Civil and Architectural Engineering

College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Noriaki Ohara

Associate Professor

Room 3049, Engineering Building
University of Wyoming

College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Department of Civil & Architectural Engineering

1000 E. University Avenue
Laramie, WY 82071
e-mail: nohara1@uwyo.edu
Office Phone: 307-343-2670

For more information visit Dr. Ohara’s research homepage


 

Noriaki Ohara

Education:

  • B.A. Civil Engineering, Chuo University, Japan, 1997
  • M.A. Civil Engineering, Chuo University, Japan, 1999
  • Ph.D. Civil Engineering, University of California, Davis, 2003

Research Interests:

  • Hydrologic Modeling
  • Snow Hydrology
  • Hydrologic Field Observation
  • Hydrometeorology
  • Theoretical Treatment of Scale Gap

Professional Affiliations:

  • American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
  • American Geophysical Union (AGU)
  • Japan Society of Civil Engineers

Publications:

  1. Jones, B., C. D. Arp, G. Grosse, I. Nitze, M. J. Lara, M. S. Whitman, L. M. Farquharson, M. Kanevskiy, A. D. Parsekian, A. L. Breen, N. Ohara, R. C. Rangel, and K. M. Hinkel, “Identifying historic and future potential lake drainage events on the western Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska”, Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, accepted, 2020
  2. Ohara N.*, and K. Yamatani, "Theoretical Stable Hydraulic Section based on the Principle of Least Action”, Scientific Reports, 9, Article number: 7957, 2019. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44347-4
  3. Ishida, K., N. Ohara, A. Ercan, S. Jang, T. Trinh, M.L. Kavvas, K. Carr, M. L. Anderson, “Impacts of Climate Change on Snow Accumulation and Melting Processes over Mountainous Regions in Northern California during the 21st Century”, Science of The Total Environment, accepted, 2019.
  4. He, S., N.Ohara*, “Modeling Sub-Grid Variability of Snow Depth using the Fokker-Planck Equation Approach”, Water Resources Research, 2019.
  5. He, S, N.Ohara*, and S.N. Miller “Understanding sub-grid variability of snow depth at 1 km scale using Lidar measurements”, Hydrologic Processes, 2019.
  6. Ishida, K., A. Ercan, T. Trinh, S. Jang, M. L. Kavvas, N. Ohara, Z. Q. Chen, S. Kure, and Dib. "Trend analysis of watershed-scale annual and seasonal precipitation in Northern California based on dynamically downscaled future climate projections", Journal of Water and Climate Change, 2018.
  7. Ishida, K., Ercan, A., Trinh, T., Kavvas, M. L., Ohara, N., Carr, K., & Anderson, M. L. “Analysis of future climate change impacts on snow distribution over mountainous watersheds in Northern California by means of a physically-based snow distribution model”, Science of The Total Environment, 645, 1065-1082, 2018.
  8. Thayer, D., A. D. Parsekian, K. Hyde, H. Speckman, D. Beverly, B. Ewers, M. Covalt, N. Fantello, T. Kelleners, N. Ohara, and T. Rogers “Geophysical Measurements to Determine the Hydrologic Partitioning of Snowmelt on a Snow‐Dominated Subalpine Hillslope”, Water Resources Research, 54 (6), 3788-3808, 2018.
  9. Ohara, N.*, W.S. Holbrook, K. Yamatani, B.A. Flinchum, and J.T. St. Clair, “Spatial Estimation of Riparian Groundwater Domain within Alluvium Deposit of Mountainous Areas”, Hydrological Processes, 32 (1), 30-38, 2018.
  10. Ishida, K., N. Ohara, M. L. Kavvas, Z. Q. Chen, and M. L. Anderson. "Impact of air temperature on physically-based maximum precipitation estimation through change in moisture holding capacity of air." Journal of Hydrology, 556, 1050–1063, 2018.
  11. Pleasants, M.S.*, T. Kelleners, and N.Ohara, "Analysis of snowpack dynamics during the spring melt season using point measurements and numerical modeling", Hydrological Processes, 31(25), 4568-4585, 2017.
  12. He, S.*, and N.Ohara, “A new formula for estimating the threshold wind speed for snow movement”, Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems (JAMES), 9(7), 2514-2525, 2017.
  13. Johnson, R. and N.Ohara*, “Dynamic Equilibrium Modeling of Snow and Inland Glaciers under the Evolving Climate in Wyoming”, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, ASCE, 23(1), 04017056, 2017..
  14. Jang, S.*, M.L. Kavvas, K. Ishida, T. Trinh, N.Ohara, S. Kure, Z.Q. Chen, M.L. Anderson, G. Matanga, and K. J. Carr, “A Performance Evaluation of Dynamical Downscaling of Precipitation over Northern California”, Sustainability, 2017. doi:10.3390/su9081457.
  15. Jang, S.*, S. Kure, N.Ohara, M.L. Kavvas, Z.Q. Chen, K. J. Carr and, M.L. Anderson, “Application of WEHY-HCM for Modeling Interactive Atmospheric-Hydrologic Processes at Watershed Scale to a Sparsely Gauged Watershed”, Sustainability, 2017. doi:10.3390/su9091554.
  16. Trinh, T.Q.*, M.L. Kavvas, K. Ishida, K. J. Carr, and N.Ohara, "Projected 21st Century Climate Change on Snow Conditions over Shasta Dam Watershed by means of Dynamical Downscaling", Hydrological Processes, 2017. 31:2887–2901. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.11231.
  17. Ohara, N.*, M.L. Kavvas, M.L. Anderson, Z.Q. Chen, and K. Ishida, "Characterization of Extreme Storm Events using A Numerical Model Based Precipitation Maximization Procedure in Feather, Yuba, and American River Watersheds in California", Journal of Hydrometeology, 18 (5), 1413-1423, 2017.
  18. Ohara, N.*, “An Eulerian Equation for Snow Accumulation Downstream of an Object”, Water Resource Research, Volume 53, Issue 2, 1525–1538, 2017.
  19. Peel, T., M. Ahmed, and N.Ohara, “Investigating Safety-Effectiveness of Wyoming Snow Fence Implementations along a Rural Mountainous Freeway”, Transportation Research Record (TRR), 2017.
  20. Trinh, T.Q.*, S. Jang, K. Ishida, N. Ohara, Z.Q. Chen, M.L. Anderson, Y. Darama, M.L. Kavvas, “Reconstruction of Historical Inflows into and Water Supply from Shasta Dam by Coupling Physically Based Hydroclimate Model with Reservoir Operation Model." Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, ASCE, 10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0001391, 04016029. 2016.
  21. Chen, J.F.*, M.L. Kavvas, K. Ishida, T.Q. Trinh, N.Ohara, M.L. Anderson, and Z.Q. Chen, Role of Snowmelt in Determining whether the Maximum Precipitation Always Results in the Maximum Flood." Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, ASCE, 10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0001366, 04016032, 2016.
  22. Amin M.Z.M., A. J. bin Shaaban, N.Ohara*, M.L.Kavvas, Z.Q.Chen, S. Kure, and S. Jang, “Climate Change Assessment of Water Resources in Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia, Based on the Dynamically Downscaled GCM Projections Using a Regional Hydroclimate Model”, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0001242, 05015015., 2015.
  23. Ishida*, K., M.L. Kavvas, S. Jang, Z.Q. Chen, N. Ohara, M.L. Anderson, “Physically Based Estimation of Maximum Precipitation over Three Watersheds in Northern California: Relative Humidity Maximization Method”, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, ASCE, 20(10), 04015014, 2015.
  24. Ishida, K.*, M.L. Kavvas, S. Jang, Z.Q. Chen, N. Ohara, M.L. Anderson, ”Physically Based Estimation of Maximum Precipitation over Three Watersheds in Northern California: Atmospheric Boundary Condition Shifting”, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, ASCE, 20(4), 04014052, 2015.
  25. Ohara, N.*, “A Practical Formulation of Snow Surface Diffusion by Wind for Watershed Scale Applications”, Water Resources Research, Vol. 50, Issue 6, 5074-5089, 2014.
  26. Ohara, N.*, S. Kure, S. Jang, Z.Q. Chen and M.L. Kavvas, “Modeling of Interannual Snow and Ice Storage in High Altitude Region by Dynamic Equilibrium Concept”, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, ASCE, 19(12), 04014034, 2014.
  27.  Ohara, N.*, M.L. Kavvas, Z.Q.Chen, L. Liang, M. Anderson, J. Wilcox and L.Mink, “Modelling atmospheric and hydrologic processes for assessment of meadow restoration impact on flow and sediment in a sparsely gauged California watershed”, Hydrological Processes, 28, 3053–3066, 2014.
  28. Oh, N.H.*, B. Pellerin, P. Bachand, P. Hernes, S. Bachand, N. Ohara, M. L. Kavvas, B. Bergamaschi, and W. Horwath. “The Role of Irrigation Runoff and Winter Rainfall on Dissolved Organic Carbon Loads in an Agricultural Watershed”, Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, Volume 179, 1 October, 1–10, 2013.
  29. Kavvas, M.L.*, S. Kure, Z.Q. Chen, N.Ohara, and S. Jang, “WEHY-HCM for Modeling Interactive Atmospheric-Hydrologic Processes at Watershed Scale. I: Model Description”, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 18, No. 10, pp. 1262-1271, 2013.
  30. Kure, S., S. Jang*, N. Ohara, M. L. Kavvas, and Z. Q. Chen, “WEHY-HCM for Modeling Interactive Atmospheric-Hydrologic Processes at Watershed Scale. II: Model Application to Ungauged and Sparsely Gauged Watersheds”, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 18, No. 10, pp. 1272-1281, 2013.
  31. Kure, S., S. Jang*, N.Ohara, M.L. Kavvas, and Z.Q. Chen, “Hydrological Impact of Regional Climate Change for the Snowfed and Glacierfed River Basins in the Republic of Tajikistan: Statistical Downscaling of Global Climate Model Projections”, Hydrological Processes, 2012.
  32. Kure, S., S. Jang*, N.Ohara, M.L. Kavvas, and Z.Q. Chen, “Hydrologic Impact of Regional Climate Change for the Snowfed and Glacierfed River Basins in the Republic of Tajikistan: Hydrological Response of flow to Climate Change”, Hydrological Processes, 2012.
  33. Chen, Z.Q., Kavvas, M.L, Ohara N.*, Anderson, M. L., and Yoon, J. “A Coupled Regional Hydro-Climate Model and its Application to the Tigris-Euphrates basin”, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 16, No. 12, 1059–1070, 2011.
  34. Ohara, N.*, Kavvas, M.L., Anderson, M.L., Chen, Z.Q., and Yoon J. “A Water Balance Study for the Tigris-Euphrates River Basin”, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 16, No. 12, 1071–1082, 2011.
  35. Chen, Z.Q., Kavvas, M.L, Ohara N.*, and Anderson, M.L. “Impact of Water Resources Utilization on the Hydrology of Mesopotamian Marshlands”, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 16, No. 12, 1083–1092, 2011.
  36. Ohara, N.*, Chen, Z.Q., Kavvas, M.L., Fukami, K., and Inomata, H. “Reconstruction of Historical Atmospheric data by A Hydroclimate Model for Mekong River Basin”, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 16, No. 12, 1030–1039, 2011.
  37. Shaaban, A.J., Amin M.Z.M., Chen, Z.Q., and Ohara, N.* “Regional Modeling Of Climate Change Impact On Peninsular Malaysia Water Resources”, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 16, No. 12, 1040–1049, 2011.
  38. Kure, S.*, Kavvas, M.L., Ohara, N., and Jang, S., “Upscaling of Coupled Land Surface Process Modeling for Heterogeneous Landscapes: Stochastic Approach”, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 16, No. 12, 1017–1029, 2011.
  39. Florsheim, J.L.*, B.A. Pellerin, N.H. Oh, N. Ohara, P.A.M. Bachand, S.M. Bachand, B.A. Bergamaschi, P.J. Hernes, M.L. Kavvas, “From deposition to erosion: Spatial and temporal variability of sediment sources, storage, and transport in a small agricultural watershed”, Geomorphology, Volume 132, Issues 3–4, 272–286, 2011.
  40. Ohara, N., Kavvas, M. L.*, Kure, S., Chen, Z. Q., Jang, S., and Tan, E. “A Physically-Based Estimation of Maximum Precipitation over American River Watershed, California”, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 16, issue 4, 351-361, 2011.
  41. Kavvas, M.L.*, Z.Q. Chen, M.L. Anderson, N. Ohara, J.Y. Yoon, and Fu Xiang. “A Study of Water Balances over the Tigris-Euphrates Watershed”, Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Elsevier, Vol. 36, 197-203, 2011.
  42. Ohara, N.*, Kavvas, M.L., Easton, D., Dogrul, C. E., Yoon, J., and Chen, Z.Q. “The Role of Snow in Runoff Processes in a Sub-alpine Hillslope : Field Study in the Ward Creek Watershed, Lake Tahoe, California during 2000 and 2001 Water Years”, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 16, No. 6, pp. 521-533, 2010.
  43. Fu Xiang, Kavvas, M.L.*, Chen, Z.Q., Bandeh, H., Ohara, N., Kim, S., Jand S.H., Churchwell, R. “Experimental Study of Debris Capture Efficiency of Trash Racks”, Journal of Hydro-environmental Research, No.3, 138-147, 2009.
  44. Ohara, N.*, Kavvas, M. L., and Chen, Z. Q., “Stochastic Upscaling for Snow Accumulation and Melt Processes with PDF Approach”, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, ASCE, Vol 13, issue 12, 1103-1118, 2008.
  45. Kavvas, M. L., Yoon, J*, Chen, Z. Q., Liang, L., Dogrul, E. C., Ohara, N., Aksoy, H., Anderson, M. L., Reuter, J., and Hackley, S. “Watershed Environmental Hydrology Model: Environmental Module and Its Application to a California Watershed”, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 11, issue 3, 261-272, 2006.
  46. Ohara, N.*, and Kavvas, M. L. “Field Observations and Numerical Model Experiments for The Snowmelt Process At A Field Site”, Advances in Water Resources, Elsevier, 29, 194-211, 2006.
  47. Kavvas, M. L.*, Chen, Z. Q., Dogrul, J., Yoon, J., Ohara, N., Liang, L., Aksoy, H., Anderson, M. L, Yoshitani, J., Fukami, K. and Matsuura, T. “Watershed Environmental Hydrology (WEHY) Model Based On Upscaled Conservation Equations: Hydrologic Module”, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 9, issue 6, 2004.
  48. Shimura, K., Ohara, N.*, Matsuki, H., and Yamada, T. “Study on Flood Wave Using Unsteady Flow Analysis”, Journal of Japan Society of Hydrology and Water Resources, Vol. 14, No. 3, May, 2001. (in Japanese)

 

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Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management

EN 3074

Dept. 3295

1000 E. University Ave.

Laramie, WY 82071

Phone: (307)766-2390

Email: cae.info@uwyo.edu

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