Daniel E. Horton

Daniel E. Horton is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental & Planetary Sciences at Northwestern University's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, where he leads the Climate Change Research Group (CCRG). His interdisciplinary work bridges atmospheric science, environmental health, and geoscience through advanced modeling techniques.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from University of Michigan
• B.S. in Atmospheric Science from Texas A&M University
• B.S. in Physics from Tulane University

Horton's research spans extreme weather events, near-term societal impacts of climate change, geologic climate evolution, and exoplanet habitability. His group integrates atmospheric, biospheric, cryospheric, hydrospheric, and lithospheric processes using numerical models, environmental observations, and machine learning. Recent work emphasizes environmental justice through neighborhood-scale air quality analysis and transportation electrification impacts.

Analysis of his 10 most recent publications (2022-2023) reveals three dominant research thrusts: (1) urban air quality modeling with WRF-CMAQ systems focusing on racial disparities in pollution exposure, (2) transportation electrification impacts on public health and equity, particularly for heavy-duty vehicles, and (3) hydrological extremes including precipitation variability and post-wildfire debris flows. Machine learning applications are increasingly prominent across all research areas.

Scientific Awards:

• NSF CAREER Award (2023) for research on air quality, public health, and equity implications of transportation electrification

Horton secured a $600,000 NSF grant supporting both research and educational initiatives, including after-school sustainability programming for Chicago middle schools. His Climate Change Research Group actively recruits graduate students for projects at the intersection of climate science and societal impacts, with strong collaborations across environmental health, urban planning, and engineering disciplines. Current work emphasizes equity-centered climate solutions through fine-scale spatial analysis of pollution and health outcomes.