About

Erik Nielsen is an Instructional Associate Professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at Texas A&M University. His research interests include operational forecasting, numerical weather prediction, extreme rainfall processes, mesoscale convective systems, and the social aspects of warning communication. Nielsen holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Atmospheric Science from Colorado State University, as well as a B.S. in Meteorology from Texas A&M University. His educational background and research focus demonstrate a strong expertise in meteorology and atmospheric sciences, with a particular emphasis on understanding and forecasting severe weather events and their societal impacts.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Computer Security
• Environmental science
• Geography
• Meteorology
• Psychology
• Business
• Atmospheric sciences
• Telecommunications
• Environmental resource management
• Risk analysis (engineering)
• Climatology
• Environmental planning
• Geology
• Marketing

Selected publications

• Quantum Chemical and Structural Data for the article "Detecting supramolecular organic nanoparticles during heat wave"

  Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2026-02-12

  datasetOpen access

  Note for Version 3 (V3): This version includes the corrected DLPNO-CCSD(T) single-point energy (SPE) output file for the ToA monomer, replacing the previously uploaded SPE file that was generated using an unoptimized structure. Additionally, the accompanying .xlsx file has been updated to include the dipole moments for aggregates A1–A6 and corrected A3 Dp. -- The zip file includes the following folders: DFT-outputs-lowest_log: Contains all lowest-energy DFT output files, which can be used to determine the dipole moments and derive the ΔG values from the “Sum of electronic and thermal Free Energies” line. LowestEnergy-Aggregates_xyz: Contains the Cartesian coordinates in .xyz format extracted from the final instance of “Standard Orientation” in the .log files. Monomer-DFT-outputs_log: Contains the DFT .log outputs for the monomers used to derive the ΔG values for the reactants (and therefore the overall ΔG) Monomer_xyz: Contains the Cartesian coordinates in .xyz format of the monomers used to build the 6-molecule structure stepwise. SPE-Dimer: Contains the DLPNO-CCSD(T) single-point energy files for the representative GlA+ToA dimer and corresponding monomers. [The ΔG values for both the dimer and monomers were obtained by adding the free-energy correction from the DFT frequency calculation to the DLPNO-CCSD(T) electronic energy] Supramolecular-Cluster_xyz: Contains the Cartestian coordinates of .xyz formats of the 20, 40, and 60 supramolecular clusters based on the chemical composition of the NPF observed during AC-HEAT. Additionally included is the .xlsx of the absolute energy data (E, H, S, and G) and overall ΔG calculations for each aggregate step.

  PublisherDOI

• Quantum Chemical and Structural Data for the article "Detecting supramolecular organic nanoparticles during heat wave"

  Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2026-02-12

  datasetOpen access

  Note for Version 3 (V3): This version includes the corrected DLPNO-CCSD(T) single-point energy (SPE) output file for the ToA monomer, replacing the previously uploaded SPE file that was generated using an unoptimized structure. Additionally, the accompanying .xlsx file has been updated to include the dipole moments for aggregates A1–A6 and corrected A3 Dp. -- The zip file includes the following folders: DFT-outputs-lowest_log: Contains all lowest-energy DFT output files, which can be used to determine the dipole moments and derive the ΔG values from the “Sum of electronic and thermal Free Energies” line. LowestEnergy-Aggregates_xyz: Contains the Cartesian coordinates in .xyz format extracted from the final instance of “Standard Orientation” in the .log files. Monomer-DFT-outputs_log: Contains the DFT .log outputs for the monomers used to derive the ΔG values for the reactants (and therefore the overall ΔG) Monomer_xyz: Contains the Cartesian coordinates in .xyz format of the monomers used to build the 6-molecule structure stepwise. SPE-Dimer: Contains the DLPNO-CCSD(T) single-point energy files for the representative GlA+ToA dimer and corresponding monomers. [The ΔG values for both the dimer and monomers were obtained by adding the free-energy correction from the DFT frequency calculation to the DLPNO-CCSD(T) electronic energy] Supramolecular-Cluster_xyz: Contains the Cartestian coordinates of .xyz formats of the 20, 40, and 60 supramolecular clusters based on the chemical composition of the NPF observed during AC-HEAT. Additionally included is the .xlsx of the absolute energy data (E, H, S, and G) and overall ΔG calculations for each aggregate step.

  PublisherDOI

• The Overwhelming Demands and Shared Responsibilities of Communicating Compound Hazards to Hispanic and Latino Populations in the United States

  Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society · 2026-03-19

  articleSenior author

  Abstract This research examines the different roles and overwhelming responsibility of bilingual (English–Spanish) and Spanish-speaking broadcast meteorologists (BMets) who serve the Hispanic and Latino population in the United States. Through in-depth virtual interviews, it analyzes their practices, strategies, and challenges in communicating compound hazards during landfalling tropical cyclones and postlandfalling tropical cyclones. By using the case of Hurricane Ida (2021) amid COVID-19, the study reveals how effectively communicating risk to vulnerable populations expands established approaches to hazardous weather messaging during overlapping extreme weather and health crises. Three main domains shaping BMets’ communication style are presented and discussed: first, the awareness of the socioeconomic vulnerabilities faced by Hispanic and Latino audiences; second, the incorporation of linguistic and cultural aspects into their message to convey weather forecasts and meteorological knowledge; and third, the tasks beyond their work at television (TV) stations, such as outreach events, social media posting, and live forecasts, to build trust and presence in their Designated Market Areas. We conclude by advocating for greater recognition and support from the Weather Enterprise, including TV stations and University departments of Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, to continuously develop training content and materials that enhance intercultural and multilingual weather communication, thereby strengthening BMets’ vital role in public safety. Significance Statement This study aims to present the crucial and often overwhelming responsibilities of bilingual and Spanish-speaking broadcast meteorologists (BMets) in communicating complex weather hazards to Hispanic and Latino communities in the United States. It demonstrates how current weather communication during hurricanes often fails to adequately address the overlapping socioeconomic, linguistic, and cultural vulnerabilities faced by these populations. By describing strategies and challenges BMets encounter, we underscore the urgent need for the weather community to develop and support robust intercultural communication frameworks and comprehensive training. This will ensure more accessible and effective risk messaging, ultimately enhancing public safety for linguistic minorities.

  PublisherDOI

• Detecting supramolecular organic nanoparticles during heat wave

  Science · 2026-02-12

  article

  New particle formation (NPF) represents a major source of tropospheric fine aerosols. A common viewpoint is that NPF hinges thermodynamically on the volatility of condensing species and is unfavorable at high temperatures. From an intensive field campaign, we observed frequent NPF events during a heat wave. Size-resolved chemical composition of nanoparticles down to 3 nanometers was first measured, unraveling a dominant presence of carboxylic acids. Our work uncovers a spontaneous mechanism to produce supramolecular nanoparticles through self-assembly of organic acids. This discovery explains not only the unexpected NPF at high temperatures but also its ubiquitous occurrence under diverse atmospheric conditions. As global warming leads to more frequent and intense heat waves, our findings open avenues for assessing the impacts of aerosols on cloud formation, public health, and climate.

  PublisherDOI

• ExWXS23

  Harvard Dataverse · 2026-04-10

  datasetOpen access

  This report describes the results of a nationwide survey of Spanish speakers on severe weather in the United States. The Extended 2024 Extreme Weather Spanish Survey (Extended WXS23) was designed and administered by the University of Oklahoma (OU) Department of Communication, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Department of Climate, Meteorology, and Atmospheric Sciences, and OU Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (IPPRA). This “Extended” survey complemented original annual surveys from IPPRA to gain deeper insights into the response and decision-making of Spanish-speaking communities during various extreme weather events. The Extended WXS24 was fielded August 18, 2023 – December 9, 2023, using an online questionnaire that was completed by 1,579 U.S. adults (age 18+) who self-reported that they speak Spanish at least “well” and were recruited from an Internet panel that matches the characteristics of the U.S. Spanish speaking population as estimated in the U.S. Census. The initial WXS22 Spanish survey (link) established a baseline of how adult Spanish speakers receive, understand, and response to severe weather warnings. Building on these insights, we developed the Extended WXS23 survey to focus on issues most relevant to the Spanish speakers in the United States. This tailored survey was designed specifically for Spanish speakers to explore how their experiences in the United States and their countries of origin shape their responses to various kinds of severe weather threats. Additionally, we examined translated products developed by the National Weather Service to assess their effectiveness and establish a baseline for future improvements. This report briefly describes the methodology, survey data collection, data weighting, and a reproduction of the survey instrument with weighted means and frequencies for the questions that elicited numeric responses.

  PublisherDOI

• Quantum Chemical and Structural Data for the article "Detecting supramolecular organic nanoparticles during heat wave"

  Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2026-02-12

  datasetOpen access

  The zip file includes the following folders: DFT-outputs-lowest_log: Contains all lowest-energy DFT output files, which can be used to determine the dipole moments and derive the ΔG values from the “Sum of electronic and thermal Free Energies” line. LowestEnergy-Aggregates_xyz: Contains the Cartesian coordinates in .xyz format extracted from the final instance of “Standard Orientation” in the .log files. Monomer-DFT-outputs_log: Contains the DFT .log outputs for the monomers used to derive the ΔG values for the reactants (and therefore the overall ΔG) Monomer_xyz: Contains the Cartesian coordinates in .xyz format of the monomers used to build the 6-molecule structure stepwise. Supramolecular-Cluster_xyz: Contains the Cartestian coordinates of .xyz formats of the 20, 40, and 60 supramolecular clusters based on the chemical composition of the NPF observed during AC-HEAT. Additionally included is the .xlsx of the absolute energy data (E, H, S, and G) and overall ΔG calculations for each aggregate step.

  PublisherDOI

• Quantum Chemical and Structural Data for the article "Detecting supramolecular organic nanoparticles during heat wave"

  Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2026-02-12

  datasetOpen access

  The zip file includes the following folders: DFT-outputs-lowest_log: Contains all lowest-energy DFT output files, which can be used to determine the dipole moments and derive the ΔG values from the “Sum of electronic and thermal Free Energies” line. LowestEnergy-Aggregates_xyz: Contains the Cartesian coordinates in .xyz format extracted from the final instance of “Standard Orientation” in the .log files. Monomer-DFT-outputs_log: Contains the DFT .log outputs for the monomers used to derive the ΔG values for the reactants (and therefore the overall ΔG) Monomer_xyz: Contains the Cartesian coordinates in .xyz format of the monomers used to build the 6-molecule structure stepwise. SPE-Dimer: Contains the DLPNO-CCSD(T) single-point energy files for the representative GlA+ToA dimer and corresponding monomers. [The ΔG values for both the dimer and monomers were obtained by adding the free-energy correction from the DFT frequency calculation to the DLPNO-CCSD(T) electronic energy] Supramolecular-Cluster_xyz: Contains the Cartestian coordinates of .xyz formats of the 20, 40, and 60 supramolecular clusters based on the chemical composition of the NPF observed during AC-HEAT. Additionally included is the .xlsx of the absolute energy data (E, H, S, and G) and overall ΔG calculations for each aggregate step.

  PublisherDOI

• “This Isn’t a Hurricane, This is a Flood Event”: A Qualitative Analysis of National Weather Service Forecaster Messaging during Hurricane Florence

  Weather and Forecasting · 2025-03-14 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Hurricanes threaten communities in complex and evolving ways due to storm characteristics and geography, as well as demographic and cultural factors. Risks to people in the path of these storms are compounded when wind and water hazards co-occur, such as tornadoes and flash floods, a hazard often referred to as TORFFs. For National Weather Service (NWS) forecasters, messaging these co-occurring threats poses many challenges, including the ongoing assessment and prioritization of which threat is likely to have the greatest impacts and the communication of risks to different publics. In this research, we focus on Hurricane Florence, a category 1 hurricane that produced historic flooding and some wind-related threats, including tornadoes, across the mid-Atlantic coast in September 2018. Through inductive, qualitative analysis of 33 semi-structured interviews with NWS forecasters responsible for issuing alerts during Florence, we examine the intricacies of messaging flood and wind threats as they evolved over the hurricane’s life cycle. Our results show that forecasters aimed to amplify messaging for flood threats over wind threats during Florence. Along with forecast details and expected impacts, motivations for this messaging choice included the potential for flood fatalities and concerns that the public would not understand the severity of compounding hurricane threats. One reason for this disconnect may be the emphasis placed by experts in weather prediction on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS) as a metric of hurricane severity. Forecaster messaging strategies were informed by these concerns, which may also have implications for how messaging should be shaped in the future.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Studying Aerosol, Clouds, and Air Quality in the Coastal Urban Environment of Southeastern Texas

  Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society · 2025-08-04 · 3 citations

  article

  Abstract A multi-agency succession of field campaigns was conducted in southeastern Texas during July 2021 through October 2022 to study the complex interactions of aerosols, clouds and air pollution in the coastal urban environment. As part of the Tracking Aerosol Convection interactions Experiment (TRACER), the TRACER- Air Quality (TAQ) campaign the Experiment of Sea Breeze Convection, Aerosols, Precipitation and Environment (ESCAPE) and the Convective Cloud Urban Boundary Layer Experiment (CUBE), a combination of ground-based supersites and mobile laboratories, shipborne measurements and aircraft-based instrumentation were deployed. These diverse platforms collected high-resolution data to characterize the aerosol microphysics and chemistry, cloud and precipitation micro- and macro-physical properties, environmental thermodynamics and air quality-relevant constituents that are being used in follow-on analysis and modeling activities. We present the overall deployment setups, a summary of the campaign conditions and a sampling of early research results related to: (a) aerosol precursors in the urban environment, (b) influences of local meteorology on air pollution, (c) detailed observations of the sea breeze circulation, (d) retrieved supersaturation in convective updrafts, (e) characterizing the convective updraft lifecycle, (f) variability in lightning characteristics of convective storms and (g) urban influences on surface energy fluxes. The work concludes with discussion of future research activities highlighted by the TRACER model-intercomparison project to explore the representation of aerosol-convective interactions in high-resolution simulations.

  PublisherDOI

• TAMU TRACER: Targeted Mobile Measurements to Isolate the Impacts of Aerosols and Meteorology on Deep Convection

  Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society · 2024-07-12 · 9 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Difficulty in using observations to isolate the impacts of aerosols from meteorology on deep convection often stems from the inability to resolve the spatiotemporal variations in the environment serving as the storm’s inflow region. During the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Tracking Aerosol Convection interactions Experiment (TRACER) in June–September 2022, a Texas A&M University (TAMU) team conducted a mobile field campaign to characterize the meteorological and aerosol variability in air masses that serve as inflow to convection across the ubiquitous mesoscale boundaries associated with the sea and bay breezes in the Houston, Texas, region. These boundaries propagate inland over the fixed DOE Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) sites. However, convection occurs on either or both the continental or maritime sides or along the boundary. The maritime and continental air masses serving as convection inflow may be quite distinct, with different meteorological and aerosol characteristics that fixed-site measurements cannot simultaneously sample. Thus, a primary objective of TAMU TRACER was to provide mobile measurements similar to those at the fixed sites, but in the opposite air mass across these moving mesoscale boundaries. TAMU TRACER collected radiosonde, lidar, aerosol, cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), and ice nucleating particle (INP) measurements on 29 enhanced operations days covering a variety of maritime, continental, outflow, and prefrontal air masses. This paper summarizes the TAMU TRACER deployment and measurement strategy, instruments, and available datasets and provides sample cases highlighting differences between these mobile measurements and those made at the ARM sites. We also highlight the exceptional TAMU TRACER undergraduate student participation in high-impact learning activities through forecasting and field deployment opportunities. Significance Statement The environment influencing storms often varies across scales that are not always adequately captured by measurements collected at fixed locations. This paper describes our strategy for collecting mobile measurements of the aerosols and meteorology that influenced convection initiated by the sea breeze across the Houston, Texas, region. We show several examples of the local variations in aerosols and meteorology influencing storms that were captured by our mobile platform that were different from those sampled at fixed observation sites. We also highlight potential future studies and science questions that could be addressed using our dataset.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Russ S. Schumacher

  Colorado State University

  19 shared

• Gregory R. Herman

  Colorado State University

  14 shared

• Jennifer Henderson

  Texas Tech University

  13 shared

• H Bendtsen

  FORCE Technology (Norway)

  8 shared

• Otto Anker Nielsen

  6 shared

• Thomas Israelsen

  5 shared

• J Kragh

  Delta (Denmark)

  5 shared

• Luc Goubert

  Belgian Road Research Centre

  4 shared

Education

• Ph.D Atmospheric Science, Department of Atmospheric Sciences

  Colorado State University

  2019

• M.S. in Atmospheric Science, Department of Atmospheric Sciences

  Colorado State University

  2015

• B.S. in Meteorology, Department of Atmospheric Sciences

  Texas A&M University

  2013

Awards & honors

• "Paper of Note," Bulletin of the American Meteorological Soc…
• National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowsh…
• American Meteorological Society Graduate Fellowship Recipien…
• Texas A&M University, Association of Former Students, Thomas…