Michael French

Michael French is an Associate Professor at Stony Brook University's School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS), Department of Atmospheric Sciences. His research focuses on using Doppler radar data to study severe weather phenomena, particularly tornado dynamics and mesoscale processes. He holds a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Oklahoma (2012).

His expertise includes analyzing phased array and dual-polarization radar data to improve understanding of supercell thunderstorms, tornado formation, and operational forecasting techniques. He has contributed to major field campaigns like VORTEX2 and has published extensively on radar signatures, hydrometeor analysis, and tornadic processes.

Key research themes include radar-based tornado prediction, mesoscale snow banding, and improving short-term forecasting methods. His work integrates advanced radar technologies and GIS tools to study environmental impacts on severe weather events.

Dr. French collaborates with institutions like NOAA and the University of Oklahoma, focusing on advancing radar meteorology and severe storm dynamics. His recent studies explore the influence of radar scanning strategies on thunderstorm observations and the role of hydrometeor size sorting in distinguishing tornadic supercells.