Biography

Hello! My name is Zach Johnson.

I am a climate researcher, meteorologist, and data scientist. I hold a PhD in Climate Science, as well as bachelor's and master's degrees in atmospheric science. I have held roles in academia and the industry, including a professorship in meteorology, as well as positions in the energy sector and international development, focusing on climate risk and vulnerability. I have also held roles in operational weather and climate forecasting. My research explores the predictability and physical drivers of climate variability, with applications to tropical cyclones, hydrology, severe-weather hazards, and climate impact assessment. I have taught undergraduate and graduate courses such as aviation meteorology, weather and climate modeling, the science of climate change, and data science. Below are some specific areas I've worked in.

Research Interests

• Inter-basin interactions

• ENSO dynamics and predictability

• Teleconnections

• Tropical cyclones

• Hydrometeorology

• Climate modeling

• ML and AI applications on climate and weather

• Climate vulnerability, risk, mitigation, and adaptation

• Weather, climate, and extreme event impacts on the energy industry

Industry Applications

• Electrical load forecasting

• Wildfire risk hazard mapping

• Weather forecasting on Utah's NPR affiliate

• Catastrophe risk modeling to quantify flood, tropical cyclones, and wildfire impacts

• Climate vulnerability and risk assessments on various sectors in developing countries

• Machine learning predictive frameworks for extreme weather and climate events

• Flood risk modeling for farmers in Central America

• Climate and extreme weather impacts on socioeconomics