College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences

Specialty

Air-sea interactions, satellite meteorology and oceanography, atmospheric boundary layer and ocean mixed layer dynamics.

Current Research

Currently I am working on characterizing the divergence variability from scatterometer observations. I also am working with colleagues at the Naval Research Laboratory to use numerical weather prediction models to better understand what physical processes shape the observed divergence variability. We are also continuing research into understanding how sea surface temperature variability affects the surface wind field, including the divergence field. Finally, I am also continuing work to understand how clouds and rainfall are affected by variability in the near-surface divergence field.

Education

Ph.D. Oceanography, Oregon State University, 2007
B.S. Atmospheric Sciences, University of California at Davis, 2000

Courses

OC 678 Satellite Oceanography/Ocean Remote Sensing

OEAS 530 Fluid Earth

Graduate Students

Briana Phillips (OEAS)

Robert "Jake" Jacobs (Physics)

Science Working Groups

• NASA's Ocean Vector Winds Science Team
• Jet Propulsion Laboratory's PO.DAAC Users Working Group
• American Meteorological Society Committee on Air-Sea Interactions
• NASA's Ocean Surface Topography Science Team

Publications

Skyllingstad, E. D., S. P. de Szoeke, and L. W. O'Neill, 2019: Modeling the transient response to tropical convection to mesoscale SST variations. Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, 76, 1227-1244.

O'Neill, L. W. , T. Haack, D. B. Chelton, and E. Skyllingstad, 2018: Reply to “Comments on ‘The Gulf Stream Convergence Zone in the Time-Mean Winds’”. Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, 75, 2151-2153.

O'Neill, L. W. , T. Haack, D. B. Chelton, and E. Skyllingstad, 2017: The Gulf Stream Convergence Zone in the time-mean winds. Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, 74, 2383-2412.

Hong, X., C. Reynolds, J. Doyle, P. May, and L.  O'Neill, 2017: Assessment of Upper-Ocean Variability and the Madden-Julian Oscillation in Extended-Range Air-Ocean Coupled Mesoscale Simulations. Dyn. Atmos. Oc., 78, 89-105.

Wentz, F. J., L. Ricciardulli, E. Rodriguez, B. Stiles, M. Bourassa, D. Long, R. Hoffman, A. Stoffelen, A. Verhoef, L. O’Neill, T. Farrar, D. Vandemark, A. Fore, S. Hristova-Veleva, J. Turk, R. Gaston, D. Tyler, 2017: Evaluating and Extending the Ocean Wind Climate Data Record. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, 99, 1–21.

O'Neill, L. W., T. Haack, and T. Durland, 2015: Estimation of time-averaged surface divergence and vorticity from satellite ocean vector winds. Journal of Climate, 28, 7596–7620.

Gaube, P., D. B. Chelton, R. M. Samelson, M. G. Schlax, and L. W. O’Neill, 2015: Satellite Observations of Mesoscale Eddy-Induced Ekman Pumping. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 45, 104–132.

Perlin, N., S. P. de Szoeke, D. B. Chelton, R. M. Samelson, E. D. Skyllingstad, and L. W. O'Neill, 2014: Modeling the Atmospheric Boundary Layer Response to Mesoscale Sea Surface Temperature Perturbations. Monthly Weather Review, 142, 4284-4307.

O'Neill, L. W., 2014: Comparison of surface ocean vector wind sampling from TAO buoys and satellite scatterometers. Report to the TPOS 2020 Committee.

Lindstrom, E., Bourassa, M., Chelton, D., Corlett, G., Durland, T., Farrar, T., Janssen, P., Lagerloef, G., Lee, T., Minnett, P., O’Neill, L., and Willis, J., 2014: Satellite Views of the Tropical Pacific. Report to the TPOS 2020 Committee.

Cronin, M. F., Bourassa, M., Clayson, C., Edson, J., Fairall, C., Feely, R., Kumar, K., Large, W., Mathis, J., McPhaden, M., O’Neill, L., Pinker, R., Takahashi, K., Tomita, H., Weller, R., Yu, L., and Zhang, C., 2014: Wind stress and air-sea fluxes observations: status, implementation and gaps. Report to the TPOS 2020 Committee.

Hong, X., S. Wang, T. Holt, P. Martin, and L. O'Neill, 2013: Modulation of the Sea-Surface Temperature in the Southeast Pacific by the Atmospheric Low-Level Coastal Jet. J. Geophys. Res., 118, 1-20.

Painemal, D., P. Minnis, and L. W. O'Neill, 2013: The diurnal cycle of cloud top height and cloud cover over the Southeast Pacific as observed by GOES-10. Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, 70, 2393–2408.

Painemal, D., P. Minnis, J. K. Ayers, and L. W. O'Neill, 2012: GOES-10 microphysical retrievals in marine warm clouds: Multi-instrument validation and daytime cycle over the southeast Pacific. J. Geophys. Res., 117, D19212, doi:10.1029/2012JD017822.

O'Neill, L. W., D. B. Chelton, and S. K. Esbensen, 2012: Covariability of surface wind and stress responses to sea-surface temperature fronts. Journal of Climate, 25, 5916–5942.

O'Neill, L. W., 2012: Wind speed and stability effects on the coupling between surface wind stress and SST observed from buoys and satellite. Journal of Climate, 26, 1544-1569.

O'Neill, L. W., S. Wang, and Q. Jiang, 2011: Variability of the diurnal cycle of liquid water path over the southeast subtropical Pacific. Atmos. Chem. Phys. Disc., 11, 31159-31206.

Hong, X., C. Bishop, T. Holt, and L. O'Neill, 2011: Impact of sea surface temperature uncertainty on the western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) and rainfall. Wea. Forecasting, 26, 371-387.

Wang, S., L. O'Neill, Q. Jiang, X. Hong, H. Jin, S. de Szoeke, W. Thompson, and X. Zheng, 2011: A regional real-time forecast of marine boundary layers during VOCALS-REx. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 465-477.

Jiang, Q., S. Wang, and L. W. O'Neill, 2010: Some insights into the characteristics and dynamics of the Chilean low-level coastal jet. Mon. Wea. Rev., 138, 3185-3206.

O'Neill, L. W., S. K. Esbensen, N. Thum, R. M. Samelson, and D. B. Chelton, 2010:  Dynamical analysis of the boundary layer and surface wind responses to mesoscale SST perturbations. J. Climate, 23, 559-581.

O'Neill, L. W., D. B. Chelton, and S. K. Esbensen, 2010: The effects of SST-induced wind speed and direction gradients on mid-latitude surface vorticity and divergence. J. Climate, 23, 255-281.

Song, Q., D. B. Chelton, S. K. Esbensen, N. Thum, and L. W. O'Neill, 2009: Coupling between sea surface temperature and low-level winds in mesoscale numerical models. J. Climate, 22, 146-164.

Small, R. J., S. de Szoeke, S. P. Xie, L. O'Neill, H. Seo, Q. Song, P. Cornillon, M. Spall, and S. Minobe, 2008: Air-sea interaction over ocean fronts and eddies. Dyn. Atmos. Oceans, 45, 274-319, doi:10.1016/j.dynatmoce.2008.01.001.

Samelson, R. M., E. D. Skyllingstad, D. B. Chelton, S. K. Esbensen, L. W. O'Neill, and N. Thum, 2006: A note on the coupling of wind stress and sea surface temperature. J. Climate, 19, 1557-1566.

O'Neill, L. W., D. B. Chelton, S. K. Esbensen, and F. J. Wentz, 2005: High-resolution satellite measurements of the atmospheric boundary layer response to SST variations along the Agulhas Return Current. J. Climate, 18, 2706-2723.

O'Neill, L. W., D. B. Chelton, S. K. Esbensen, 2003: Observations of SST-induced perturbations of the wind stress fields over the Southern Ocean on seasonal time-scales. J. Climate, 16, 2340-2354.

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