About
Dr. Olson studied physics and astronomy as an undergraduate at Cornell University, where he became interested in planetary atmospheres research. He continued these studies as a graduate student at Univ. of Wisconsin under the advisement of Prof. James Weinman, using satellite microwave remote sensing to diagnose precipitation and latent heating in convective storms. Dr. Olson joined NASA in 1994, and he currently leads a team that develops methods for estimating precipitation profiles using a combination of satellite radar and passive microwave radiometer observations from the TRMM and GPM missions. Drawing primarily from satellite observations, he is also developing optimal descriptions of the global water and energy cycles based upon a variational approach.Research interests
His main professional focus is in radar and passive microwave measurement of precipitation and latent heating, but his research interests go beyond remote sensing. Some of his side interests include cloud physics, diagnosis of latent heating and generation of available potential energy in convective systems, stratocumulus modeling, the earth's energy and water cycles, and data assimilation.Teaching interests
Have taught Atmospheric Physics (physical meteorology) and a Seminar Course in Precipitation Science at UMBC.Education
-
Ph D, Meteorology
— University of Wisconsin (1987) Estimation of Rainfall Rates in Tropical Cyclones by Passive Microwave Radiometry
- BA, Physics — Cornell University (1978)