Walter Robinson

Walter Robinson is a Professor in the Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences at NC State University, affiliated with the College of Sciences. He holds roles including co-director of the Master’s Program in Climate Change and Society, co-chair of the College of Sciences Community Climate Committee, and Senior Research Mentor in MEAS. He was Chair of the NC State Faculty (2025) and Publications Commissioner for the American Meteorological Society.

Education:

• PhD in Geological Sciences, Columbia University (1985)
• MS and BS in Physics, University of Pennsylvania (1977)

Research Interests: Large-scale atmospheric dynamics, climate change impacts, Rossby wave dynamics, climate extremes, and storm track behavior. His work emphasizes stratospheric-tropospheric coupling, Arctic amplification, and the influence of planetary waves on midlatitude weather systems. Recent studies focus on compounding heatwaves, extratropical cyclone evolution, and ENSO teleconnections.

Grants & Awards:

• Fellow of the American Meteorological Society
• Major grants include NSF funding for climate extremes research, storm track modeling, and regional adaptation projects in the Carolinas.

Lab/Teams: Active in the NC State climate science community, leading collaborative initiatives on climate resilience and extreme weather forecasting through interdisciplinary teams in MEAS and the College of Sciences.