Larissa Back

Larissa Back is a Full Professor and Associate Chair of Graduate Studies in the Department of Atmospheric and Ocean Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, College of Letters & Science. Her research focuses on fundamental processes in tropical atmospheric dynamics and climate systems.

Her primary research interests include:

• Tropical rainfall patterns and deep convection mechanisms
• Vertical structure of precipitation systems
• Land-ocean differences in convective intensity
• Precipitation extremes under climate change
• Large-scale tropical circulation dynamics
• Simple theoretical modeling of atmospheric processes

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals consistent focus on tropical convection, moist static energy frameworks, and climate change impacts on precipitation. Her work integrates satellite observations, cloud-resolving models, and theoretical approaches to understand fundamental atmospheric processes, with particular emphasis on tropical oceanic regions and land-ocean contrasts.

Professor Back teaches advanced courses including Tropical Meteorology (AOS 522), Dynamics of Atmosphere and Ocean I & II (AOS 310/311), and specialized seminars on convection and future climate dynamics.