P. Grady Dixon

Professor and Interim Dean, Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics

Office: Hammond Hall, 269
Phone: 785-628-4536
Email: pgdixon@fhsu.edu

Weather Links

I am a physical geographer with expertise in meteorology and climatology. My research topics are broad, but they consistently involve weather data being applied to real-world problems across multiple disciplines. Some of my most recent research has been focused on tornado climatology, weather-suicide relationships, and weather effects on wildlife.

Educational Background

Ph.D. Geography, Arizona State University (2005)
M.S. Geography, University of Georgia (2002)
B.S. Geosciences (Meteorology), Mississippi State University (2000)

Courses Taught

Elements of Physical Geography
Introduction to World Geography
Climatology
Weather Analysis
Physical Meteorology
Synoptic Meteorology
Severe Storm Observations

Previous Graduate Students

Shayne O'Brien (2018), pursuing Ph.D. in Geography, Texas State University
Nathan Owen (2014), NOAA, Birmingham, Alabama
Brandon Sylvester (2014), RSP & Associates, LLC, Overland Park, Kansas
Lance Watkins (2014), pursuing Ph.D. in Geography, Arizona State University
Jessica Van Meter (2013), WNWO-TV, Toledo, Ohio
Tory Farney (2013), Verisk Climate, Medford, Massachusetts
David Cox (2012), NOAA, Jackson, Mississippi
Nyssa Perryman Rayne (2010), Truckee Meadows Community College, Reno, Nevada
Ashley Sedorovich (2010), Summa Health, Akron, Ohio
Ashley McDonald Gann (2009), CBS 42, Birmingham, Alabama
Ashley Hayes (2008), NOAA, Slidell, Louisiana
Kelsey Scheitlin Ellis (2007), University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee

Publications

40. Kalkstein, A. J., M. Belorid, P. G. Dixon, K. R. Kim, and K. A. Bremer, 2019: Seasonal Variations in Temperature-Suicide Association across South Korea. Weather, Climate, and Society, ACCEPTED.

39. Palumbo, M. D., F. J. Vilella, G. Wang, B. K. Strickland, D. Goodwin, P. G. Dixon, B. D. Rubin, and M. A. Lashley, 2019: Latitude and Daily-Weather Effects on Gobbling Activity of Wild Turkeys in Mississippi. International Journal of Biometeorology, ACCEPTED.

38. Posselt, J. R., J. Chen, P. G. Dixon, J. F. L. Jackson, R. Kirsch, A. M. Nuñez, and B. J. Teppen, 2019: Research and Theory to Advance Inclusion in the Geosciences: An Overview of the NSF-GOLD Program. Journal of Geoscience Education, ACCEPTED.

37. Fisher, K. Q., E. Kaufman, O. Calagna, L. Myles, C. Brinkworth, D. R. Simmons, and P. G. Dixon, 2019: Developing scientists as champions of diversity to transform the geosciences, Journal of Geoscience Education, DOI: 10.1080/10899995.2019.1618692

36. Sugg, M. M., P. G. Dixon, and J. R. Runkle, 2019: Support-Seeking Behaviors for Crisis Events and Temperature in the United States:  Is there an Association in Young Adults and Adolescents? Science of the Total Environment, 669, 400–411.

35. Dixon, P. G., and A. J. Kalkstein, 2018: Where are Weather-Suicide Associations Valid? An Examination of Nine U.S. Counties with Varying Seasonality. International Journal of Biometeorology, 62, 685-697.

34. Kalkstein, A. J., L. S. Kalkstein, J. Vanos, D. P. Eisenman, and P. G. Dixon, 2018: Heat/Mortality Sensitivities in Los Angeles during Winter: A Unique Phenomenon in the United States. Environmental Health, 17:45.

33. Sheridan, S. C., and P. G. Dixon, 2017: Spatiotemporal trends in human vulnerability and adaptation to heat across the United States. Anthropocene, 20, 61-73.

32. Elsner, J., T. Fricker, H. Widen, T. Bhatrasataponkul, C. Castillo, C. Gredzens, J. Humphreys, J. Jung, S. Rahman, A. Richards, T. Jagger, and P. G. Dixon, 2016: Tornadoes occur more often over smooth terrain. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 55, 849-859.

31. Dixon, P. G., M. Allen, S. Gosling, D. Hondula, V. Ingole, R. Lucas, and J. Vanos, 2016: Perspectives on Synoptic Climate Classification and its Role in Interdisciplinary Research. Geography Compass, 10, 147-164.

30. Farney, T. J., and P. G. Dixon, 2015: Variability of tornado climatology across the continental United States. International Journal of Climatology, 35, 2993-3006.

29. Dixon, P. G., M. Sinyor, A. Schaffer, A. Levitt, C. R. Haney, K. N. Ellis, and S. C. Sheridan, 2014: Association of Weekly Suicide Rates with Temperature Anomalies in Two Different Climate Types. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 11, 11627-11644.

28. Ruddell, D. M., and P. G. Dixon, 2014: The Energy-Water Nexus: Are there tradeoffs between residential energy and water consumption in arid cities? International Journal of Biometeorology, 58, 1421­-1431.

27. Van Meter, J., and P. G. Dixon, 2014: Early Dismissals in Public Schools on Potential Severe Weather Days. Natural Hazards, 73, 1609-1624.

26. Fuhrmann, C. M., C. E. Konrad, II, M. M. Kovach, J. T. McLeod, W. G. Schmitz, and P. G. Dixon, 2014: Ranking of Tornado Outbreaks across the United States and their Climatological Characteristics. Weather and Forecasting, 29, 684-701.

25. Coleman, T. A., and P. G. Dixon, 2014: An Objective Analysis of Tornado Risk in the United States. Weather and Forecasting, 29, 366­-376.

24. Gosling S. N., E. K. Bryce, P. G. Dixon, K. A. Gabriel, J. Hanes, D. M. Hondula, L. Liang, P. A. B. MacLean, S. Muthers, S. T. Nascimento, M. Petralli, J. Vanos, 2014: A glossary for biometeorology. International Journal of Biometeorology, 58, 277-308. DOI 10.1007/s00484-013-0729-9

23. Dixon, P. G., A. E. Mercer, K. Grala, and W. H. Cooke, 2014: Objective Identification of Tornado Seasons and Ideal Spatial Smoothing Radii. Earth Interactions, 18, 1-15.

22. Perryman, N. M., and P. G. Dixon, 2013: A Radar Analysis of Urban Snowfall Modification in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 52, 1632-1644.

21. Hutton, B. T., K. N. Scheitlin, and P. G. Dixon, 2013: Solar Cycle Extremes as a Seasonal Predictor of Atlantic-Basin Tropical Cyclones. Southeastern Geographer, 53, 50-60.

20. Dixon, P. G., and A. E. Mercer, 2012: Reply to "Comments on 'Tornado Risk Analysis: Is Dixie Alley an Extension of Tornado Alley?'" Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 93, 408-410.

19. Dixon, P. G., A. E. Mercer, J. Choi, and J. S. Allen, 2011: Tornado Density Analysis: Is Dixie Alley an extension of Tornado Alley? Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 92, 433-441.

18. Senkbeil, J. C., D. M. Brommer, P. G. Dixon, M. E. Brown, and K. Sherman-Morris, 2010: The Perceived Landfall Location of Evacuees from Hurricane Gustav. Natural Hazards, 54, 141-158.

17. Scheitlin, K. N., and P. G. Dixon, 2010: Diurnal Temperature Range Variability due to Land Cover and Air Mass Types in the Southeast United States. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 49, 879-888.

16. Dixon, P. G., and A. J. Kalkstein, 2010: Teaching and Learning Guide for: Climate-Suicide Relationships: A research problem in need of geographic methods and cross-disciplinary perspectives. Geography Compass, 4, 485-489.

15. Dixon, P. G., and A. J. Kalkstein, 2009: Climate-Suicide Relationships: A research problem in need of geographic methods and cross-disciplinary perspectives. Geography Compass, 3, 1961-1974. DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-8198.2009.00286.x.

14. Dixon, P. G., M. E. Brown, W. M. Carter, W. S. Gunter, J. S. Allen, A. M. Hayes, L. E. Becker, H. S. Eschete, R. P. Aylward, and K. N. Scheitlin, 2008: Predicting Atlantic hurricane paths using monthly surface pressure data. The Geographical Bulletin, 49, 77-86.

13. Dixon, P. G., M. E. Brown, K. Sherman-Morris, and B. L. Kirkland, 2008: Comments on "Seals of (Dis)Approval: Television Weathercasters Debate the Value of Voluntary Credentials." National Weather Digest, 32, 61-65.

12. Dixon, P. G., M. E. Brown, K. Sherman-Morris, and B. L. Kirkland, 2008: Meteorology Degrees and Certificates Offered by Mississippi State University. National Weather Digest, 32, 69-70.

11. Dixon, P. G., G. B. Goodrich, and W. H. Cooke, 2008: Using teleconnections to predict wildfires in Mississippi. Monthly Weather Review, 136, 2804-2811.

10. Dixon, P. G., 2008: Effects of precipitable water and CAPE on precipitation in southern Arizona. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 40, 66-73.

9. Dixon, P. G., A. N. McDonald, K. N. Scheitlin, J. E. Stapleton, J. S. Allen, W. M. Carter, M. R. Holley, D. D. Inman, and J. B. Roberts, 2007: Effects of temperature variation on suicide in five U.S. counties, 1991-2001. International Journal of Biometeorology, 51, 395-403.

8. Dixon, P. G., 2006: An ALARMS Climatology of Gulf of California Moisture Surges and the Associated Precipitation, 1993-2004. Physical Geography, 27, 86-108.

7. Dixon, P. G., 2005: Using sounding data to detect gulf surges during the North American monsoon. Monthly Weather Review, 133, 3047-3052.

6. Dixon, P. G., D. M. Brommer, B. C. Hedquist, A. J. Kalkstein, G. B. Goodrich, J. C. Walter, C. C. Dickerson, IV, S. J. Penny, and R. S. Cerveny, 2005: Heat Mortality Versus Cold Mortality: A study of conflicting databases. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 86, 937-943.

5. Parnell, D. B., D. Brommer, P. G. Dixon, M. E. Brown, and D. W. Gamble, 2004: A survey of Hurricane Frances damage on San Salvador. Bahamas Journal of Science, 12, 2-6.

4. Dixon, P. G., 2004: The Urban Desert: A temporal study of humidity values in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 36, 127-138.

3. Ashley, W. S., T. L. Mote, P. G., Dixon, J. D. Durkee, E. J. Powell, S. L. Trotter, and A. J. Grundstein, 2003: Distribution of mesoscale convective complex rainfall in the United States. Monthly Weather Review, 131, 3002-3017.

2. Dixon, P. G., and T. L. Mote, 2003: Patterns and causes of Atlanta's urban heat island-initiated precipitation. Journal of Applied Meteorology, 42, 1273-1284.

1. Gamble, D. W., M. E. Brown, D. Parnell, D. Brommer, and P. G. Dixon, 2000: Lessons learned from Hurricane Floyd damage on San Salvador. Bahamas Journal of Science, 8, 25-31.