Dr. Greg Bierly

Research Interests

 

Mid-latitude circulation patterns, jet streaks and cyclone dynamics, linkages between cyclone airflow and intensity, synoptic climatology of arid environments. Baroclinic waves that amplify in the lee of the Colorado Rockies strongly influence the precipitation and temperature climatology of the central and eastern United States, particularly in late winter/early spring. Dr. Bierly's most recent research objectives, funded by the National Science Foundation, are devoted to understanding the meso- and synoptic scale structure of three-dimensional airflow within cyclones and how it varies with respect to low level wind maxima and the intensification history of the storm. Because relative-motion isentropic and pseudo-isentropic airstreams are strongly linked to stability fields and fronts within a large-scale storm system, the climatologic investigation of their structure and evolution is essential to the understanding of cyclone dynamics and resultant weather. Along these lines, Dr. Bierly is also particularly interested in the amount of variation controlled by the specific trajectory of the cyclone in governing the development or dissipation of the system.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

2009

Bierly, G.D. ENSO and Indiana’s Climate. Indiana’s Weather and Climate (J. Oliver ed.), Indiana University Press, 96-102.

Bierly, G.D. Storm-chasing. Indiana’s Weather and Climate (J. Oliver ed.), Indiana University Press, 28-29.

2008

G.D. Bierly and N. B. Rogers Civic education at the intersection of pedagogy and community: Liberal Learning in Action turns four. Metropolitan Universities: An International Forum 19 (1), 38-48.

Walters, C., J.A. Winkler, R. Shadbolt, J.V. Ravensway and G.D. Bierly: A long term climatology of southerly and northerly low-level jets for the central United States. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 98 (3), 1-32.

2006

Bierly, G.D., N.B. Rogers and K. Snider: Creating synergy between learning and service: A university responds to the needs of students and community. Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement, 10 (3), 69-82.

2005

Bierly, G.D. : Vorticity. The Encyclopedia of World Climatology (J. Oliver ed.), Springer, 794-797.

Bierly, G.D.: Extratropical cyclones. The Encyclopedia of World Climatology (J. Oliver ed.), Springer, 373-378.

Reiter, E.R. and G.D. Bierly: Jet streams. The Encyclopedia of World Climatology (J. Oliver ed.), Springer, 435-440.

Baumann, K.L, H.J. Kerns and G.D. Bierly. Singularities: A regional investigation of the January Thaw. Proc. 28 th Applied Geography Conference, 28, 122-131.

2004

Bierly, G.D. (with J.D. Gatrell, equal authorship): Structural and compositional change in geography graduate programs in the United States, 1991-2001. The Professional Geographer, 56, 3, 337-344.

Gatrell, J.D. and G.D. Bierly: Structural and compositional change in Canadian geography graduate programs, 1991-2001. Great Lakes Geographer, 10, 2, 113-121.

Gatrell, J.D., G.D. Bierly, R. Wickens, A. McCaslen and D. Beck: Blame it on the rain! Exploring the distinct political cultures of Kentucky and Indiana using turnout data and observed weather conditions. Journal of the Indiana Academy of Social Sciences, 7, 119-129.

2003

Bierly, G.D.: The Sangre de Cristo experience: Experiential learning in the high mountain west. Teaching and Learning at Indiana State University, Center for Teaching and Learning, Indiana State University, 1, 4-6 (internal University review).

2002

Gatrell, J. D. and G. D. Bierly: Weather and voter turnout: Kentucky primary and general elections, 1990-2000. Southeastern Geographer, 42, 1-21.

2001

Bierly, G.D. and J.A. Winkler: A composite analysis of airstreams within cold-season Colorado cyclones. Weather and Forecasting, 16, 2, 57-80.

Oliver, J. E., G. D. Bierly and H. Panofsky: Climatology. Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology, Academic Press, 3, 1-13.

Gatrell, J. D., G. D. Bierly and D. Beck: The politics of weather: Voter turnout in Kentucky 1990-2000. Proc. 24 th Applied Geography Conference, 24, 113-120.

2000

Bierly, G. D., J. A. Harrington, Jr., and D. F. Wilhelm: A climatology of surface cyclone trajectory and intensity for heavy-snow events at three Midwestern stations. Physical Geography, 21, 522-537.

Bierly, G. D.: An investigation of Indianapolis heavy snow-producing cyclones: 1966-1996. Professional Paper No. 21, Department of Geography, Geology and Anthropology, Indiana State University, 69-73.

1999

Bierly, G. D.: An investigation of the influence of cyclonic airstreams on Midwestern snowfall. The Professional Geographer, 340-349.

Pease, P. P., G. D. Bierly, V. P. Tchakerian and N. W. Tindale: Mineralogical characterization and transport pathways of dune sand using Landsat TM data, Wahiba Sand Sea, Sultanate of Oman. Geomorphology, 29, 235-249.

1998

Bierly, G. D.: Chapter 12. Notable weather events. Renaissance in the Heartland: The Indiana Experience, Pathways in Geography Series, National Council for Geographic Education (J. Oliver, editor), 71-73.

1997

Bierly, G. D.: The role of stratospheric intrusions in Colorado cyclogenesis. Physical Geography, 18, 4, 346-362.

1996

Bierly, G. D.: The utility of a GIS for three-dimensional isentropic analysis of a cyclogenesis event. Proc. 19 th Applied Geography Conference, 19, 83-88.

1995

Bierly, G. D. and J. A. Harrington, Jr.: A climatology of transition season Colorado cyclones: 1961-1990. Journal of Climate, 8, 853-863.

Bierly, G. D. and J. E. Flagg: Development of a composite index for desertification. Proc. 18 th Applied Geography Conference, 18, 107-113.

Walters, C., G. D. Bierly, P. A. Zuwerink, and J. A. Winkler: Lightning, radar and stability characteristics of summertime convection in the Great Lakes region. Proc.1st Symposium on Michigan Weather and Forecasting .

SYMPOSIA: ABSTRACTS PUBLISHED:

2008

Bierly, G.D.: Climate data and their proxies: Art, Islamic texts, and data collection at Indiana State University. Applied Geography Conference, Wilmington, Delaware.

Tuttle, E., R. Gonser, and G.D. Bierly: Buffering the effects of climate change. International Behavioral Ecology Conference, Cornell University.

2007

Bierly, G.D.: The future of applied climatology: Panelist. Applied Geography Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana (invited).

Tuttle, E., G.D. Bierly and R. Gonser: Extrinsic cascades and the impacts of climate change: Lessons from a little brown bird. 14 th Annual Adirondack Research Consortium, Tupper Lake, New York.

Schwartz, K., S. Slade, G.D. Bierly, E. Tuttle and R. Gonser. The relationship between regional climate and the nest success of the white-throated sparrow. Association of American Geographers, San Francisco, California.

2006

Bierly, G.D., E. Tuttle and R. Gonser. The influence of atmospheric conditions on the reproductive and parenting behavior of the white-throated sparrow. Applied Geography Conference, Tampa, Florida.

Bierly, G.D. and D. Dickey: The relationship between blocking in the North Pacific Ocean and Rocky Mountains lee cyclones. Association of American Geographers, Chicago, Illinois.

Baumann, K.L. and G.D. Bierly. The January Thaw: An investigation of a temperature singularity. Applied Geography Conference, Tampa, Florida.

Kerns, H. J., A. Lapcheska, K. Schwartz and G.D. Bierly. Correlation of low level jets and mid-latitude cyclones. Applied Geography Conference, Tampa, Florida.

2005

Bierly, G.D. and D. Dickey: The relationship between Alberta lee cyclogenesis and blocking in the North Pacific Ocean. Applied Geography Conference, Washington, DC.

Dickey, D. and G.D. Bierly On the development of North Pacific atmospheric blocking and Colorado lee cyclone behavior. Applied Geography Conference. Applied Geography Conference, Washington, DC.

Baumann, K.L., H.J. Kerns and G.D. Bierly: Singularities: A regional investigation of the January thaw. Applied Geography Conference, Washington, DC.

2004

Bierly, G.D., A. Augustine and S. Hardin: On the relationship between southwest U.S. cyclogenesis modes and teleconnection patterns. Association of American Geographers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

2003

Bierly, G. D. and A. Augustine: Modes of variation in the coupled motion and intensity of Colorado lee cyclones. Applied Geography Conference, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Bierly, G. D. and D. F. Wilhelm: On the relationship between spring season Colorado cyclogenesis events and southern Great Plains blowing dust events. Association of American Geographers, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Augustine, A. and G. D. Bierly: A comparison of the structure and behavior of two southwest U.S. cyclones types: Colorado lee and Great Basin regions. Applied Geography Conference, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Hardin, S., A. Augustine and G. D. Bierly: On the relationship between southwest U.S. cyclogenesis modes and teleconnection patterns. Applied Geography Conference, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

McCaslen, A., R. Wickens, G. D. Bierly and J.D. Gatrell: Political geography at the crossroads of America: Election day weather events and turnout issues. Association of American Geographers, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Gatrell, J.D., G.D. Bierly, R. Wickens, A. McCaslen and D. Beck: Blame it on the rain! Exploring the distinct political cultures of Kentucky and Indiana using turnout data and observed weather conditions. Annual Meeting of the Indiana Academy of the Social Sciences, Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

Mitchell, P., J. Speer, R. Jensen and G. D. Bierly: Exploring groundwater contamination with dendrochronology in northwestern Indiana. Association of American Geographers, New Orleans, Louisiana.

2001

Bierly, G. D.: On the relationship between surface cyclone trajectory and storm intensification in Alberta clippers. Applied Geography Conference, Ft. Worth, Texas.

Johannes, J. and G. D. Bierly: The role of jet streaks in Texas panhandle dust events. Applied Geography Conference, Ft. Worth, Texas.

Gatrell, J. D., G. D. Bierly and D. Beck: The politics of weather: Voter turnout in Kentucky 1990-2000. Applied Geography Conference, Ft. Worth, Texas.

Bierly, G. D.: Variability in selected relative-wind airstream features in cyclones. Association of American Geographers, New York City, New York.

2000

Bierly, G. D.: Surface cyclone track and the storm-relative windfield in Colorado cyclones. Applied Geography Conference, Tampa, Florida.

deSilva, S. and G. D. Bierly: Serendipity of location and timing--The extraordinary atmospheric impact of the 1600 eruption of Huaynaputina. American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California.

Bierly, G. D. and J. A. Harrington, Jr. Variability in North American cyclone behavior during Midwestern heavy snow events: 1966-1996. Association of American Geographers, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

1999

Bierly, G.D.: Cyclonic characteristics of Midwestern snowfall. Applied Geography Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina.

1998

Bierly, G. D.: Stratospheric intrusions during Colorado cyclogenesis. Association of American Geographers, Boston, Massachusetts.

1997

Tchakerian, V. P., P. P. Pease, G. D. Bierly and N. Tindale: Geomorphology and sediments of the Wahiba Sand Sea, Sultanate of Oman. 4th International Geomorphology Conference, Bologne, Italy.

Bierly, G. D. : The configuration and evolution of airstreams in cold-season Colorado cyclones. Association of American Geographers, Ft. Worth, Texas.

Tchakerian, V. P., G. D. Bierly, P. P. Pease and N. Tindale: Mineralogical identification of dune sand using Landsat TM Imagery, Wahiba Sand Sea, Sultanate of Oman. Association of American Geographers, Ft. Worth Texas (Bierly presenter).

1996

Bierly, G. D.: Colorado cyclogenesis: Composite analysis of isentropic airflow evolution. Association of American Geographers, Charlotte, North Carolina.

1995

Bierly, G. D.: A comparison of structure and intensity for Alberta and Colorado cyclones. Association of American Geographers, Chicago, Illinois.

Flagg, J. E. and G. D. Bierly: Monitoring desertification: On development of a composite index. East Lakes Association of American Geographers, Toledo, Ohio.

Bierly, G. D. : Cyclogenesis in the lee of the North American Rockies. American Meteorological Society, Southeast Michigan Chapter, Lansing, Michigan.

1994

Bierly, G. D., J. A. Winkler, and P. A. Zuwerink: Diurnal and spatial variations in convective activity as inferred from radar. Association of American Geographers, San Francisco, California.

1993

Bierly, G. D.: Migratory 850 mb cold pools and spring season low temperature events in Michigan. Association of American Geographers, Annual Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia.

1992

Bierly, G. D. and J. A. Harrington, Jr.: A 30-year climatology of transition season Colorado cyclones. Association of American Geographers, San Diego, California.

Bierly, G. D. : 500 mb fields associated with spring and fall Colorado cyclones. East Lakes Association of American Geographers, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.

1991

Bierly, G. D. and S. M. Berta: The utility of drought-period NOAA-9 and NOAA-10 AVHRR imagery for assessment of forestland coverage in Indiana. Association of American Geographers, Miami, Florida.

Bierly, G. D. and J. A. Harrington, Jr.: A climatology of transition season Colorado cyclones: 1961-1975. West Lakes Association of American Geographers, Duluth, Minnesota.