Quinton Lawton

Research Interests

• Tropical meteorology
• Atmospheric wave dynamics
• Extreme weather prediction

My research explores the dynamics of tropical weather systems and their influence on extreme weather events. Our team utilizes high-resolution numerical models, alongside large reanalysis and observational datasets, to study and improve tropical weather prediction. I focus primarily on systems like tropical cyclones, equatorial waves and African easterly waves. I also study extreme precipitation and tropical convection. A core tenet of my work involves building strong collaborations with operational centers to ensure broader real-world impacts.

Recent Publications

Lawton, Q. A., R. Rios- Berrios, F. Judt, L. Magnusson, and M. Köhler, 2026: On the Representation of Convectively Coupled Kelvin Waves in Operational Forecast Models: An Object-Tracking Perspective. Weather and Forecasting, 41(5), 1073-1090. 

Majumdar, S. J., L. Magnusson, Q. A. Lawton, R. Emerton, S. Lang, M. Maier-Gerber, and D. S. Richardson, 2026: Atlantic tropical wave and cyclogenesis forecasting in the physical and new AI forecast systems at ECMWF. Weather and Forecasting, 41 (6), 1181-1197.

Núñez Ocasio, K. M., Q. A. Lawton, E. Bercos-Hickey, S. Bourdin, A. Brammer, X. Feng, 2026: A Review of African Easterly Waves: Formation, Growth, Structure, and Evolution. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 83 (6(, 901-926.

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.

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.

Nowottnick, E. P., and Coauthors, 2024: Dust, Convection, Wind, and Waves: The 2022 NASA CPEX-CV Campaign. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 105, E2097-E2125.

Núñez Ocasio, K. M., C. A. Davis, Z. L. Moon, and Q. A. Lawton, 2024: Moisture Sensitivity of the African Easterly Wave-African Easterly Jet and Convection Systems. Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems. 16, e2023MS004070.  

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.

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.

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

Professional Associations and Honors

• AMS Ad Hoc Community Modeling Committee, 2026 – Present
• Associate Editor for Monthly Weather Review, January 2025 – Present
• NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), Advanced Study Program Postdoctoral Fellow
  August 2024 – Present
• National Science Teaching Association, invited speaker on hurricanes for web seminar series, May 2026
• IEEE-USA Move Tech Talk, invited seminar speaker, June 2026