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Kyle MacRitchie

Data Scientist, Meteorologist, Geospatial Scientist
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I excel in harnessing geospatial satellite, weather, and climate data to create sophisticated machine learning models, delivering precise forecasts for agricultural and energy sectors.


Complete Resume in PDF form: click here.

Work Experience

Applied Scientist

Descartes Labs | 2021 - Present

  • Employed a tech stack (scikit-learn, PyTorch, boto3) on AWS to develop, train, backtest, and deploy ML models and pipelines for forecasting yield and production of key crops (e.g., soybeans, sugar, robusta & arabica coffee) throughout the growing season.
  • Designed advanced weather prediction models with PCA regression, vision transformers, and attention techniques in PyTorch, producing accurate subseasonal to seasonal forecasts crucial for crop modeling.
  • Created a tropical cyclone prediction system that delivers calibrated probabilistic forecasts for rain and wind impacts from tropical cyclones over specific regions, up to four weeks in advance.
  • Worked directly with clients to understand their needs, incorporate feedback, and ensure maximum benefit from our products.
  • Led pivotal projects, including the development of an internal weather API, to improve access to weather data across the company.

Meteorologist

Climate Prediction Center (NWS) | 2018 - 2021

  • I developed forecast models to predict climate features using recurrent neural networks in a Tensorflow framework.
  • I created and applied statistical techniques to bias correct and calibrate ensemble model forecasts.
  • I created several ArcPy scripts that allowed us to use ArcMap in our operational products.
  • I created, implemented, and maintained several daily pipelines that were critical to 24/7 forecast operations.
  • I mentored and led contract scientists.

Information

Peer Reviewed Publications and Presentations

  • MacRitchie, K., and C. Schreck. 2021: Tropical intraseasonal variability [in “State of the Climate in 2020”]. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 102 (8), S210–S213
  • L’Heureux M., E. Becker, M. S. Halpert, Z.-Z. Hu, K. MacRitchie, and M. Tippett. 2021: ENSO and the tropical Pacific [in “State of the Climate in 2020”]. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 102 (8), S205-S210
  • Liu, Z, D. Ostrenga, B. Vollmer, B. Deshong, K. MacRitchie, M. Greene, and S. Kempler. 2017: Global precipitation measurement mission products and services at the NASA GES DISC. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 98, 437-444.
  • MacRitchie, K., and P.E. Roundy. 2016: The two-way relationship between the Madden Julian oscillation and anticyclonic wave breaking. Quart. J. Royal Meteor. Soc., 142, 2159-2167.
  • Roundy, P.E., N. Sakaeda, K. MacRitchie, L. Gloeckler, 2017: Weather-climate interactions and MJO influences. Climate Extremes: Patterns and Mechanisms, S.-Y.S. Wang et al., Eds., Amer. Geophys. Union, 139-163.
  • MacRitchie, K., and P. E. Roundy, 2012: Potential vorticity accumulation following atmospheric Kelvin waves in the active convective region of the MJO. J. Atmos. Sci., 69, 908-914.
  • Roundy, P. E., K. MacRitchie, J. Asuma, T. Melino, 2010: Modulation of the global atmospheric circulation by combined activity in the Madden–Julian oscillation and the El Niño–Southern oscillation during boreal winter. J. Climate, 23, 4045–4059.
  • Invited speaker: 18th Annual Maxar Energy Conference, October, 2019 on the MJO and ENSO at CPC.