Zen Mariani, PhD
Research scientist in the meteorological research division specializing in remote sensing observations
Current research and/or projects
Develop and evaluate new ground-based integrated observing systems using remote sensing technologies (radar, lidar, etc.) for meteorological measurements in the Arctic and urban environments. Investigate applications and capabilities of new technologies and provide recommendations on technology adoptation. Evaluate their impact on numerical weather prediction models.
- PI for meteorological research supersite in Iqaluit, NU as part of the Canadian Arctic Weather Science (CAWS) Project and Squamish, BC research site
- PI for the Southern Ontario Lidar Mesonet to aid high-impact weather forecasting using lidar observations
- Sub-orbital working group member for the upcoming NASA/CSA AOS-HAWC satellite mission
- Test and evaluate new ground-based remote sensing technologies, such as Doppler lidars and radars, and assess their performance and applications in the Arctic and urban environments
- Produce integrated meteorological products in near-real time, delivered to operational forecasters and researchers, in order to assess their impact on forecast capabilities
- Provide reccomendations on technology transfer to operations
- Use the enhanced meteorological observations to evaluate numerical weather prediction forecast models and perform satellite calibration/validation
Education and awards
Ph.D. Physics, University of Toronto, 2014 (collaborative Ph.D. program in Environmental Policy and Management)
M.Sc. Physics, University of Toronto, 2010
B.Sc. (Hons.) Physics, University of Western Ontario, 2009
Key publications
-Mariani, Z. and Huang, L. and Crawford, R. and Blanchet, J.-P. and Hicks-Jalali, S. and Mekis, E. and Pelletier, L. and Rodriguez, P. and Strawbridge, K. (2022): Enhanced automated meteorological observations at the Canadian Arctic Weather Science (CAWS) supersites. Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 4995–5017, 2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-4995-2022.
-Mariani, Z.; Hicks-Jalali, S.; Strawbridge, K.; Gwozdecky, J.; Crawford, R.W.; Casati, B.; Lemay, F.; Lehtinen, R.; Tuominen, P. (2021). Evaluation of Arctic Water Vapor Profile Observations from a Differential Absorption Lidar. Remote Sens. 2021, 13, 551. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13040551
-Mariani, Z., N. Stanton, J. Whiteway, and R. Lehtinen (2020): Toronto Water Vapor Lidar Inter-Comparison Campaign. Remote Sens., 12(19), 3165, https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12193165
-Mariani, Z., R. Crawford, B. Casati, and F. Lemay (2020): A multi-year evaluation of Doppler lidar wind-profile observations in the Arctic. Remote Sens., 12, 323: doi:10.3390/rs12020323
- Mariani, Z., A. Dehghan, G. Gascon, P. Joe, D. Hudak, K. Strawbridge, and J. Corriveau (2018): Multi-instrument observations of prolonged stratified wind layers at Iqaluit, Nunavut. Geophys. Res. Lett., 45 (3), 1654-1660.
- Mariani, Z., A. Dehghan, D.M. Sills, and P. Joe (2017): Observations of Lake Breeze Events during the Toronto 2015 Pan-American Games. Boundary-layer Meteor., https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-017-0289-3.
- Mariani, Z., K. Strong, and J.R. Drummond (2016): Distributions of Downwelling Radiance at 10 and 20 μm in the High Arctic. Atmos-Ocean, 54(5), 529-540, DOI: 10.1080/07055900.2016.1216825.
- Mariani, Z., K. Strong, M. Palm, R. Lindenmaier, C. Adams, X. Zhao, V. Savastiouk, C. T. McElroy, F. Goutail, and J. R. Drummond (2013): Year-round Retrievals of Trace Gases in the Arctic using the Extended-range Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer. Atmos. Meas. Tech., 6, 1549-1565.
- Mariani, Z., K. Strong, M. Wolff, P. Rowe, V. Walden, P. F. Fogal, T. Duck, G. Lesins, D. S. Turner, C. Cox, E. Eloranta, J. R. Drummond, C. Roy, D. D. Turner, D. Hudak, and I. A. Lindenmaier (2012): Infrared Measurements in the Arctic using Two Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometers. Atmos. Meas. Tech., 5, 329-344.
- Mariani, Z., K. Strong, M. Wolff, P. Rowe, V. Walden, P. F. Fogal, T. Duck, G. Lesins, D. S. Turner, C. Cox, E. Eloranta, J. R. Drummond, R. L Lachance, C. Roy, D. D. Turner, D. Hudak, and I. A. Lindenmaier (2012): Infrared Measurements throughout Polar Night using Two AERIs in the Arctic. Conf. SPIE, 8534, 85340H-1.