Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere

Breaking Through the Clouds: Joanne Simpson and the Tropical Atmosphere

Joanne Simpson was a pioneering tropical meteorologist. She earned her Ph.D. in meteorology in 1949, the first US woman to do so. However, her life encompassed much more than that gendered feat. Through a troubled childhood, three marriages, two divorces, the birth of three children, a decade-long affair, struggles with depression and migraines, and sexism in the workplace, Joanne persevered and made fundamental contributions to the field of meteorology. Her work spanned many decades, societal attitudes, and technological advances. While her accomplishments are well known in the meteorological community, her personal life has long been misperceived.