General Lab Information

Katia Lamer

Scientist and Director Center for Multiscale Applied Sensing, Environmental Science and Technologies Department

Katia Lamer

Brookhaven National Laboratory

Environmental Science and Technologies Department
Bldg. 815, Room 1-36
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000

(631) 344-7095
klamer@bnl.gov

Dr. Katia Lamer is an atmospheric scientist and the Director of the Center for Multiscale Applied Sensing at Brookhaven National Laboratory. She specializes in atmospheric boundary layer processes, shallow convection, and remote sensing technology, with a strong emphasis on data science, including the application of artificial intelligence to geosciences. Her work bridges fundamental atmospheric research with real-world applications, developing innovative tools to enhance weather prediction, environmental monitoring, and resilience planning.

Originally from Canada, Dr. Lamer earned a B.Sc. in Earth System Science and an M.Sc. in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences from McGill University. She then pursued a Ph.D. at Penn State University under Dr. Eugene Clothiaux, focusing on integrating ground-based remote sensing observations with global weather models to improve the representation and simulation of mixed-phase clouds. As part of this work, she developed the (GO)²-SIM instrument forward simulator, an objective tool for translating physics-based model outputs into observables.

Following her Ph.D., Dr. Lamer conducted postdoctoral research at the City College of New York with Dr. Jimmy Booth, studying how large-scale weather patterns influence rainfall properties in subsidence regimes. Since joining Brookhaven, she has focused on identifying and addressing critical atmospheric data gaps, particularly in complex environments such as cities and coastal regions. Her research has helped reveal limitations in CloudSat satellite observations, contributing to the design of its successor, EarthCARE for improve characterization of boundary layer clouds. 

Dr. Lamer has also played a key role in advancing observational technologies, including the first time-gated, time-correlated single-photon counting lidar and of THz radar for probing cloud and rain formation. She led the design, construction, and deployment of Brookhaven’s mobile observatories—off-grid, truck-based measurement platforms engineered for rapid deployment where data is most needed. These observatories are actively filling data gaps across the US, supporting research on extreme heat mitigation, urban air mobility, and atmospheric dispersion for emergency planning.

Expertise | Research | Education | Appointments | Publications | Awards | Certifications

Expertise

  • Urban micro-meteorology
  • Boundary layer flow and turbulence
  • Remote sensing
  • Cloud and Precipitation proceses
  • Weather model evaluation
  • Artificial intelligence for geosciences

Research Activities

Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, U.S

  • Assistant Scientist in Environmental and Climate Science under M. Jensen, 2021-present
  • Research Associate in Environmental and Climate Science under A. Vogelmann, 2019-21

City University of New York, City College, New York, U.S.

  • Post-Doctoral Researcher in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences under J. Booth, 2019

The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, U.S.

  • Graduate Assistant in Meteorology and Atmospheric Science under E. Clothiaux, 2015-19

McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

  • Research Assistant in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences under P. Kollias , 2015
  • Undergrad. Research Assistant in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences under P. Kollias, 2014
  • Undergrad. Research Assistant in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences under P. Kollias, 2013
  • Undergrad. Research Assistant in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences under P. Kollias, 2012
  • Undergrad. Research Assistant in Geology under A. Mucci, 2011

Education

  • Ph.D, Meteorology and Atmospheric Science from PennState under E. Clothiaux, 2015- 19
  • M.S., Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences from McGill University under P. Kollias, 2013-14
  • B.S., Earth System Science from McGill University, 2010-13

Professional Appointments

Director, Center for Multiscale Applied Sensing 2022-present

Invited member, AMS Boundary Layer and Turbulence Committee 02/2023-present

Invited member, Wyoming King Air Advisory Panel 04/2024-present

Selected Publications

  • Lamer K, Mages Z, Treserras BP, et al (2024) Spatially distributed atmospheric boundary layer properties in Houston – A value-added observational dataset. Scientific Data 11:. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-024-03477-9
  • Giani P, Lamer K, Crippa P, Brown MJ (2024) Formulation, Implementation and Validation of a 1D Boundary Layer Inflow Scheme for the QUIC Modeling System. Boundary-Layer Meteorology 190:. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-024-00860-2
  • Lamer K, Kollias P, Luke EP, et al (2023) Multisensor Agile Adaptive Sampling (MAAS): A Methodology to Collect Radar Observations of Convective Cell Life Cycle. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology 40:1509–1522. https://doi.org/10.1175/jtech-d-23-0043.1
  • Lamer K, Luke EP, Walsh BJr, et al (2022) Going mobile to address emerging climate equity needs in the heterogeneous urban environment. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. https://doi.org/10.1175/bams-d-21-0336.1
  • Lamer K, Luke EP, Mages Z, et al (2022) The impact of heat and inflow wind variations on vertical transport around a supertall building – The One Vanderbilt field experiment. Science of The Total Environment 851:157834. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157834
  • Kirshbaum DJ, Lamer K (2021) Climatological sensitivities of shallow-cumulus bulk entrainment in continental and oceanic locations. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1175/jas-d-20-0377.1
  • Lamer K, Kollias P, Battaglia A, Preval S (2020) Mind the gap – Part 1: Accurately locating warm marine boundary layer clouds and precipitation using spaceborne radars. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques 13:2363–2379. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-2363-2020
  • Lamer K, Kollias P (2015) Observations of fair-weather cumuli over land: Dynamical factors controlling cloud size and cover. Geophysical Research Letters 42:8693–8701. https://doi.org/10.1002/2015gl064534
  • Lamer K, Kollias P, Nuijens L (2015) Observations of the variability of shallow trade wind cumulus cloudiness and mass flux. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 120:6161–6178. https://doi.org/10.1002/2014jd022950

Awards & Recognition

  • Spotlight Award in recognition of exceptional job performance, 06/2021
  • Spotlight Award in recognition of exceptional job performance, 12/2020.
  • Canada Steamship Lines Award, McGill University, 08/2013.
  • Research Scholarship for the M.S. degree, Fonds de Recherche Nature et Technologies, 04/2013.
  • Student Undergraduate Research Award, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sc., McGill University,  04/2013.
  • Undergraduate Research Conference, 2nd Recipient, Earth Science, McGill University, 10/2012.
  • Student Undergraduate Research Award, Earth Planetary Science, McGill University,  06/2011.
  • Salme Nommik Bursary, McGill University, 10/2011.
  • Tim Hortons Scholarship, McGill University, 10/2010.

Press Releases and Media

  • Feature Story on the Brookhaven National Laboratory web page. “High-resolution Lidar Sees Birth Zone of Cloud Droplets” story and quotes prepared by K. McNulty Walsh 04/24/2022
  • Cover of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 08/2023
  • Science Story in WIRED. “This Laser-Firing Truck Could Help Make Hot Cities More Livable” story and quotes prepared by Matt Simon, 08/09/2022
  • Science Story in TBR Newsmedia. “BNL’s Katia Lamer studies urban heat in Houston and New York” story and quotes prepared by Daniel Dunaief, 08/05/2022
  • Feature Story on the Brookhaven National Laboratory web page. “Mapping Urban Heat From the Ground Up” story and quotes prepared by S. Kossman, 07/19/2022
  • Science story in Grid News. “Summer thunderstorms are getting more violent. Is something supercharging them?” by Dave Levitan, 07/11/2022
  • Feature on the Brookhaven National Laboratory web page. “Top-10 Areas of Amazing Science at Brookhaven Lab in 2021” by Karen McNulty Walsh and Stephanie Kossman, 12/29/2021
  •  Science story in Inside Climate News. “Is This Street Now Cooler Than It Was?” story and quotes prepared by Katelyn Weisbrod, 10/16/2021
  • Feature Story on the Brookhaven National Laboratory web page. “Mobile Observatory Surveys Manhattan Atmosphere” story and quotes prepared by S. Kossman, 09/24/2020
  • Research Highlight in the 2020 ARM Annual Review. “Look to the Clouds to Represent Rain in .Large-scale Model” highlight and quote prepared by A. E. Hunzinger, 10/2020

Certifications

Laboratory Operations Supervisor Academy [LOSA]                                                                       04/17-19/2024

Katia Lamer

Brookhaven National Laboratory

Environmental Science and Technologies Department
Bldg. 815, Room 1-36
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000

(631) 344-7095
klamer@bnl.gov

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