating winds over West Africa during summer, GEOPHYS RES LETT, 38, . doi:10.1029/2011GL048368
  • Knippertz, P; Fink, AH; Schuster, R; Trentmann, J; Schrage, JM; Yorke, C (2011) Ultra-low clouds over the southern West African monsoon region , GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, 38, . doi:10.1029/2011GL049278
  • Stein, THM; Parker, DJ; Delanoe, J; Dixon, NS; Hogan, RJ; Knippertz, P; Maidment, RI; Marsham, JH (2011) The vertical cloud structure of the West African monsoon: A 4 year climatology using CloudSat and CALIPSO , JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-ATMOSPHERES, 116, . doi:10.1029/2011JD016029
  • Schepanski, K; Knippertz, P (2011) Soudano-Saharan depressions and their importance for precipitation and dust: a new perspective on a classical synoptic concept, Q J ROY METEOR SOC, 137, pp.1431-1445. doi:10.1002/qj.850
  • Knippertz, P; Tesche, M; Heinold, B; Kandler, K; Toledano, C; Esselborn, M (2011) Dust mobilization and aerosol transport from West Africa to Cape Verde-a meteorological overview of SAMUM-2, TELLUS B, 63, pp.430-447. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0889.2011.00544.x
  • Heinold, B; Tegen, I; Schepanski, K; Tesche, M; Esselborn, M; Freudenthaler, V; Gross, S; Kandler, K; Knippertz, P; Muller, D; Schladitz, A; Toledano, C; Weinzierl, B; Ansmann, A; Althausen, D; Muller, T; Petzold, A; Wiedensohler, A (2011) Regional modelling of Saharan dust and biomass-burning smoke Part I: Model description and evaluation, TELLUS B, 63, pp.781-799. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0889.2011.00570.x
  • Knippertz, P; Todd, MC (2010) The central west Saharan dust hot spot and its relation to African easterly waves and extratropical disturbances, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOS, 115, . doi:10.1029/2009JD012819
  • Lafore, JP; Flamant, C; Giraud, V; Guichard, F; Knippertz, P; Mahfouf, JF; Mascart, P; Williams, ER (2010) Introduction to the AMMA Special Issue on 'Advances in understanding atmospheric processes over West Africa through the AMMA field campaign', Q J ROY METEOR SOC, 136, pp.2-7. doi:10.1002/qj.583
  • Knippertz, P; Wernli, H (2010) A Lagrangian Climatology of Tropical Moisture Exports to the Northern Hemispheric Extratropics, J CLIMATE, 23, pp.987-1003. doi:10.1175/2009JCLI3333.1
  • Lavaysse, C; Flamant, C; Janicot, S; Knippertz, P (2010) Links between African easterly waves, midlatitude circulation and intraseasonal pulsations of the West African heat low, Q J ROY METEOR SOC, 136, pp.141-158. doi:10.1002/qj.555
  • Emmel, C; Knippertz, P; Schulz, O (2010) Climatology of convective density currents in the southern foothills of the Atlas Mountains, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOS, 115, . doi:10.1029/2009JD012863
  • Cuesta, J; Lavaysse, C; Flamant, C; Mimouni, M; Knippertz, P (2010) Northward bursts of the West African monsoon leading to rainfall over the Hoggar Massif, Algeria, Q J ROY METEOR SOC, 136, pp.174-189. doi:10.1002/qj.439
  • Muller, D; Weinzierl, B; Petzold, A; Kandler, K; Ansmann, A; Muller, T; Tesche, M; Freudenthaler, V; Esselborn, M; Heese, B; Althausen, D; Schladitz, A; Otto, S; Knippertz, P (2010) Mineral dust observed with AERONET Sun photometer, Raman lidar, and in situ instruments during SAMUM 2006: Shape-independent particle properties, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOS, 115, . doi:10.1029/2009JD012520
  • Knippertz, P; Chagnon, JM; Foster, A; Lathouwers, L; Marsham, JH; Methven, J; Parker, DJ (2010) Research flight observations of a prefrontal gravity wave near the southwestern UK, WEATHER, 65, pp.293-297. doi:10.1002/wea.632
  • Kahn, R; Petzold, A; Wendisch, M; Bierwirth, E; Dinter, T; Esselborn, M; Fiebig, M; Heese, B; Knippertz, P; Muller, D; Schladitz, A; Von Hoyningen-Huene, A (2009) Desert dust aerosol air mass mapping in the western Sahara, using particle properties derived from space-based multi-angle imaging, TELLUS B, 61, pp.239-251. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0889.2008.00398.x
  • Freudenthaler, V; Esselborn, M; Wiegner, M; Heese, B; Tesche, M; Ansmann, A; Muller, D; Althausen, D; Wirth, M; Fix, A; Ehret, G; Knippertz, P; Toledano, C; Gasteiger, J; Garhammer, M; Seefeldner, M (2009) Depolarization ratio profiling at several wavelengths in pure Saharan dust during SAMUM 2006, TELLUS B, 61, pp.165-179. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0889.2008.00396.x
  • Ansmann, A; Tesche, M; Knippertz, P; Bierwirth, E; Althausen, D; Muller, D; Schulz, O (2009) Vertical profiling of convective dust plumes in southern Morocco during SAMUM, TELLUS B, 61, pp.340-353. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0889.2008.00384.x
  • Heinold, B; Tegen, I; Esselborn, M; Kandler, K; Knippertz, P; Muller, D; Schladitz, A; Tesche, M; Weinzierl, B; Ansmann, A; Althausen, D; Laurent, B; Massling, A; Muller, T; Petzold, A; Schepanski, K; Wiedensohler, A (2009) Regional Saharan dust modelling during the SAMUM 2006 campaign, TELLUS B, 61, pp.307-324. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0889.2008.00387.x
  • Knippertz, P; Fink, AH (2009) Prediction of Dry-Season Precipitation in Tropical West Africa and Its Relation to Forcing from the Extratropics, WEATHER FORECAST, 24, pp.1064-1084. doi:10.1175/2009WAF2222221.1
  • Tesche, M; Ansmann, A; Muller, D; Althausen, D; Mattis, I; Heese, B; Freudenthaler, V; Wiegner, M; Esselborn, M; Pisani, G; Knippertz, P (2009) Vertical profiling of Saharan dust with Raman lidars and airborne HSRL in southern Morocco during SAMUM, TELLUS B, 61, pp.144-164. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0889.2008.00390.x
  • Flamant, C; Knippertz, P; Parker, DJ; Chaboureau, JP; Lavaysse, C; Agusti-Panareda, A; Kergoat, L (2009) The impact of a mesoscale convective system cold pool on the northward propagation of the intertropical discontinuity over West Africa, Q J ROY METEOR SOC, 135, pp.139-159. doi:10.1002/qj.357
  • Muller, D; Heinold, B; Tesche, M; Tegen, I; Althausen, D; Arboledas, LA; Amiridis, V; Amodeo, A; Ansmann, A; Balis, D; Comeron, A; D'amico, G; Gerasopoulos, E; Guerrero-Rascado, JL; Freudenthaler, V; Giannakaki, E; Heese, B; Iarlori, M; Knippertz, P; Mamouri, RE; Mona, L; Papayannis, A; Pappalardo, G; Perrone, RM; Pisani, G; Rizi, V; Sicard, M; Spinelli, N; Tafuro, A; Wiegner, M (2009) EARLINET observations of the 14-22-May long-range dust transport event during SAMUM 2006: validation of results from dust transport modelling, TELLUS B, 61, pp.325-339. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0889.2008.00400.x
  • Knippertz, P; Fink, AH; Pohle, S (2009) Comments on "Dry-Season Precipitation in Tropical West Africa and Its Relation to Forcing from the Extratropics'' Reply, MON WEATHER REV, 137, pp.3151-3157. doi:10.1175/2009MWR3006.1
  • Knippertz, P; Trentmann, J; Seifert, A (2009) High-resolution simulations of convective cold pools over the northwestern Sahara, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOS, 114, . doi:10.1029/2008JD011271
  • Knippertz, P; Ansmann, A; Althausen, D; Muller, D; Tesche, M; Bierwirth, E; Dinter, T; Muller, T; Von Hoyningen-Huene, W; Schepanski, K; Wendisch, M; Heinold, B; Kandler, K; Petzold, A; Schutz, L; Tegen, I (2009) Dust mobilization and transport in the northern Sahara during SAMUM 2006 - a meteorological overview, TELLUS B, 61, pp.12-31. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0889.2008.00380.x
  • Kandler, K; Schutz, L; Deutscher, C; Ebert, M; Hofmann, H; Jackel, S; Jaenicke, R; Knippertz, P; Lieke, K; Massling, A; Petzold, A; Schladitz, A; Weinzierl, B; Wiedensohler, A; Zorn, S; Weinbruch, S (2009) Size distribution, mass concentration, chemical and mineralogical composition and derived optical parameters of the boundary layer aerosol at Tinfou, Morocco, during SAMUM 2006, TELLUS B, 61, pp.32-50. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0889.2008.00385.x
  • Meier, F; Knippertz, P (2009) Dynamics and Predictability of a Heavy Dry-Season Precipitation Event over West Africa-Sensitivity Experiments with a Global Model, MON WEATHER REV, 137, pp.189-206. doi:10.1175/2008MWR2622.1
  • Reinfried, F; Tegen, I; Heinold, B; Hellmuth, O; Schepanski, K; Cubasch, U; Huebener, H; Knippertz, P (2009) Simulations of convectively-driven density currents in the Atlas region using a regional model: Impacts on dust emission and sensitivity to horizontal resolution and convection schemes, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOS, 114, . doi:10.1029/2008JD010844
  • Petzold, A; Rasp, K; Weinzierl, B; Esselborn, M; Hamburger, T; Dornbrack, A; Kandler, K; Schutz, L; Knippertz, P; Fiebig, M; Virkkula, A (2009) Saharan dust absorption and refractive index from aircraft-based observations during SAMUM 2006, TELLUS B, 61, pp.118-130. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0889.2008.00383.x
  • Todd, MC; Washington, R; Raghavan, S; Lizcano, G; Knippertz, P (2008) Regional model simulations of the Bodele low-level jet of northern Chad during the Bodele Dust Experiment (BoDEx 2005), J CLIMATE, 21, pp.995-1012. doi:10.1175/2007JCLI1766.1
  • Knippertz, P; Fink, AH (2008) Dry-season precipitation in tropical West Africa and its relation to forcing from the extratropics, MON WEATHER REV, 136, pp.3579-3596. doi:10.1175/2008MWR2295.1
  • Ansmann, A; Tesche, M; Althausen, D; Muller, D; Seifert, P; Freudenthaler, V; Heese, B; Wiegner, M; Pisani, G; Knippertz, P; Dubovik, O (2008) Influence of Saharan dust on cloud glaciation in southern Morocco during the Saharan Mineral Dust Experiment, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOS, 113, . doi:10.1029/2007JD008785
  • Knippertz, P (2008) Dust emissions in the West African heat trough - the role of the diurnal cycle and of extratropical disturbances, METEOROLOGISCHE ZEITSCHRIFT, 17, pp.553-563. doi:10.1127/0941-2948/2008/0315
  • Fink, AH; Piecha, K; Brücher, T; Knippertz, P (2008) Precipitation variability in Northwest Africa, In: Schulz, O; Judex, M (Ed) IMPETUS Atlas Morocco. Research Results 2000–2007., Department of Geography, University of Bonn.
  • Frohlich, L; Knippertz, P (2008) Identification and global climatology of upper-level troughs at low latitudes, METEOROLOGISCHE ZEITSCHRIFT, 17, pp.565-573. doi:10.1127/0941-2948/2008/0320
  • Karam, DB; Flamant, C; Knippertz, P; Reitebuch, O; Pelon, J; Chong, M; Dabas, A (2008) Dust emissions over the Sahel associated with the West African monsoon intertropical discontinuity region: A representative case-study, Q J ROY METEOR SOC, 134, pp.621-634. doi:10.1002/qj.244
  • Born, K; Christoph, M; Fink, AH; Knippertz, P; Paeth, H; Speth, P (2008) Moroccan climate in the present and future: Combined view from observational data and regional climate scenarios., In: Zereini, F; Hötzl, H (Ed) Climate changes and water resources in the Middle East and in North Africa, Springer, pp.29-45.
  • Kandler, K; Benker, N; Bundke, U; Cuevas, E; Ebert, M; Knippertz, P; Rodriguez, S; Schutz, L; Weinbruch, S (2007) Chemical composition and complex refractive index of Saharan Mineral Dust at Izana, Tenerife (Spain) derived by electron microscopy, ATMOS ENVIRON, 41, pp.8058-8074. doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2007.06.047
  • Knippertz, P (2007) Tropical-extratropical interactions related to upper-level troughs at low latitudes, DYNAM ATMOS OCEANS, 43, pp.36-62. doi:10.1016/j.dynatmoce.2006.06.003
  • Knippertz, P; Martin, JE (2007) A Pacific moisture conveyor belt and its relationship to a significant precipitation event in the semiarid southwestern United States, WEATHER FORECAST, 22, pp.125-144. doi:10.1175/WAF963.1
  • Knippertz, P; Deutscher, C; Kandler, K; Muller, T; Schulz, O; Schutz, L (2007) Dust mobilization due to density currents in the Atlas region: Observations from the Saharan Mineral Dust Experiment 2006 field campaign, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOS, 112, . doi:10.1029/2007JD008774
  • Knippertz, P; Martin, JE (2007) The role of dynamic and diabatic processes in the generation of cut-off lows over Northwest Africa, METEOROL ATMOS PHYS, 96, pp.3-19. doi:10.1007/s00703-006-0217-4
  • Evan, AT; Heidinger, AK; Knippertz, P (2006) Analysis of winter dust activity off the coast of West Africa using a new 24-year over-water advanced very high resolution radiometer satellite dust climatology, J GEOPHYS RES-ATMOS, 111, . doi:10.1029/2005JD006336
  • Knippertz, P; Fink, AH (2006) Synoptic and dynamic aspects of an extreme springtime Saharan dust outbreak, Q J ROY METEOR SOC, 132, pp.1153-1177. doi:10.1256/qj.05.109
  • Knippertz, P; Martin, JE (2005) Tropical plumes and extreme precipitation in subtropical and tropical West Africa, Q J ROY METEOR SOC, 131, pp.2337-2365. doi:10.1256/qj.04.148
  • Knippertz, P (2005) Tropical-extratropical interactions associated with an Atlantic tropical plume and subtropical jet streak, MON WEATHER REV, 133, pp.2759-2776.
  • Knippertz, P (2004) A simple identification scheme for upper-level troughs and its application to winter precipitation variability in northwest Africa, J CLIMATE, 17, pp.1411-1418.
  • Knippertz, P; Ulbrich, U; Marques, F; Corte-Real, J (2003) Decadal changes in the link between El Nino and springtime North Atlantic oscillation and European-North African rainfall, INT J CLIMATOL, 23, pp.1293-1311. doi:10.1002/joc.944
  • Knippertz, P; Fink, AH; Reiner, A; Speth, P (2003) Three late summer/early autumn cases of tropical-extratropical interactions causing precipitation in northwest Africa, MON WEATHER REV, 131, pp.116-135.
  • Knippertz, P; Christoph, M; Speth, P (2003) Long-term precipitation variability in Morocco and the link to the large-scale circulation in recent and future climates, METEOROL ATMOS PHYS, 83, pp.67-88. doi:10.1007/s00703-002-561-y
  • Knippertz, P (2003) Tropical-extratropical interactions causing precipitation in northwest Africa: Statistical analysis and seasonal variations, MON WEATHER REV, 131, pp.3069-3076.
  • Fink, AH; Knippertz, P (2003) An extreme precipitation event in southern Morocco in spring 2002 and some hydrological implications, WEATHER, 58, pp.377-387.
  • Knippertz, P; Ulbrich, U; Speth, P (2000) Changing cyclones and surface wind speeds over the North Atlantic and Europe in a transient GHG experiment, CLIMATE RES, 15, pp.109-122.