An expert on the interplay between wildland fires and the atmosphere, Coen uses computer modeling to better understand fire behavior. She is interested in how fires respond to certain atmospheric conditions and complex terrain, as well as how major conflagrations can shape local weather patterns. Coen played a critical role in developing the first fire-atmosphere computer model. She has authored a number of publications on topics such as the effect of atmospheric winds, wind shear, and terrain on fire behavior.
