My primary areas of research are in climate variability and change, particularly with respect to the Arctic region. My work involves analysis of atmospheric and ocean dynamics, satellite remote sensing, synoptic climatology, and analysis of output from numerical weather prediction models, land surface models and coupled global climate models. I also have very strong interests and activities in science education and communication to the media and public. I was was co-author on peer-reviewed sections of temperature and precipitation for the annual NOAA Arctic Report Card, and for the BAMS state of the climate Arctic section. A paper addressing the meteorology of rain and snow events over the Arctic was published, led by my former MA student Jessica Voveris, based on her Masters Thesis. I was also co-author in a paper addressing the response of the community of Clyde River, Nunavut, Canada, to a series of debilitating blizzards during the winter of 2021/2022. My PhD student Meghan Helmberger was able to complete her dissertation in December (on trends an variability on the net surface heat flux over the Arctic Ocean). She will formally graduate in May 2024. I took on a new MA student (Zaria Cast) in fall 2023.
keywords
Climate variability, climate change, atmospheric dynamics, ocean dynamics, hydroclimatology, sea ice processes, satellite remote sensing, model evaluation, climate model applications
The arctic amplification debate.
Climatic Change: an interdisciplinary, international journal devoted to the description, causes and implications of climatic change.
241-264.
2006
GEOG 1001 - Our Changing Planet: Climate and Vegetation
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Spring 2020 / Spring 2022 / Fall 2023 / Fall 2024
Understanding our fragile planet and the life it harbors requires understanding how the distribution of the sun's energy at the surface, the atmosphere and its circulation, and the distribution of ocean and lands shape patterns of temperature, precipitation and vegetation across the globe. Along with providing a foundation for understanding planet Earth, this course addresses the growing impacts of human systems on climate change and environmental quality.
GEOG 2271 - Introduction to the Arctic Environment
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Fall 2020 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2024
Rising temperatures, shrinking sea ice and melting glaciers are only the most visible indications of a rapidly changing Arctic. This course addresses the climate of the Arctic and the changes being observed at a non-mathematical level. It is intended to provide students with a basic understanding of the Arctic physical and biological environment as well as the impacts of Arctic change on human and environmental systems.
GEOG 4271 - The Arctic Climate System
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2019 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2023 / Spring 2024
Understanding the climate of the Arctic requires a synthetic, system oriented approach. The course focuses on the intimate linkages between the atmosphere, ocean and land that give the Arctic region its unique character, link the Arctic to the larger global climate system, and promote understanding the rapid changes occurring in the Arctic. Recommended prerequisites: GEOG 3511 or GEOG 3601 or ATOC 3600 or ENVS 3600 and statistics. Same as GEOG 5271.
GEOG 5271 - The Arctic Climate System
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2019 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2023 / Spring 2024
Understanding the climate of the Arctic requires a synthetic, system oriented approach. The course focuses on the intimate linkages between the atmosphere, ocean and land that give the Arctic region its unique character, link the Arctic to the larger global climate system, and promote understanding the rapid changes occurring in the Arctic. Same as GEOG 4271.
GEOG 6950 - Master's Thesis
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Spring 2022 / Fall 2023 / Spring 2024 / Fall 2024
Instructor consent required.
