Garett Warner is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Meteorology in the Department of Geosciences. He teaches online courses in severe weather, forecasting fundamentals, synoptic meteorology, satellite and radar meteorology, and atmospheric thermodynamics. His research focuses on boundary-layer meteorology and turbulence, interests that began during his undergraduate studies at Penn State. He earned his master's degree from Penn State in May 2023, where his research examined the dimensionless parameters governing updraft strength and location over heterogeneous surface heating. He completed his doctorate in 2026, investigating the environmental factors that influence the structure and evolution of horizontal convective rolls. In addition to his research, Garett has participated in field campaigns in Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska, where he helped deploy a 12-meter flux tower to support atmospheric observations. He is passionate about helping students develop a deeper understanding of meteorology, strengthen their problem-solving skills, and build confidence in applying scientific principles to real-world weather challenges. He has a passion for helping students deepen their understanding of meteorology and build confidence in their problem-solving abilities. He strives to incorporate both research and operational meteorology into his teaching, providing students with practical experience and real-world context alongside a strong scientific foundation.

Education

•  Ph.D., Meteorology and Atmospheric Science, Penn State University, 2023–2026
  Thesis: The Influence of Heterogeneous Surface Heating and the Diurnal Cycle on the Occurrence and
  Spacing of Horizontal Convective Rolls
• M.Sc., Meteorology and Atmospheric Science, Penn State University, 2020–2023
  Thesis: The Influence of Geostrophic Wind Directions on Organized Vertical Motions Induced by Heterogeneous Surface Heat Fluxes
• B.Sc., Meteorology and Atmospheric Science, Penn State University, 2013–2016, 2018–2020 Option: Atmospheric Science

Experience
• Assistant Teaching Professor, Mississippi State University, 2026–present
• Teaching online courses on severe weather, foundations of forecasting, synoptic meteorology,satellite and radar meteorology, and thermodynamics
• Research/Teaching Assistant, The Pennsylvania State University, 2020-2026
Research:
• Conducted high-resolution LES to investigate shallow convection driven by heterogeneous surface heat fluxes
• Designed parameter sensitivity experiments examining the roles of surface heating and wind shear in boundary-layer organization
• Developed statistical methods to diagnose spacing and alignment of horizontal convective rolls, which inform lab exercises and student projects
• Executed and managed large simulation campaigns in high-performance computing
environments
• Integrated observational datasets to specify and constrain simulation boundary and initial conditions, providing examples for teaching
• Collaborated with research team to analyze simulations and co-author peer-reviewed manuscripts
 

Teaching:
•  Supported students in meteorology-based coding using MATLAB and Python
• Led lab sessions and guided students in applying theoretical principles to real scientific measurements
• Assisted students in setting up and operating a full weather station, including pyranometers,temperature/relative humidity sensors, wind speed/direction instruments, rain gauge, and soil moisture sensors
• Emphasized data quality, uncertainty, and critical thinking about measurements
• Supported students in translating lab skills to research and professional applications; one student is now a broadcast meteorologist
 

Awards and Honors
• 2025: Hans Neuberger Award for Excellence in Teaching
• 2025: Best Student Presentation at the 36th Conference on Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, AMS
Denver Summit (3rd Place)
• 2019: Charles L. and Anna R. Hosler Scholarship
 

Technical Skills
• Programming: Python, MATLAB, FORTRAN, Bash
• High-performance computing: Linux/Unix, MPI, batch workflows
• Numerical modeling: LES and other convection-resolving models (e.g., MPAS)
• Atmospheric instrumentation setup for student labs and field exercises
• Data analysis and visualization for both simulations and instructional demonstrations
• LATEX typesetting and scientific publishing instruction support
 

Additional Experience
Field Work and Data Analysis
• Atmospheric measurements in Utqiagvik, Alaska (2022): Installed sonic anemometers and TRH sensors
on a flux tower and programmed data logger for autonomous operation as part of a multi-person field team
• Historical weather data analysis for the Battle of Gettysburg (2019); published in “The Weather Gods Curse the Gettysburg Campaign.”
 

Trainings
• 2026: Canvas Foundations, Online Teaching 101, New Faculty Teaching Academy, A&S Advisor Training
• 2025: CIWRO Summer Colloquium, University of Oklahoma
• 2025: ARM Open Science in the Forest Summer School
• 2020: XSEDE training on parallel computing
 

Leadership and Service
• 2023 - 2025: Representative, Graduate Student Council, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
• 2019: Forecaster for the Campus Weather Service (CWS)
• 2016 – 2018: Volunteer Leader for service projects in underserved communities inNew Mexico
• Mentored junior students in research and lab activities
• Provided educational outreach via forecasting and instrumentation demonstrations

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles:
• Warner, Garett, Y. Pan, and D.J. Stensrud. “Statistical Quantification of the Orientation and
Cross-Roll Wavelength of Horizontal Convective Rolls.” Boundary-Layer Meteorology vol. 192, no. 46,
2026, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-026-00992-7.
• Warner, Garett, Y. Pan, and J. Peters. “The Influence of Heterogeneous Surface Heating on Organized
Vertical Motions within and above a Sheared, Unstable Atmospheric Boundary Layer.” Journal of
Atmospheric Sciences, vol. 82, no. 9, 2025, pp. 1833–1850, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-24-0116.1.
 

Manuscripts in progress:
• Warner, Garett, Y. Pan, and D. Stensrud. “Reproducing an Observed Wide-Mode HCR Event During
an Evening Transition Using Large-Eddy Simulation” – Will be submitted to Boundary-Layer
Meteorology, 2027.
 

Conference Proceedings:
• Warner, Garett, Y. Pan, and J. Peters. “Dimensionless Parameters Governing the Location and
Strength of Organized Updrafts Induced by Surface Thermal Heterogeneities Caused by Shallow
Cumulus Cloud Shadows.” In Proceedings of the 36th Conference on Agricultural and Forest Meteorology at
the American Meteorological Society’s Denver Summit, Denver, Colorado, 2025.
• Warner, Garett, Y. Pan, and J. Peters. “Dimensionless Parameters Controlling the Location and
Strength of Shallow Convection Currents in the Presence of Shear and Surface Heating Heterogeneity.”
In Proceedings of the American Geophysical Union’s Fall 2024 Meeting, Washington, D.C., 2024.
• Warner, Garett, Y. Pan, and J. Peters. “Influence of Phase-Averaged Vertical Velocity Within the ABL
on Free Troposphere Motions.” In Proceedings of the American Geophysical Union’s 2023 Fall Meeting,
San Francisco, California, 2023.
• Warner, Garett, and Y. Pan. “The Influence of Geostrophic Wind Directions on Organized Vertical
Motions Induced by Heterogeneous Surface Heat Fluxes.” In Proceedings of the 103rd American
Meteorological Society’s Annual Meeting, Denver, Colorado, 2023.
• Warner, Garett, and Y. Pan. “Updrafts Induced by Surface Thermal Heterogeneities Associated with
Cumulus Cloud Shadow.” In Proceedings of the American Geophysical Union’s 2021 Fall Meeting, New
Orleans, Louisiana, 2021.
• Warner, Garett, and Y. Pan. “On the Planetary Boundary Layer Over Heterogeneous Surface Heat