Richard H. Johnson - Professor
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Education
- Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science - 1975 - University of Washington - Seattle, WA
- M.S. in Geophysical Sciences - 1969 - University of Chicago - Chicago, IL
- B.S. in Physics - 1967 - Oregon State University - Corvallis, OR
Career Overview
Professor Johnson joined the CSU Department of Atmospheric Science in 1980 after completing a year and a half at the National Hurricane Research Laboratory and two years as a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He also was a Typhoon Duty Officer with the U.S. Navy on Guam between the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. He served as a lead scientist in the TOGA-COARE, SCSMEX, NAME, and DYNAMO field expeditions.
Teaching Interests
Synoptic and Mesoscale Meteorology
Mesoscale Dynamics
Atmospheric Convection
Boundary Layer Meteorology
Research Interests
Professor Johnson's research group is engaged in studies of atmospheric convection and mesoscale dynamical processes in both the tropics and midlatitudes, including the interaction of convection with the planetary boundary layer.
A major focus of our current work involves the Asian monsoon, which affects well over half of the world's population. In 2008, we participated in the Terrain-influenced Monsoon Rainfall Experiment (TiMREX), conducted in Taiwan. Studies are underway aimed at determining the mechanisms for extreme monsoon rainfall in a region where the monsoon flow interacts with steep topography.
More recently, we have participated in the 2011-12 DYNamics of the MjO experiment (DYNAMO), which is directed at investigation of the initiation of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) over the Indian Ocean. Our research group is involved with the sounding measurements during DYNAMO, with the goal of characterizing the moistening effects of the cloud populations during the MJO initiation phase. During DYNAMO, two major MJO events occurred in October and November 2011, which will be the subject of intensive study.
A further area of research on tropical and monsoon convection involves the validation of Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) estimates of latent heating profiles due to convection using observations from field campaigns.
Additional research is underway on the dynamics of midlatitudemesoscale convective systems (MCSs). The mechanisms by which strongly bowing convective lines (bow echoes) develop are being studied using observations and numerical simulations. Another area of study is the climatology of mesoscale convective vortices (MCVs) over the eastern two-thirds of the United States using operational analysis data.
Research Sponsors
National Science Foundation
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Awards, Honors, and Positions
- TOGA-COARE,SCSMEX, NAME, DYNAMO Field Experiments - Lead Scientist
- Journal of Atmospheric Science - Co-Chief Editor (1986-1989)
- UCAR Board of Trustees (1992-1997)
- CLIVAR SSC - Panel Member (2003-2005)
- American Meteorological Society (AMS) – Fellow (1994)
- USWRP - Science Advisory Committee (1995-1996)
- NAME - Scientific Working Group (2003-2006)
- National Science Foundation - Special Creativity Award (2003)
- Head, Department of Atmospheric Science (2007-2011)