M. Joan Alexander Sr. Research Scientist

Publications - Research - Field Campaigns - Vitae - Miscellaneous - Contact

Education:

• University of Colorado, Boulder, Ph.D. (1992) Astrophysical, Planetary & Atmospheric Sciences
• University of Colorado, Boulder, M.S. (1989) Astrophysical, Planetary & Atmospheric Sciences
• Purdue University, Indiana, B.S. (1981) Chemistry

Experience:

• 2003-present: Sr. Research Scientist, NorthWest Research Associates, Colorado Research Assoc. Div. (CoRA). CoRA Division Management Council 2006-09, Budget Oversight Chair 2009-present.
• 1998-2003: Research Scientist, NorthWest Research Associates, CoRA Division.
• 1994-1998: Research Assistant Professor, University of Washington, Atmospheric Sciences.
• 1992-1994: Postdoctoral Faculty, University of Washington, Atmospheric Sciences.
• 1987-1992: Research Assistant, LASP, University of Colorado at Boulder.
• 1984-1987: Materials Engineer, Martin Marietta Aerospace Corp., Denver, Colorado.
• 1982-1984: Polymer Applications Chemist, Great Lakes Chemical Co., W. Lafayette, IN.
• 1981-1982: Process Engineer, Hughes Aircraft Co., El Segundo, California.

Teaching Activities/Awards:

• Adjoint Professor, Program for Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences, University of Colorado, 2003-present.
• Lecturer, Program for Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences, University of Colorado, 1999-2003.
• Affiliate Professor, University of Washington, Atmospheric Sciences, 1998-2011.
• Lecturer, Pan-American Advanced Studies Institute, School on Chemistry and Dynamics of the Upper Atmosphere, San Juan, Argentina, 2010.
• Guest Lecturer, Cambridge Summer School on Geophysical and Environmental Fluid Dynamics, 2003.
• Coupling, Energetics and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions (CEDAR) Tutorial Lecturer 2002.
• Annual Teaching Award, University of Washington, Atmospheric Sciences, 1998.

Scholarship Awards and Leadership Activities:

• Fellow of the American Meteorological Society, 2006.
• Member, Board on Atmospheric Science and Climate, National Research Council of the National Academies, 2005-2008.
• Chair, Review Committee for the Climate Change Science Program Synthesis and Assessment Product 2.4: Trends in Emissions of Ozone Depleting Substances, Ozone Layer Recovery, and Implications for Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure, 2007.
• President, American Geophysical Union Atmospheric Sciences Section, 2004-2006.
• Council, American Geophysical Union Atmospheric Sciences Section, 2002-2006.
• Bjerknes Lecturer, American Geophysical Union, 2000.
• World Climate Research Program/SPARC, Project Coordinator for Initiative on Gravity Waves 2007-present.
• International Space Science Institute Team Leader, 2009-2011.
• American Meteorological Society, Atmospheric and Oceanic Fluid Dynamics Committee, 2007-present.
• Climate and Weather of the Sun Earth System (CAWSES), Atmospheric Coupling Processes Theme Chair, 2004-2009.
• Scientific Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Physics (SCOSTEP), Scientific Discipline Representative, 2008-2011.
• Public Information Committee, American Geophysical Union Atmospheric Sciences Section, 2002-2004.
• American Meteorological Society, Committee on the Middle Atmosphere, 1998-2001.
• Secretary, International Commission for Dynamical Meteorology, IAMAS, 1999-2003.

Science Teams and International Field Campaigns:

• Science Team, Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), 2003-present.
• Science Team, High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS)-Aura, 1998-present.
• Science Team, Airborne Tropical Tropopause Experiment (ATTREX), 2010-2015.
• Co-Investigator, Microwave Temperature Profiler instrument, Convection and Moisture Experiment (CAMEX-4) 2001, Cirrus Regional Study of Tropical Anvils and Cirrus Layers (CRYSTAL-FACE) 2002, and Tropical Cloud Systems and Processes (TCSP) 2005.
• Participant, Tropical Warm Pool - International Cloud Experiment (TWP-ICE), 2006.
• Participant, Darwin Area Wave Experiment (DAWEX), 2001.
• Team Member, POLARIS Observational Field Campaign, 1997.
• Auxiliary Investigator STERAO Observational Field Campaign, 1996.

Current Research Interests:

• The focus of my research is on atmospheric waves and mesoscale dynamics surrounding deep convection, mountains, and the jet stream. My work involves both observational analyses and theoretical modeling to better understand the properties of atmospheric waves, their sources, and their many effects in the atmosphere. Observation techniques include satellite remote sensing, balloon-borne radiosonde observations, aircraft observations, and ground-based airglow imaging techniques. The theoretical models focus on the dynamics and thermodynamics of storms, wave propagation and wave interactions with the background atmosphere, and the global circulation and temperature structure of the middle atmosphere.