Matt Hitchman

Matthew H. Hitchman is a Professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, within the College of Letters and Science. He holds a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from the University of Washington (1985). His research focuses on atmospheric dynamics, including the general circulation, transport mechanisms in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS), and the influence of tropical convection and the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) on climate systems. He served as Department Chair (1997–2000) and held visiting professorships at Kyoto University (Spring 2020 and 1995–1996).

Education:

• Ph.D., Atmospheric Science, University of Washington, 1985

Research Interests: Dr. Hitchman’s work explores inertial instability in cyclones, UTLS potential vorticity dipoles, QBO impacts on tropical/subtropical UTLS, and stratosphere-troposphere exchange. His studies utilize numerical models (e.g., UWNMS), satellite data, and aircraft observations.

Grants & Projects:

• NSF Grant AGS-1256215: Investigating ENSO influence on Antarctic circulation and ozone distribution.
• Collaborations include studies on volcanic aerosols, ozone layer dynamics, and climate teleconnections.

Advising & Teaching:

• Advised over 30 graduate students and postdocs, including notable alumni such as Charles Trepte (NASA) and John A. Knox (University of Georgia).
• Teaches courses like AOS 171 (Global Climate Issues), AOS 610/611 (Geophysical Fluid Dynamics), and AOS 705 (Middle Atmosphere).

Labs & Teams: Leads research on inertial instability mechanisms, Antarctic meteorology, and stratospheric dynamics through collaborations with the Space Science and Engineering Center and Antarctic Meteorological Research Center.