John Horel, Ph.D.

 

Professor, Atmospheric Sciences

Undergraduate Career Advisor, Atmospheric Sciences

Office: 483 INSCC
Office Phone: (801) 581-7091
Email: john.horel@utah.edu
>> Curriculum Vitae

Degrees

1982 Ph.D. University of Washington
1977 B.S. San Jose State University

 

My research is centered on the weather and climate of the western United States, data assimilation, mountain meteorology, fire weather, and Great Salt Lake studies. I participate in the Mountain Meteorology Group within the department, which conducts a broad program of research related to weather and climate processes of the western United States.

Selected Publications

Terrain-forced mesoscale circulations. Handbook of Weather, Climate, and Water: Dynamics, Climate, Physical Meteorology, Weather Systems, and Measurements  (Book), 2003
[citation] 

Global Environmental Change: An Atmospheric Perspective  (Book), 1996
[citation] 

Lake-breeze fronts in the Salt Lake Valley  (Journal Article), 2007
[citation]  [abstract]  [text]

Sensitivity of surface analyses over the western United States to RAWS observations  (Journal Article), 2007
[citation]  [abstract]  [text]

Verification over the Western United States of Surface Temperature Forecasts from the National Digital Forecast Database  (Journal Article), 2006
[citation]  [abstract]  [text]

Research Statement

My research is centered on the weather and climate of the western United States, data assimilation, mountain meteorology, fire weather, and Great Salt Lake studies. I participate in the Mountain Meteorology Group within the department, which conducts a broad program of research related to weather and climate processes of the western United States.My current research activities include further development of MesoWest, which provides access to surface weather observations for operational, research, and educational applications. The MesoWest observations also provide a foundation from which to conduct research to improve data assimilation techniques over complex terrain. I participate in a National Weather Service effort to develop a mesoscale Analysis of Record and its prototype the Real Time Mesoscale Analysis. I am also involved in research related to the Great Salt Lake and the impacts of the Lake on local wind circulations. Research related to assessing the impacts of global warming on snowfall in the Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah is also in progress.

Research Keywords, Regions of Interest and Languages:

Keywords: Atmospheric Analysis; Mountain Weather and Climate (4); Weather Prediction or Forecasting (5)
Regions: North America (30)

Research Projects

Analysis of Weather in Mountainous Regions [details]

Development of techniques to improve data analysis in regions of complex terrain

Great Salt Lake Studies [details]

Remote sensing of the Great Salt Lake and climate/weather/lake interactions

MesoWest [details]

Collection, archival, dissemination of surface environmental conditions around the nation

Courses I Teach

ATMOS 1010 Severe and Unusual Weather
ATMOS 3000 Professional Development
ATMOS 5020 Environmental Programming
ATMOS 5040/6040 Environmental Statistics
ATMOS 5050/6050 Environmental Instrumentation