Jeffrey B. Halverson received his PhD in Environmental Science at the University of Virginia in 1994, then assumed a post-doc under Dr. Joanne Simpson (the first woman in the United States to receive a PhD in Meteorology) at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. He is currently Professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), where he teaches courses on physical geography, water science, natural hazards, meteorology, severe storms, climate change, and Earth’s natural history. He and his team of graduate students investigate severe storms, particularly hurricanes. In 2000 he helped pioneer a new type of technology for measuring air temperature at high altitudes in the eye of hurricanes. Halverson has authored or coauthored more than 60 scientific publications on severe storms and has appeared in science documentaries aired by NOVA, National Geographic, The Weather Channel, and The Discovery Channel. He is a columnist, feature writer, and assistant editor for Weatherwise Magazine. He is a writer and Severe Weather Expert for the Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang. In 2015 he adapted a new teaching technology – a large, digitally projected sphere of the Earth, called Magic Planet – for teaching his courses.
"""Jeff Halverson is a gifted writer and brings meteorology to life in this comprehensive and engaging textbook. The highly-accessible scientific explanations and marvelous illustrations make it an invaluable resource that will foster much greater understanding of severe storms."" Jason Samenow, Chief Meteorologist, Washington Post Capital Weather Gang ""This is a textbook that doesn't read like a textbook. The way Dr. Halverson has written this book is almost conversational, as if I'm listening to him really tell the story of the atmospheric processes. There are so many great examples for students to really learn about the science. The details of events with examples can really put weather into perspective for students to understand these concepts in an easy way."" Aubrey Urbanowicz, Chief Meteorologist, WHSV, Harrisonburg, VA ""The authors have done an exceptional job making the connection between the graphics in the text to the meteorology behind the type of severe storms. Students have difficulty making the connection between the physics behind an event and the consequences. The graphics help make that connection for the student. The graphics do an exceptional job at illustrating how each type of event occurs and how each type differs along with the risks posed and damage caused."" Robert Pasken, Associate Professor of Meteorology, St. Louis University"