I ka wā ma mua, I ka wā ma hope

(look to the past to move forward)

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes."

Marcel Proust, 1871-1922

Bio

I am an Associate Professor at the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. I received my PhD in 2012 from Columbia University. 

My research interests include ENSO dynamics and predictability, extreme events in response to large-scale climate variability and change, paleoclimate, hydro-climate modeling, machine learning applications in environmental science and climate model optimization.

Research Themes

Dynamics & predictability of ENSO diversity and its impacts

The mechanisms behind ENSO strength and pattern diversity remain an open question: our studies utilize a hierarchy of models to better understand the response of ENSO diversity and its impacts in past and future climates.

Interacting dynamics of tropical and extratropical climate

Extratropical atmospheric circulation is influenced by the tropics, and in turn it may influence tropical ocean-atmosphere variability: our studies look into the interactions between tropical climate variability and midlatitude atmospheric dynamics, including blocking events, volcanic eruptions, surface temperature contrasts etc.

Multi-resolution paleoclimate model-proxy synthesis

Paleoclimate proxy records reflect large-scale signals as they are modulated by regional processes and terrain influences: our studies combine the use of global climate models, high-resolution regional models and statistical downscaling methods to improve interpretation of proxies recording ENSO variability.

Emergent constraints for climate change projections

Model uncertainty is a main source of uncertainty in climate projections, especially at multidecadal scales: our studies focus on using our understanding of tropical climate process to identify model biases and constrain intermodel spread of future projections of tropical and global climate.

Courses

Fall semester

ATMO 449: CLIMATE MODELING, DATA ANALYSIS & APPLICATIONS

The purpose of this course is to prepare students for the increasing use of climate data and climate modeling output in decision-making and applications, which include water resources management, agricultural applications, coastal engineering, coastal sustainability, risk management etc. Cross-listed with the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department (CEE 449). Also available as SUST 449.

Spring semester

ATMO 640: PALEOCLIMATE MODEL-PROXY SYNTHESIS

The purpose of this course is to prepare the next generation of paleoclimate scientists who are well-trained in both the modeling and proxy data aspects of their science. It exposes data-focused students to climate dynamics and modeling tools and climate dynamics students to the value, nuances, and limitations of paleoclimate proxies. Developed in collaboration with J.Conroy of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  Majors: ATMO, GEOG, GG, NREM, OCN, ORE. Other majors welcomed; email for overrides. 

Fall/Spring semester

ATMO 101: INTRO TO WEATHER & CLIMATE

This course provides an introduction to various aspects of atmospheric science including solar radiation, global circulation, environmental issues, winds, cloud formation, stability, precipitation processes, weather systems, and severe weather. The course also
covers large-scale climate processes such as El Niño, Earth’s past climates and mechanisms of future climate change.

Fall/Spring semester

OCN 105: SUSTAINABILITY IN A CHANGING WORLD (co-instructor)

Environmentally sustainable and non-sustainable practices, and the impacts of climate change, on the development and spread of human societies from pre-history to the 1500s in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Hawai‘i/Oceania.  Course Coordinator: Michael Guidry.

Open positions

Phone:

808-956-2565