Wildland Fire - Plume Dynamics

My research investigates the multi-scale processes governing wildland fire generated plume behavior, smoke transport, and firebrands caused sportting in complex terrain and various atmospheric conditions. I use numerical models and radar observations to understand the coupling between fire-induced flows and ambient atmospheric conditions.

Tropical Cyclone Intensity and Size

I study how environmental factors such as vertical wind shear, ocean heat content, and inner-core processes influence the intensity and structure of tropical cyclones. This work integrates idealized modeling, reanalysis data, and satellite observations. Here is our website for real-time hurricane intensity and size predictions: https://amccao.wixsite.com/hurricanewindprofile

Climate Feedbacks and Sensitivities

I am also interested in how feedback mechanisms—especially those involving convection, cloud processes, and land-atmosphere interactions—affect climate sensitivity and variability across time scales.