Zachary F. Johnson
Ph.D., Climate Science, Utah State University, 2020. Dissertation: "Remote ocean forcing on interannual-to-decadal climate variability through inter-basin interactions."
M.S., Atmospheric Science and Geography, Ball State University, 2017. Thesis: "Effects of evapotranspiration on the longitudinal dryline position in the Great Plains."
B.S., Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, 2014.
Johnson Z. F., D. Chavas, J. Jones, H. Ramsay, Y. Chikamoto, 2025: Impacts on zonal SST gradients on subtropical highs and implications for early season tropical cyclone landfall frequency. Journal of Climate. doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-23-0416.1
Jones J., D. Chavas, Z. F. Johnson, 2024: Inter-basin versus intra-basin sea surface temperature forcing of the Western North Pacific subtropical high’s westward extensions. Geophysical Research: Atmospheres. doi.org/10.1029/2023JD040429
Johnson Z. F., J. Stuivenvolt-Allen, H. Mahan, J. D.D. Meyer, M. Miksch, 2023: Upper Colorado River streamflow dependencies on summertime synoptic circulations and hydroclimate variability. Journal of Hydrometeorology. doi.org/10.1175/JHM-D-23-0053.1
Zhang X., A. Santoso, T. Mochizuki, S. Chakravorty, Z. F. Johnson, 2023: Early Career Scientists' Contributions to Tropical Pacific Ocean Dynamics and Its Interaction on Mid-Latitude Weather and Climate: Features, Mechanisms, and Prediction. doi.org/10.3389/feart.2023.1297027
Johnson Z. F., D. R. Chavas, and H. A. Ramsay, 2022: Statistical framework for western North Pacific tropical cyclone landfall risk through modulation of the western Pacific subtropical high and ENSO. Journal of Climate. doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-21-0824.1
Stuivenvolt Allen J., S.-Y. Wang, Z. F. Johnson, and Y. Chikamoto, 2021: Quasi-decadal variability in atmospheric rivers impacting Northern California. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres. doi.org/10.1029/2020JD034196
Chikamoto Y., Z. F. Johnson, S.-Y. Wang, M. J. McPhaden, and T. Mochizuki, 2020: El Niño Southern Oscillation evolution modulated by the Atlantic forcing. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans. doi.org/10.1029/2020JC016318
Johnson Z. F., Y. Chikamoto, S.-Y. Wang, M. J. McPhaden, and T. Mochizuki, 2020: Pacific Decadal Oscillation remotely forced by the equatorial Pacific and the Atlantic. Climate Dynamics. doi.org/10.1007/s00382-020-05295-2
Johnson Z. F., Y. Chikamoto, J-J Luo, and T. Mochizuki, 2018: Ocean impacts on Australian interannual to decadal precipitation variability. Climate, 6, 61. doi.org/10.3390/cli6030061
Johnson Z. F., and N.M. Hitchens, 2018: Effects of soil moisture on the longitudinal dryline position in the southern Great Plains. J. Hydrometeor., 19, 273-287. doi.org/10.1175/JHM-D-17-0091.1
Ocean-atmosphere interactions
ENSO
Inter-basin interactions
Climate modeling
Hydrometeorology
Tropical cyclones
Quantitative Environmental Data Analysis (ENS 401) [Central Michigan University]
Spring 2024
Atmospheric Modeling (MET 580) [Central Michigan University]
Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Fall 2024
Climatology and Climate Change (MET 301) [Central Michigan University]
Spring 2023, Fall 2023
Severe and Unusual Weather (MET 140) [Central Michigan University]
Fall 2022, Spring 2024
Aviation Meteorology (PSC 3250) [Utah State University]
Spring 2020
Climate & Climate Change (PSC 4810-6810) [Utah State University]
Fall 2019, Spring 2019, Fall 2020
The Atmosphere and Weather (PSC 2000) [Utah State University]
Fall 2018
Lead Data Scientist, Sept 2025–current, Western Weather Group, Chico, California
Climate Risk Advisor, Oct 2023–Feb 2025, Chemonics International, Washington D.C.
Assistant Professor, Jul 2022–Jul 2024, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Postdoctoral Scholar, 2021–2022, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
Radio Meteorologist, 2017–2021, Utah Public Radio/Utah Climate Center, Logan, Utah
Graduate Research Assistant, 2017–2020, Utah State University, Logan, Utah
Graduate Teaching Assistant, 2018–2020, Utah State University, Logan, Utah
Meteorologist (Intern), 2017, Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), Austin, Texas
Resident Advisor, 2011–2014, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma