Research Highlights
Research Interests
Dynamical processes involved in tropical cyclone vortex organization from the incipient stage to hurricane formation, particularly in environments where vertical wind shear is a significant dynamical forcing of the fluid system.
Developing new ways of collecting and analyzing airborne radar observations of the convective-vortex flow during this critical, and often difficult to forecast, stage of a tropical cyclone’s life cycle.
Paul Reasor, Ph.D.
Meteorologist, Hurricane Research Division
305.361.4530
4301 Rickenbacker Causeway
Miami, Florida 33149
“I really can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be a scientist. I do distinctly remember as a kid reading some of the Faraday Lectures and thinking that it would be great fun to be a scientist! I suppose as I navigated through the various sciences, from geology to chemistry to physics, there was a natural curiosity about how things worked, and an excitement with finally understanding, that kept me motivated. But when I hit meteorology, I started to have great fun, and it was settled.”
Dr. Paul Reasor is a research meteorologist in the Hurricane Research Division of NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory in Miami, Florida. His primary research falls under the division’s Hurricane Dynamics and Physics theme, and focuses on understanding the impact of vertical wind shear on hurricane structure and intensity change, using a combination of theory, numerical modeling and aircraft observations. He also works under the Observing Techniques theme on airborne Doppler-radar quality control and analysis techniques.
2000, Ph.D. Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
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- Dissertation title: Horizontal Vorticity Redistribution and Vortex Alignment in Developing and Mature Tropical Cyclones
- Thesis advisor: Professor Michael T. Montgomery
1996, M.S. Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
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- Thesis title: Circumpolar Vortex Studies Using MSU Temperature Data
- Thesis advisor: Professors Michael T. Montgomery and Wayne H. Schubert
1993, B.A. Physics, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
- Alvey, G. R., Reasor, P. D. To align or not to align? That is the question. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 131,, https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JD045986 2026
Ref. 4605 - Barron, N. R., A. C. Didlake, Jr., Y. Zhang, and P. D. Reasor Investigating the Characteristics and Dynamics of Convective Updrafts in Observed and Simulated Tropical Cyclone Rainbands Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 130(19), e2024JD043152., https://doi.org/10.1029/2024JD043152 2025
Ref. 4580 - Fischer, M. S., Reasor, P. D., Dunion, J. P., & Rogers, R. F. Are Rapidly Intensifying Tropical Cyclones Associated with Unique Vortex and Convective Characteristics? Monthly weather review, 153(2), 183-203., https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-24-0118.1 2025
Ref. 4531
2022 U.S. Department of Commerce Bronze Medal
For the successful delivery of operational, near real-time Doppler radar data from the NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft to the National Hurricane Center.