World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Discipline name D-Index World Ranking Current World Ranking National Ranking Current National Ranking Publications Citations
Environmental Sciences 82 879 837 381 352 328 26928

William R. Cotton publications per year

The chart shows the history of publications by William R. Cotton between 1965 and 2026, highlighting the no. of papers published in each year and offering an overview of the publication velocity of this scholar. William R. Cotton published across 62 years, from 1965 to 2026, averaging 6.1 papers a year. Output peaked at 28 publications in 2013. 2 of the 377 publications appeared in the last two years.

No. of publications
5 10 15 20 25
Bar chart. Horizontal axis: year, 1965 to 2026. Vertical axis: number of publications, 0 to 28. Peak 28 publications in 2013. 1965: 1 publication 1966: 2 publications 1967: 4 publications 1968: 1 publication 1969: 0 publications 1970: 1 publication 1971: 3 publications 1972: 3 publications 1973: 0 publications 1974: 4 publications 1975: 5 publications 1976: 6 publications 1977: 1 publication 1978: 3 publications 1979: 3 publications 1980: 4 publications 1981: 4 publications 1982: 4 publications 1983: 6 publications 1984: 3 publications 1985: 6 publications 1986: 7 publications 1987: 6 publications 1988: 6 publications 1989: 8 publications 1990: 8 publications 1991: 6 publications 1992: 19 publications 1993: 7 publications 1994: 13 publications 1995: 14 publications 1996: 9 publications 1997: 11 publications 1998: 11 publications 1999: 4 publications 2000: 9 publications 2001: 11 publications 2002: 7 publications 2003: 7 publications 2004: 10 publications 2005: 10 publications 2006: 9 publications 2007: 27 publications 2008: 6 publications 2009: 9 publications 2010: 4 publications 2011: 23 publications 2012: 2 publications 2013: 28 publications 2014: 7 publications 2015: 1 publication 2016: 0 publications 2017: 0 publications 2018: 6 publications 2019: 0 publications 2020: 0 publications 2021: 3 publications 2022: 1 publication 2023: 0 publications 2024: 2 publications 2025: 1 publication 2026: 1 publication
1965 2026

377 publications in total across all disciplines

View publications per year as a table
William R. Cotton: publications per year, 1965 to 2026
Year Publications
1965 1
1966 2
1967 4
1968 1
1969 0
1970 1
1971 3
1972 3
1973 0
1974 4
1975 5
1976 6
1977 1
1978 3
1979 3
1980 4
1981 4
1982 4
1983 6
1984 3
1985 6
1986 7
1987 6
1988 6
1989 8
1990 8
1991 6
1992 19
1993 7
1994 13
1995 14
1996 9
1997 11
1998 11
1999 4
2000 9
2001 11
2002 7
2003 7
2004 10
2005 10
2006 9
2007 27
2008 6
2009 9
2010 4
2011 23
2012 2
2013 28
2014 7
2015 1
2016 0
2017 0
2018 6
2019 0
2020 0
2021 3
2022 1
2023 0
2024 2
2025 1
2026 1
Total 377
Download as CSV

William R. Cotton publication distribution in Environmental Sciences in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Environmental Sciences in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where William R. Cotton sits on this spectrum.

No. of scientists
200 400 600
Bar chart with 66 bars. Horizontal axis: publications, 41–50 to 690+. Vertical axis: number of scientists, 0 to 617. Most scientists, 617, have 121–130 publications. The last bar groups every scientist with 690 publications or more. The highlighted bar, 321–330 publications, is where this scientist sits. 41–50 publications: 21 scientists 51–60 publications: 62 scientists 61–70 publications: 133 scientists 71–80 publications: 257 scientists 81–90 publications: 361 scientists 91–100 publications: 440 scientists 101–110 publications: 492 scientists 111–120 publications: 541 scientists 121–130 publications: 617 scientists 131–140 publications: 544 scientists 141–150 publications: 541 scientists 151–160 publications: 539 scientists 161–170 publications: 444 scientists 171–180 publications: 444 scientists 181–190 publications: 400 scientists 191–200 publications: 377 scientists 201–210 publications: 318 scientists 211–220 publications: 282 scientists 221–230 publications: 263 scientists 231–240 publications: 220 scientists 241–250 publications: 217 scientists 251–260 publications: 180 scientists 261–270 publications: 181 scientists 271–280 publications: 155 scientists 281–290 publications: 130 scientists 291–300 publications: 127 scientists 301–310 publications: 130 scientists 311–320 publications: 85 scientists 321–330 publications: 106 scientists 331–340 publications: 80 scientists 341–350 publications: 83 scientists 351–360 publications: 75 scientists 361–370 publications: 69 scientists 371–380 publications: 52 scientists 381–390 publications: 54 scientists 391–400 publications: 56 scientists 401–410 publications: 44 scientists 411–420 publications: 40 scientists 421–430 publications: 36 scientists 431–440 publications: 25 scientists 441–450 publications: 25 scientists 451–460 publications: 32 scientists 461–470 publications: 29 scientists 471–480 publications: 21 scientists 481–490 publications: 26 scientists 491–500 publications: 26 scientists 501–510 publications: 17 scientists 511–520 publications: 19 scientists 521–530 publications: 15 scientists 531–540 publications: 22 scientists 541–550 publications: 12 scientists 551–560 publications: 15 scientists 561–570 publications: 11 scientists 571–580 publications: 19 scientists 581–590 publications: 9 scientists 591–600 publications: 9 scientists 601–610 publications: 7 scientists 611–620 publications: 11 scientists 621–630 publications: 5 scientists 631–640 publications: 5 scientists 641–650 publications: 6 scientists 651–660 publications: 3 scientists 661–670 publications: 3 scientists 671–680 publications: 4 scientists 681–689 publications: 4 scientists 690+ publications: 100 scientists
41–50 publications 690+

This scientist: 328 publications — 89th percentile

89% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 690 publications or more.

View publications distribution as a table
Number of Environmental Sciences scientists by publication count, Research.com 2026 ranking edition. Based on 9,676 ranked scientists.
Publications Scientists This scientist
41–50 21
51–60 62
61–70 133
71–80 257
81–90 361
91–100 440
101–110 492
111–120 541
121–130 617
131–140 544
141–150 541
151–160 539
161–170 444
171–180 444
181–190 400
191–200 377
201–210 318
211–220 282
221–230 263
231–240 220
241–250 217
251–260 180
261–270 181
271–280 155
281–290 130
291–300 127
301–310 130
311–320 85
321–330 106 328
331–340 80
341–350 83
351–360 75
361–370 69
371–380 52
381–390 54
391–400 56
401–410 44
411–420 40
421–430 36
431–440 25
441–450 25
451–460 32
461–470 29
471–480 21
481–490 26
491–500 26
501–510 17
511–520 19
521–530 15
531–540 22
541–550 12
551–560 15
561–570 11
571–580 19
581–590 9
591–600 9
601–610 7
611–620 11
621–630 5
631–640 5
641–650 6
651–660 3
661–670 3
671–680 4
681–689 4
690+ 100
Download as CSV

William R. Cotton D-index placement in Environmental Sciences in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Environmental Sciences scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where William R. Cotton sits on this spectrum.

No. of scientists
100 200 300
Bar chart with 97 bars. Horizontal axis: D-Index, 30 to 126+. Vertical axis: number of scientists, 0 to 348. Most scientists, 348, have 45 D-Index. The last bar groups every scientist with 126 D-Index or more. The highlighted bar, 82 D-Index, is where this scientist sits. 30 D-Index: 12 scientists 31 D-Index: 26 scientists 32 D-Index: 51 scientists 33 D-Index: 88 scientists 34 D-Index: 123 scientists 35 D-Index: 163 scientists 36 D-Index: 206 scientists 37 D-Index: 267 scientists 38 D-Index: 265 scientists 39 D-Index: 275 scientists 40 D-Index: 321 scientists 41 D-Index: 343 scientists 42 D-Index: 305 scientists 43 D-Index: 336 scientists 44 D-Index: 330 scientists 45 D-Index: 348 scientists 46 D-Index: 291 scientists 47 D-Index: 275 scientists 48 D-Index: 272 scientists 49 D-Index: 273 scientists 50 D-Index: 263 scientists 51 D-Index: 232 scientists 52 D-Index: 266 scientists 53 D-Index: 217 scientists 54 D-Index: 198 scientists 55 D-Index: 177 scientists 56 D-Index: 202 scientists 57 D-Index: 204 scientists 58 D-Index: 166 scientists 59 D-Index: 177 scientists 60 D-Index: 166 scientists 61 D-Index: 152 scientists 62 D-Index: 143 scientists 63 D-Index: 150 scientists 64 D-Index: 124 scientists 65 D-Index: 119 scientists 66 D-Index: 120 scientists 67 D-Index: 118 scientists 68 D-Index: 82 scientists 69 D-Index: 98 scientists 70 D-Index: 94 scientists 71 D-Index: 105 scientists 72 D-Index: 74 scientists 73 D-Index: 84 scientists 74 D-Index: 70 scientists 75 D-Index: 67 scientists 76 D-Index: 78 scientists 77 D-Index: 60 scientists 78 D-Index: 59 scientists 79 D-Index: 52 scientists 80 D-Index: 47 scientists 81 D-Index: 38 scientists 82 D-Index: 48 scientists 83 D-Index: 42 scientists 84 D-Index: 42 scientists 85 D-Index: 43 scientists 86 D-Index: 29 scientists 87 D-Index: 37 scientists 88 D-Index: 29 scientists 89 D-Index: 30 scientists 90 D-Index: 34 scientists 91 D-Index: 20 scientists 92 D-Index: 22 scientists 93 D-Index: 17 scientists 94 D-Index: 19 scientists 95 D-Index: 24 scientists 96 D-Index: 21 scientists 97 D-Index: 20 scientists 98 D-Index: 24 scientists 99 D-Index: 17 scientists 100 D-Index: 17 scientists 101 D-Index: 21 scientists 102 D-Index: 25 scientists 103 D-Index: 18 scientists 104 D-Index: 26 scientists 105 D-Index: 20 scientists 106 D-Index: 15 scientists 107 D-Index: 10 scientists 108 D-Index: 13 scientists 109 D-Index: 15 scientists 110 D-Index: 12 scientists 111 D-Index: 8 scientists 112 D-Index: 7 scientists 113 D-Index: 9 scientists 114 D-Index: 6 scientists 115 D-Index: 12 scientists 116 D-Index: 7 scientists 117 D-Index: 8 scientists 118 D-Index: 3 scientists 119 D-Index: 5 scientists 120 D-Index: 7 scientists 121 D-Index: 2 scientists 122 D-Index: 4 scientists 123 D-Index: 8 scientists 124 D-Index: 7 scientists 125 D-Index: 9 scientists 126+ D-Index: 92 scientists
30 D-Index 126+

This scientist: 82 D-Index — 91st percentile

91% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 126 D-Index or more.

View D-Index distribution as a table
Number of Environmental Sciences scientists by D-index, Research.com 2026 ranking edition. Based on 9,676 ranked scientists.
D-Index Scientists This scientist
30 12
31 26
32 51
33 88
34 123
35 163
36 206
37 267
38 265
39 275
40 321
41 343
42 305
43 336
44 330
45 348
46 291
47 275
48 272
49 273
50 263
51 232
52 266
53 217
54 198
55 177
56 202
57 204
58 166
59 177
60 166
61 152
62 143
63 150
64 124
65 119
66 120
67 118
68 82
69 98
70 94
71 105
72 74
73 84
74 70
75 67
76 78
77 60
78 59
79 52
80 47
81 38
82 48 82
83 42
84 42
85 43
86 29
87 37
88 29
89 30
90 34
91 20
92 22
93 17
94 19
95 24
96 21
97 20
98 24
99 17
100 17
101 21
102 25
103 18
104 26
105 20
106 15
107 10
108 13
109 15
110 12
111 8
112 7
113 9
114 6
115 12
116 7
117 8
118 3
119 5
120 7
121 2
122 4
123 8
124 7
125 9
126+ 92
Download as CSV

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2011 - Fellow of American Geophysical Union (AGU)

Overview

William R. Cotton is affiliated with Colorado State University in the United States. Their research primarily spans Earth and Planetary Sciences, with significant contributions to Environmental Science. Key subfields of study include Atmospheric Science, Global and Planetary Change, and Earth-Surface Processes.

The main topics explored in Cotton's work cover Atmospheric aerosols and clouds, Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols, Aeolian processes and effects, Atmospheric Ozone and Climate, Tropical and Extratropical Cyclones Research, Climate variability and models, and Meteorological Phenomena and Simulations.

Cotton has published research in several scientific venues, notably the Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Physical Geography, and Atmosphere. The following recent papers showcase the scope and focus of their research:

  • Examination of Aerosol-Induced Convective Invigoration Using Idealized Simulations, 2020, Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences
  • Seasonal estimates of the impacts of aerosol and dust pollution on orographic precipitation in the Colorado River Basin, 2020, Physical Geography
  • A Modeling Investigation of the Potential Impacts of Pollution Aerosols on Hurricane Harvey, 2021, Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences
  • Aerosol-Induced Invigoration of Cumulus Clouds-A Review, 2024, Atmosphere

Cotton has frequently collaborated with researchers such as R. L. Walko, Vandana Jha, and G. G. Carrió. Their repeated coauthorships suggest ongoing research partnerships within these scientific domains.

Among recognitions received, Cotton was named a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) in 2011.

Best Publications

  • A comprehensive meteorological modeling system?RAMS

    R. A. Pielke;W. R. Cotton;R. L. Walko;C. J. Tremback

  • RAMS 2001: Current status and future directions

    William R. Cotton;R. A. Pielke;R. L. Walko;G. E. Liston

  • New primary ice-nucleation parameterizations in an explicit cloud model

    Michael P. Meyers;Paul J. DeMott;William R. Cotton

  • Storm and Cloud Dynamics

    William R. Cotton;Richard A. Anthes

  • New RAMS cloud microphysics parameterization part I: the single-moment scheme

    R.L. Walko;W.R. Cotton;M.P. Meyers;J.Y. Harrington

  • A PDF-Based Model for Boundary Layer Clouds. Part I: Method and Model Description

    Jean-Christophe Golaz;Vincent E. Larson;William R. Cotton

  • New RAMS cloud microphysics parameterization. Part II: The two-moment scheme

    Michael P. Meyers;Robert L. Walko;Jerry Y. Harrington;William R. Cotton

  • Numerical Simulation of the Effects of Varying Ice Crystal Nucleation Rates and Aggregation Processes on Orographic Snowfall

    William R. Cotton;Gregory J. Tripoli;Robert M. Rauber;Elizabeth A. Mulvihill

  • Rain in Shallow Cumulus Over the Ocean: The RICO Campaign

    R. M. Rauber;B. Stevens;B. Stevens;H. T. Ochs;C. Knight

  • Impacts of Nucleating Aerosol on Florida Storms. Part I: Mesoscale Simulations

    Susan C. van den Heever;Gustavo G. Carrió;William R. Cotton;Paul J. DeMott

  • Human Impacts on Weather and Climate

    William R. Cotton;Roger A. Sr. Pielke

  • The Impact of Giant Cloud Condensation Nuclei on Drizzle Formation in Stratocumulus: Implications for Cloud Radiative Properties

    Graham Feingold;William R. Cotton;Sonia M. Kreidenweis;Janel T. Davis

  • Urban Aerosol Impacts on Downwind Convective Storms

    Susan C. van den Heever;William R. Cotton

  • A one-dimensional simulation of the stratocumulus-capped mixed layer

    Chaing Chen;William R. Cotton

  • A Numerical Investigation of Several Factors Contributing to the Observed Variable Intensity of Deep Convection over South Florida

    Gregory J. Tripoli;William R. Cotton

  • A Large-Droplet Mode and Prognostic Number Concentration of Cloud Droplets in the Colorado State University Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS). Part I: Module Descriptions and Supercell Test Simulations

    Stephen M. Saleeby;William R. Cotton

  • Interactions of an urban heat island and sea-breeze circulations during winter over the metropolitan area of São Paulo, Brazil

    Edmilson D. Freitas;Christopher M. Rozoff;William R. Cotton;Pedro L. Silva Dias

  • Simulation of St. Louis, Missouri, Land Use Impacts on Thunderstorms

    Christopher M. Rozoff;William R. Cotton;Jimmy O. Adegoke

  • Large-Eddy Simulations of Strongly Precipitating, Shallow, Stratocumulus-Topped Boundary Layers

    Bjorn Stevens;William R. Cotton;Graham Feingold;Chin-Hoh Moeng

  • Cloud resolving simulations of Arctic stratus: Part II: Transition-season clouds

    Jerry Y. Harrington;Tamir Reisin;William R. Cotton;Sonia M. Kreidenweis

Frequent Co-Authors

Roger A. Pielke
Roger A. Pielke University of Colorado Boulder
Graham Feingold
Graham Feingold National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Bjorn Stevens
Bjorn Stevens Max Planck Society
Robert L. Walko
Robert L. Walko University of Miami
Jean-Christophe Golaz
Jean-Christophe Golaz Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Vincent E. Larson
Vincent E. Larson University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Sonia M. Kreidenweis
Sonia M. Kreidenweis Colorado State University
Robert M. Rauber
Robert M. Rauber University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Greg M. McFarquhar
Greg M. McFarquhar University of Oklahoma
Paul J. DeMott
Paul J. DeMott Colorado State University

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

For students passionate about Environmental Sciences, exploring related online degrees can broaden career opportunities. Pursuing a geologist degree online gives valuable insight into Earth's physical structure and processes, essential for roles in natural resource management and environmental consulting.

Another promising field is Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which integrates technology and environmental data analysis. Enrolling in top gis degree programs helps students develop skills in spatial data mapping and environmental monitoring—a critical asset for urban planning and conservation projects.

For those looking to influence environmental policy and public management, a best online mpa program offers leadership training tailored for sustainable development initiatives and governmental roles focused on environmental regulations.

Additionally, understanding sociocultural factors is key to effective environmental solutions. Studying through the best online bachelors in sociology programs equips learners with knowledge about human behavior, community engagement, and social change—important for driving environmental awareness and advocacy.

Best Scientists Citing William R. Cotton

Trending Scientists

Recently Published Articles