Gail Skofronick-Jackson

Gail Skofronick-Jackson

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Gail Skofronick-Jackson

Pioneering scientist remote sensing of precipitation. 

Dr. Gail Skofronick-Jackson (1963–2021) was a brilliant scientist and passionate advocate for women in STEM who left an indelible mark on the field of Earth observation. Born in Madison, Wisconsin, and raised in Tallahassee, Florida, Gail's early life was instilled with a love for nature and a thirst for knowledge. This innate curiosity blossomed into a stellar academic career, leading her to pursue a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Florida State University and subsequently a M.S. and a Ph.D. in the same field from Georgia Institute of Technology. 

  

Gail's expertise lay in the realm of passive remote sensing, radiative transfer theory, and active and passive spaceborne falling snow detection and estimation. Her research used advanced satellite instruments to study snowfall around the world through the lens of microwave remote sensing, an endeavor crucial for weather forecasting and water resource management. 

  

It was at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center that Gail's career truly took flight. From 1997 onwards, she wore many hats—researcher, lab chief, project scientist—each with unwavering dedication. She played a pivotal role in the NASA/JAXA Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission, which involves a cutting-edge spacecraft and a constellation of satellites to advance our understanding of rainfall and snowfall globally. Her contributions were recognized with the prestigious IEEE Fellowship for "contributions to microwave remote sensing of snow" in 2015.

  

Read full biosketch here

  Tributes to Gail

                                                                                                                                      

I worked with Gail as the Deputy Project Scientist for NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission and as the Assistant Chief for the Mesoscale Atmospheric Processes laboratory (MAPL) at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center then followed her as the GPM Project Scientist and MAPL Chief. In both of those cases, I appreciated how she knew about doing good science and good management and being organized better than I am. I particularly found her emphasis on collegiality and group decision making to be models that I try to emulate. She left some very big shoes to fill, and she provided a stellar example of how we should be carrying out science and getting the work of NASA done.

– George Huffman

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In memory of a great scientist and woman, Gail 

  

Writing about Gail brings back all the deep feelings that confronted me when I was told she passed away so suddenly. It was a true shock. However, Gail is still here with all she did for us and the tears disappear to make room to her memory.   

  

Who was Gail? Easy to say for those who knew her: a great scientist and an extraordinary woman.

   

We are trying to measure snowfall from space since decades, right? Are we successful? Not quite as many of us would remark. True, but Gail contributed more than the majority of us to reach this goal. If we did some progress with snowfall monitoring from space, I am positive in saying that we owe it largely to her. She also took the tough leadership of the GPM as Chief Scientist from Arthur. Well, she did great keeping us together with her competence and charm. 

   

All this is great, but it’s in the history of our field and in the literature. Gail was a lot more. She was truly a fantastic human being, a great woman, always considerate and caring for others. You needed something? Gail was there, no discussion. There are not many people, males or females, like her. I miss her dearly, very much, believe me. 

  

Gail, I know you are somewhere watching us, please help us follow your luminous path.  

– Vincenzo Levizzani FRMetS

  

A few photos to remember

Gail speaking at the International Precipitation Working Group (IPWG) meeting in Bologna, Italy, in 2016. Chairs are Ralph Ferraro and Kazumasa Aonashi. Gail chairing a session with Lothar Schüller at the IPWG meeting in Bologna in 2016. Chris Kummerow is speaking. Gail smiling at the dinner organised at the IPWG meeting in Tsukuba, Japan, in 2014. On the left: Takuji Kubota, Yukari Takayabu, Joe Turk, George Huffman, Chris Kidd and Wei-Kuo Tao. On the right: Ralph Ferraro, Gail, Remy Roca, Vincenzo Levizzani, and Bob Adler.

                                                                                                                                          

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