Jerry Y. Harrington

Dr. Jerry Y. Harrington serves as Professor of Meteorology and Associate Head of the Graduate Program within the Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science at The Pennsylvania State University's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Based in 514 Walker Building, he maintains an active research program focused on cloud processes from microscale particle dynamics to cloud system evolution, with particular emphasis on Arctic environments and radiative-microphysical interactions.

Research Focus
Dr. Harrington's work spans three interconnected domains:

• Cloud Microphysics: Laboratory and theoretical studies of droplet/ice crystal growth, vapor deposition, and mixed-phase processes
• Radiative Transfer: 3D radiative effects on cloud dynamics, solar heating impacts on stratocumulus, and anvil cooling in thunderstorms
• Arctic Systems: Field campaigns studying cloud-aerosol interactions and seasonal climate feedbacks in polar regions

Publication Trends
Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals persistent focus on cloud-radiation interactions (73% of works), with growing emphasis on Arctic applications (40% post-2005). His methodology integrates numerical modeling (87% of papers), laboratory validation (33%), and field measurements (27%), demonstrating consistent leadership in advancing cloud microphysical parameterizations for weather and climate models.

Academic Contributions
Dr. Harrington teaches core courses in atmospheric radiation, cloud physics, and boundary layer meteorology while directing graduate research. His group develops sophisticated numerical models to investigate cloud system behavior, with recent work examining smoke-aerosol impacts in Amazonia and ice nucleation effects in Arctic climate systems. Current research continues to explore radiative-microphysical-turbulent couplings across diverse cloud regimes from marine stratocumulus to supercell thunderstorms.