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Keeler, Jason

Associate Professor

FACULTY

Biography

Dr. Jason Keeler is an Associate Professor of Meteorology and has been a faculty member in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Central Michigan University’s Institute for Great Lakes Research since 2018. He joined CMU after completing postdoctoral research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, following graduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research bridges boundary layer and mesoscale dynamics, focusing on atmospheric destabilization and evolution of convection, with a particular emphasis on the coastal environment and thunderstorm outflow airmasses. Dr. Keeler actively involves students in field research through his team’s mobile mesonet and radiosonde platforms, and is passionate about assessing how these hands-on research experiences impact student learning and outcomes.

More about Jason Keeler

  • Boyer, C. H., J. M. Keeler, and B. C. Rakoczy, 2025: An Idealized Parameter Study of Convection Initiation in Coastal Regions. Part I: Calm or Offshore Synoptic-Scale Flow. J. Atmos. Sci., In Press.
  • Boyer, C. H., and J. M. Keeler, 2025: An Idealized Parameter Study of Convection Initiation in Coastal Regions. Part II: Onshore Synoptic-Scale Flow. J. Atmos. Sci., In Press.
  • Boyer, C. H., and J. M. Keeler, 2022: Evaluation and Improvement of an Inflow-Nudging Technique for Idealized Simulations of Convective Boundary Layers. J. Appl. Meteor. Climatol., 61, 1843–1860.
  • Houston, A. L., and J. M. Keeler, 2020: Sounding Characteristics that Yield Significant Convective Inhibition Errors due to Ascent Rate and Sensor Response of in situ Profiling Systems. J. Atmos. Oceanic. Technol., 37, 1163–1172.
  • Swenson, S., B. Argrow, E. Frew, S. Borenstein, and J. Keeler, 2019: Development and Deployment of Air-Launched Drifters from Small UAS. Sensors, 19(9), 2149.
  • Houston, A. L., and J. M. Keeler, 2018: The impact of sensor response and airspeed on the representation of the convective boundary layer and airmass boundaries by small unmanned aircraft systems. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 35, 1687-1699.
  • Rosenow, A. A., R. M. Rauber, B. F. Jewett, G. M. McFarquhar, and J. M. Keeler, 2018: Elevated potential instability in the comma-head: Distribution and development. Mon. Wea. Rev., 146, 1259-1278.
  • Keeler, J. M., R. M. Rauber, B. F. Jewett, G. M. McFarquhar, R. M. Rasmussen, L. Xue, C. Liu, and G. Thompson, 2017. Dynamics of cloud-top generating cells in winter cyclones. Part III: Shear and convective organization. J. Atmos. Sci., 74, 2879–2897.
  • Keeler, J. M., B. F. Jewett, R. M. Rauber, G. M. McFarquhar, R. M. Rasmussen, L. Xue, C. Liu, and G. Thompson, 2016: Dynamics of cloud-top generating cells in winter cyclones. Part II: Radiative and instability forcing. J. Atmos. Sci., 73, 1529–1553.
  • Keeler, J. M., B. F. Jewett, R. M. Rauber, G. M. McFarquhar, R. M. Rasmussen, L. Xue, C. Liu, and G. Thompson, 2016: Dynamics of cloud-top generating cells in winter cyclones. Part I: Idealized simulations in the context of field observations. J. Atmos. Sci., 73, 1507–1527. 
  • Rauber, R. M., D. M. Plummer, M. K. Macomber, A. A. Rosenow, G. M. McFarquhar, B. F. Jewett, D. Leon, N. Owens, and J. M. Keeler, 2015: The role of cloud-top generating cells and boundary-layer circulations in the fine-scale radar structure of a winter cyclone over the Great Lakes. Mon. Wea. Rev., 143, 2291–2318.
  • Rauber, R. M., M. Macomber, D. M. Plummer, A. A. Rosenow, G. M. McFarquhar, B. F. Jewett, D. Leon, and J. M. Keeler, 2014: Fine scale radar and airmass structure of the comma head of a continental winter cyclone—the role of three airstreams. Mon. Wea. Rev., 142, 4207–4229.
  • Rauber, R. M., J. Wegman, D. M. Plummer, A. A. Rosenow, M. Peterson, G. M. McFarquhar, B. F. Jewett, D. Leon, P. S. Market, K. R. Knupp, J. M. Keeler, and S. Battaglia, 2014: Stability and charging characteristics of the comma-head region of continental winter cyclones. J. Atmos. Sci., 71, 1559–1582.
  • Keeler, J. M., and D. A. R. Kristovich, 2012: Observations of Urban Heat Island influence on lake-breeze frontal movement. J. Appl. Meteor. Climatol., 51, 702–710.
  • Steiger, S. M., R. Hamilton, J. Keeler, and R. E. Orville, 2009: Lake-effect thunderstorms in the lower Great Lakes. J. Appl. Meteor. Climatol., 48, 889–902.

Honors and Awards

  • 2019 AMS Editors' Award for serving as a reviewer for the Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology
  • Ph.D., Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2015
  • M.S., Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2010
  • B.S., Meteorology, State University of New York College at Oswego, 2007
  • Mesoscale and Boundary Layer Meteorology
  • Fieldwork using Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Mobile Mesonets

Courses Taught

  • MET 140: Severe and Unusual Weather
  • MET 312: Meteorological Instruments and Observations
  • MET 320: Physical Meteorology
  • MET 330: Dynamic Meteorology I
  • MET 335: Dynamic Meteorology II
  • MET 450: Mesoscale Meteorology