Jana Houser

Jana Houser is an Adjunct Professor in the Geography Department at Ohio University’s College of Arts and Sciences, where she conducts research and teaches in atmospheric science with a focus on severe weather. Her office is located in Lindley Hall, N357, on the Athens Campus.

Research Interests: Dr. Houser specializes in observational studies of supercell thunderstorms and tornadoes, utilizing mobile and fixed Doppler and polarimetric radar systems. Her work investigates the formation, evolution, and dissipation of tornadoes, particularly addressing whether tornadoes initiate aloft or near the surface. She explores how surface topography and land cover influence tornado behavior and integrates GIS data with radar observations. Additional interests include severe weather climatology, mesoscale precipitation features, and storm-scale dynamics influenced by large-scale weather systems.

Publication Trends: Her recent publications, primarily in Monthly Weather Review and Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, reflect a consistent focus on high-resolution radar analysis of significant tornado events such as the 2011 and 2013 El Reno tornadoes and the 2007 Greensburg, Kansas tornado. These studies emphasize rapid-scan radar, polarimetry, and multi-sensor integration to understand tornadogenesis, debris signatures, and storm structure.

Scientific Awards:

• National Science Foundation Grant to study the impact of surface topography and land cover on tornado formation, intensity, and decay

Advising and Grants: Dr. Houser has mentored students in preliminary research that laid the foundation for her NSF-funded project. She actively involves students in data analysis using mobile rapid-scan radar and GIS, fostering hands-on research experience in severe storms. Her grant from the NSF supports ongoing observational and analytical work in tornado-environment interactions.

Teaching: She teaches courses including GEOG 3010: Meteorology, GEOG 4035/5035: Radar Meteorology, GEOG 6010: Seminar in Severe Convective Storms, and GEOG 4930: Field Studies of Convection. She advocates for application-based instruction, linking theoretical concepts to real-world weather events to enhance student engagement and understanding.