Jason Dunion is a research meteorologist at the Hurricane Research Division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Miami, Florida. Jason uses satellites and planes to explore how hurricanes develop. Of special interest in his current research is a dust storm phenomenon called the Saharan Air Layer, named for the Sahara Desert of North Africa. It occurs during the summer months when Saharan winds carry desert dust out over the Atlantic Ocean in the Northern Hemisphere in an atmospheric event that seems to suppress hurricane formation.
Jason has not always had a front row seat to hurricanes and monster weather. Growing up in New England, he didn’t get to experience many monster storms, but he does remember some massive snowstorms and blizzards. Jason recalls what awed him the most was seeing for the first time the black and white satellite images used in weather forecasting from the 1970s. He was amazed by the images and how much information forecasters could gather from them. From that point on he has always had an interest in the power of satellites, what they “see,” and their data-collecting ability.
Jason Dunion enrolled at the University of New Hampshire and earned his bachelor’s degree in geography and geology in 1992. After college, he dedicated himself to social work as a supported living coordinator in both Connecticut and Miami, Florida. The job involved helping people with developmental disabilities transition out of facilities and group homes to live independently in the community. Later, Jason attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison, earning his master’s degree in atmospheric and oceanic science in 1999.
Now at NOAA’s Hurricane Research Division, Jason uses satellite remote sensing capability to study hurricanes. His work has involved developing several new satellite data analysis techniques for monitoring tropical cyclones and Saharan dust storms. He has served as chief scientist on several hurricane hunter research missions, joining over 25 hurricane hunter flights during his six years with NOAA. During the 2006 hurricane season he was Field Program Director of the Hurricane Research Division and was responsible for coordinating all aircraft hurricane research activities. Over the summer of 2006, Jason teamed up with Robbie Hood (Mission 2 Host Researcher) to study the origins and development of Atlantic Ocean hurricanes.
When talking with young students he meets, Jason urges them to follow their dreams, no matter what direction that might lead. He observes that sometimes life can take you in new and unexpected directions, but you can always come back to the path you want to follow.