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Dr. Lawton will be joining NIU!
Published:
Hi everyone, some exciting news: this Fall, I’ll be joining Northern Illinois University as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment! ⛈️🌀
portfolio
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publications
Tropical cyclones downscaled from simulations of the Last Glacial Maximum
Published in Journal of Climate, 2021
Examines tropical cyclone activity in Last Glacial Maximum climate simulations using a downscaling approach, revealing how paleoclimate conditions modulate TC frequency and intensity.
Recommended citation: Lawton, Q. A., R. Korty, and R. Zamora, 2021: Tropical cyclones downscaled from simulations of the Last Glacial Maximum. Journal of Climate, 34(2), 659–674. https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-20-0409.1
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The Influence of Convectively Coupled Kelvin Waves on African Easterly Waves in a Wave-Following Framework
Published in Monthly Weather Review, 2022
Investigates how Convectively Coupled Kelvin Waves modulate African Easterly Wave structure and intensity using a novel wave-following Lagrangian framework. Introduces the QTrack African Easterly Wave tracker.
Recommended citation: Lawton, Q. A., S. J. Majumdar, K. Dotterer, C. Thorncroft, and C. J. Schreck, 2022: The Influence of Convectively Coupled Kelvin Waves on African Easterly Waves in a Wave-Following Framework. Monthly Weather Review, 150(8), 2055–2072. https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-21-0321.1
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Convectively Coupled Kelvin Waves and Tropical Cyclogenesis: Connections through Convection and Moisture
Published in Monthly Weather Review, 2023
Demonstrates direct links between Convectively Coupled Kelvin Waves and tropical cyclone formation, showing how CCKWs enhance convection and moisture in environments favorable for TC genesis.
Recommended citation: Lawton, Q. A., and S. J. Majumdar, 2023: Convectively Coupled Kelvin Waves and Tropical Cyclogenesis: Connections through Convection and Moisture. Monthly Weather Review, 151(7), 1647–1666. https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-23-0005.1
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Moisture Dependence of an African Easterly Wave Within the West African Monsoon System
Published in Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, 2024
Examines how moisture availability within the West African Monsoon system influences the structure, intensity, and evolution of individual African Easterly Wave events.
Recommended citation: Núñez Ocasio, K. M., C. A. Davis, Z. L. Moon, and Q. A. Lawton, 2024: Moisture Dependence of an African Easterly Wave Within the West African Monsoon System. Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, 16, e2023MS004070. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023MS004070
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The Representation of Convectively Coupled Kelvin Waves in Simulations with Modified Wave Amplitudes
Published in Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, 2024
Uses MPAS-A simulations with modified CCKW amplitudes to explore how tropical wave activity influences the broader tropical circulation and downstream TC genesis.
Recommended citation: Lawton, Q. A., R. Rios-Berrios, S. J. Majumdar, R. Emerton, and L. Magnusson, 2024: The Representation of Convectively Coupled Kelvin Waves in Simulations with Modified Wave Amplitudes. Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, 16, e2023MS004187. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023MS004187
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Dust, Convection, Winds and Waves: The 2022 NASA CPEX-CV Campaign
Published in Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 2024
Overview of the 2022 NASA Convective Processes Experiment – Cabo Verde (CPEX-CV) airborne field campaign, documenting observations of dust, convection, and tropical waves over the eastern Atlantic.
Recommended citation: Nowottnick, E. P., and Co-Authors, 2024: Dust, Convection, Winds and Waves: The 2022 NASA CPEX-CV Campaign. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 105(11). https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-23-0201.1
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Synoptic Modulation of the West African Coastal Atmosphere and Mesoscale Convective Systems
Published in Monthly Weather Review, 2025
Characterizes how synoptic-scale tropical wave activity modulates the West African coastal atmosphere and the organization of mesoscale convective systems, drawing on observations from the NASA CPEX-CV campaign.
Recommended citation: Sakaeda, N., S.-N. Wu, R. Rios-Berrios, E. Martin, K. M. Núñez Ocasio, K. Bedka, M. Hollis, B. Lambrigtsen, Q. A. Lawton, A. Nehrir, M. Rajagopal, M. Schreier, and S. Wong, 2025: Synoptic Modulation of the West African Coastal Atmosphere and Mesoscale Convective Systems. Monthly Weather Review, 153(10), 1939–1957. https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-24-0281.1
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On the Interannual Variability of African Easterly Waves and Its Relationship with El Niño – Southern Oscillation
Published in Journal of Climate, 2025
Investigates how ENSO modulates the interannual variability of African Easterly Wave activity, finding that La Niña conditions are associated with enhanced AEW activity with implications for Atlantic hurricane seasons.
Recommended citation: Lawton, Q. A., B. Weiser, and S. J. Majumdar, 2025: On the Interannual Variability of African Easterly Waves and Its Relationship with El Niño – Southern Oscillation. Journal of Climate, 38(20), 5791–5808. https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-25-0113.1
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On the Representation of Convectively Coupled Kelvin Waves in Operational Forecast Models: An Object-Tracking Perspective
Published in Weather and Forecasting, 2026
Evaluates how well operational numerical weather prediction models represent Convectively Coupled Kelvin Waves using an object-tracking approach, identifying systematic biases relevant to tropical weather forecasting.
Recommended citation: Lawton, Q. A., R. Rios-Berrios, F. Judt, L. Magnusson, and M. Köhler, 2025: On the Representation of Convectively Coupled Kelvin Waves in Operational Forecast Models: An Object-Tracking Perspective. Weather and Forecasting, 41(5), 1073-1090. https://doi.org/10.1175/WAF-D-25-0182.1
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A Review of African Easterly Waves: Formation, Growth, Structure, and Evolution
Published in Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 2026
A comprehensive review of the current understanding of African Easterly Waves, covering their formation mechanisms, growth processes, structural characteristics, and lifecycle evolution.
Recommended citation: Núñez Ocasio, K. M., Q. A. Lawton, E. Bercos-Hickey, S. Bourdin, A. Brammer, and X. Feng, 2025: A Review of African Easterly Waves: Formation, Growth, Structure, and Evolution. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 83(6). 901-926. https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-25-0175.1
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Atlantic tropical wave and cyclogenesis forecasting in the physical and new AI forecast systems at ECMWF
Published in Weather and Forecasting, 2026
Assesses the skill of ECMWF physical and AI-based forecast systems in predicting Atlantic tropical waves and tropical cyclogenesis, with implications for operational forecasting improvements.
Recommended citation: Majumdar, S. J., L. Magnusson, Q. A. Lawton, R. Emerton, S. Lang, M. Maier-Gerber, and D. S. Richardson, 2025: Atlantic tropical wave and cyclogenesis forecasting in the physical and new AI forecast systems at ECMWF. Weather and Forecasting, 41(6). 1181-1197. https://doi.org/10.1175/WAF-D-25-0200.1
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teaching
Summer Scholars Hurricane Academy (SSA 106)
Co-Instructor and Course Designer, University of Miami, 2021
Co-designed and co-instructed a one-week intensive hurricane science course for high school students through the University of Miami’s Summer Scholars Program. Developed curriculum covering tropical meteorology, hurricane dynamics, and storm surge, with an emphasis on community impacts and science communication.
Aviation Meteorology (ATOC 3180)
Guest Lecturer, University of Colorado, Boulder, Department of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences, 2025
Invited guest lecture on tropical meteorology and its relevance to aviation operations, covering tropical cyclones, squall lines, and tropical wave activity in the context of aviation weather hazards.