Robert G. Fovell, a professor of atmospheric sciences, specializes in using computer simulations and other models to study and predict weather patterns, especially the dynamics and properties of convective storms — including the mechanisms that govern thunderstorm initiation, evolution and propagation.

 

Fovell has written extensively on local weather patterns and comments regularly on Santa Ana winds, which frequently fuel Southern California wildfires. He maintains a Santa Ana winds website, which includes a section on frequently asked questions about the winds.

 

His recent research has focused on why new storm cells tend to form in the vicinity of existing storms, a phenomenon dubbed "discrete propagation." He also researches hurricane tracks, demonstrating that the way in which small particles such as raindrops are handled in models can influence how these storms move, sometimes drastically.