<![CDATA[EAS Seminar Series - Dr. Scott Harris]]>36678 The world’s attention turned to the skies over Georgia on June 26, 202, as a bright fireball exploded south of Atlanta and rained down stony meteorites just west of McDonough. I had the opportunity to classify and study the dynamics of one piece that impacted the floor of a residence. The L 5/6 ordinary chondrite, just a few centimeters in diameter, appears to have maintained a significant portion of its horizontal velocity after atmospheric breakup and transited the living room at a speed around 800 m/s. This was the third L ordinary chondrite to drop meteorites in Georgis within the last 15 years.
But those are just the latest in a long history of cosmic collisions that are recorded in the historic and geologic records of Georgia. In addition to 7 documented meteorite falls and 20 finds, the state contains ejecta from the 35.5 Ma Chesapeake Bay impact and a slightly older impact (c. 37 Ma) for which no crater presently is known. I briefly will review my work discovering and characterizing those strata in the Upper Coastal Plain, and I will discuss the consequences of the 66 Ma Chicxulub impact on state’s geology.
But no hypervelocity impact has left such a large and lasting mark on Georgia as the asteroid or comet collision that excavated the nearly 300-kilometer diameter Roosevelt impact structure. What began almost 20 years ago as an intriguing question about a crater-like depression just several kilometers across has culminated in the mapping of a gigantic astrobleme covering 20% of the state. My colleagues and I have identified a variety of shocked-quartz-bearing melt facies, breccias, and spherule beds. The distribution of impact deposits and deformation was found to be consistent with COCORP seismic reflection profile data. These data then were used successfully to predict the locations of additional facies, including meta-geyserites in a large hydrothermal network.
Presently our calculations show that an impactor more than 30 kilometers across, with a trajectory about 15⁰ above the horizon from the present-day ENE, made first contact between Monroe and Meriwether Counties approximately 810 Ma. The original structure would have extended from near Athens, Georgia to Auburn, Alabama, and from north of Atlanta to Albany. The ancient collision possibly occurred as part of a bombardment in the inner solar system that produced a number of large craters on the Moon, including the 93-km Copernicus. And it may be associated with the extinction of cyanobacteria leading to the Bitter Springs Negative 13C Anomaly that also is dated to 810 Ma.
*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium
]]> tbuchanan9117881829052026-08-31 13:28:2517881832622026-08-31 13:34:2200eventThe world’s attention turned to the skies over Georgia on June 26, 202, as a bright fireball exploded south of Atlanta and rained down stony meteorites just west of McDonough. I had the opportunity to classify and study the dynamics of one piece that impacted the floor of a residence. The L 5/6 ordinary chondrite, just a few centimeters in diameter, appears to have maintained a significant portion of its horizontal velocity after atmospheric breakup and transited the living room at a speed around 800 m/s. This was the third L ordinary chondrite to drop meteorites in Georgis within the last 15 years.
But those are just the latest in a long history of cosmic collisions that are recorded in the historic and geologic records of Georgia. In addition to 7 documented meteorite falls and 20 finds, the state contains ejecta from the 35.5 Ma Chesapeake Bay impact and a slightly older impact (c. 37 Ma) for which no crater presently is known. I briefly will review my work discovering and characterizing those strata in the Upper Coastal Plain, and I will discuss the consequences of the 66 Ma Chicxulub impact on state’s geology.
But no hypervelocity impact has left such a large and lasting mark on Georgia as the asteroid or comet collision that excavated the nearly 300-kilometer diameter Roosevelt impact structure. What began almost 20 years ago as an intriguing question about a crater-like depression just several kilometers across has culminated in the mapping of a gigantic astrobleme covering 20% of the state. My colleagues and I have identified a variety of shocked-quartz-bearing melt facies, breccias, and spherule beds. The distribution of impact deposits and deformation was found to be consistent with COCORP seismic reflection profile data. These data then were used successfully to predict the locations of additional facies, including meta-geyserites in a large hydrothermal network.
Presently our calculations show that an impactor more than 30 kilometers across, with a trajectory about 15⁰ above the horizon from the present-day ENE, made first contact between Monroe and Meriwether Counties approximately 810 Ma. The original structure would have extended from near Athens, Georgia to Auburn, Alabama, and from north of Atlanta to Albany. The ancient collision possibly occurred as part of a bombardment in the inner solar system that produced a number of large craters on the Moon, including the 93-km Copernicus. And it may be associated with the extinction of cyanobacteria leading to the Bitter Springs Negative 13C Anomaly that also is dated to 810 Ma.
*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium
]]>2026-10-08T11:00:00-04:002026-10-08T12:00:00-04:002026-10-08T12:00:00-04:002026-10-08 15:00:002026-10-08 16:00:002026-10-08 16:00:002026-10-08T11:00:00-04:002026-10-08T12:00:00-04:00America/New_YorkAmerica/New_Yorkdatetime2026-10-08 11:00:002026-10-08 12:00:00America/New_YorkAmerica/New_Yorkdatetime<![CDATA[]]>681006681006image<![CDATA[Harris Headshot]]>image/png17881831192026-08-31 13:31:5917881831192026-08-31 13:31:59<![CDATA[]]><![CDATA[EAS Seminar Series - Dr. Dawn Kopacz]]>36678 The societal impact of atmospheric science depends not only on scientific advances, but also on effective communication among diverse audiences, from students and scientists to decision-makers and the public. Yet important questions remain regarding how future atmospheric scientists develop communication skills, what factors shape their persistence within the discipline, and how weather information is interpreted and acted upon during hazardous weather events. This seminar explores the human dimensions of atmospheric science through a series of interconnected studies examining science communication training, student persistence and belonging, and weather risk communication.
Effective communication does not begin when a warning is issued; it begins with how future atmospheric scientists are educated and supported throughout their academic and professional development. Drawing on a nationwide interview study of undergraduate atmospheric science students and faculty, I will discuss how future atmospheric scientists learn to communicate weather and climate information, the value placed on science communication skills, and the opportunities and barriers associated with communication training in undergraduate programs. I will also present emerging findings from a national mixed-methods study examining student persistence in undergraduate atmospheric science programs, including the roles of belonging, peer and faculty connections, and academic experiences in shaping students' decisions to remain in the field.
These questions of how future atmospheric scientists are prepared and supported extend beyond the classroom to a broader challenge facing atmospheric science: communicating weather and climate information in ways that are meaningful, actionable, and responsive to community needs. To explore this challenge, I will discuss preliminary findings from ongoing research examining how residents of Kerr County, Texas interpret flash flood warnings and emergency messages, what factors shape protective-action decisions, and how risk information can be better aligned with community needs. Collectively, these projects invite a broader discussion about the role of communication in atmospheric science, from preparing and supporting future professionals to helping communities interpret and respond to weather and climate information.
*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium
]]> tbuchanan9117878404392026-08-27 14:20:3917878407952026-08-27 14:26:3500eventThe societal impact of atmospheric science depends not only on scientific advances, but also on effective communication among diverse audiences, from students and scientists to decision-makers and the public. Yet important questions remain regarding how future atmospheric scientists develop communication skills, what factors shape their persistence within the discipline, and how weather information is interpreted and acted upon during hazardous weather events. This seminar explores the human dimensions of atmospheric science through a series of interconnected studies examining science communication training, student persistence and belonging, and weather risk communication.
Effective communication does not begin when a warning is issued; it begins with how future atmospheric scientists are educated and supported throughout their academic and professional development. Drawing on a nationwide interview study of undergraduate atmospheric science students and faculty, I will discuss how future atmospheric scientists learn to communicate weather and climate information, the value placed on science communication skills, and the opportunities and barriers associated with communication training in undergraduate programs. I will also present emerging findings from a national mixed-methods study examining student persistence in undergraduate atmospheric science programs, including the roles of belonging, peer and faculty connections, and academic experiences in shaping students' decisions to remain in the field.
These questions of how future atmospheric scientists are prepared and supported extend beyond the classroom to a broader challenge facing atmospheric science: communicating weather and climate information in ways that are meaningful, actionable, and responsive to community needs. To explore this challenge, I will discuss preliminary findings from ongoing research examining how residents of Kerr County, Texas interpret flash flood warnings and emergency messages, what factors shape protective-action decisions, and how risk information can be better aligned with community needs. Collectively, these projects invite a broader discussion about the role of communication in atmospheric science, from preparing and supporting future professionals to helping communities interpret and respond to weather and climate information.
*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium
]]>2026-10-22T11:00:00-04:002026-10-22T12:00:00-04:002026-10-22T12:00:00-04:002026-10-22 15:00:002026-10-22 16:00:002026-10-22 16:00:002026-10-22T11:00:00-04:002026-10-22T12:00:00-04:00America/New_YorkAmerica/New_Yorkdatetime2026-10-22 11:00:002026-10-22 12:00:00America/New_YorkAmerica/New_Yorkdatetime<![CDATA[]]>680996680996image<![CDATA[Headshot Kopacz]]>image/jpeg17878406722026-08-27 14:24:3217878406722026-08-27 14:24:32<![CDATA[]]><![CDATA[EAS Seminar Series - Dr. Michelle Muth]]>36678 The oxygen fugacity of magmas partially governs the chemical evolution, degassing behavior, and economic potential of volcanic systems. Fe XANES analyses of volcanic glass is among the most important precise tools used to characterize magmatic oxygen fugacity. In recent years this technique has led to a number of exciting discoveries about how oxygen fugacity evolves during the life of a volcanic system. However, these discoveries are underlain by a cri5cal assump5on: that the valence state of iron in volcanic glass is the same as the valence state of iron in high-temperature silicate melt. In this talk, I test whether sulfur and iron exchange electrons during the rapid cooling of silicate melts, altering iron valence state from its high temperature value. As a natural test case, I study the glassy margins of two pillow basalts erupted on the sea-floor, and will describe S and Fe XANES analyses along transects from the rapidly quenched rim of the pillows down into the slowly-quenched crystal-rich interiors. I will discuss the implications of these results both for prior work and for future studies.
*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium
]]> tbuchanan9117875791972026-08-24 13:46:3717875803302026-08-24 14:05:3000eventThe oxygen fugacity of magmas partially governs the chemical evolution, degassing behavior, and economic potential of volcanic systems. Fe XANES analyses of volcanic glass is among the most important precise tools used to characterize magmatic oxygen fugacity. In recent years this technique has led to a number of exciting discoveries about how oxygen fugacity evolves during the life of a volcanic system. However, these discoveries are underlain by a cri5cal assump5on: that the valence state of iron in volcanic glass is the same as the valence state of iron in high-temperature silicate melt. In this talk, I test whether sulfur and iron exchange electrons during the rapid cooling of silicate melts, altering iron valence state from its high temperature value. As a natural test case, I study the glassy margins of two pillow basalts erupted on the sea-floor, and will describe S and Fe XANES analyses along transects from the rapidly quenched rim of the pillows down into the slowly-quenched crystal-rich interiors. I will discuss the implications of these results both for prior work and for future studies.
*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium
]]>2026-09-03T11:00:00-04:002026-09-03T12:00:00-04:002026-09-03T12:00:00-04:002026-09-03 15:00:002026-09-03 16:00:002026-09-03 16:00:002026-09-03T11:00:00-04:002026-09-03T12:00:00-04:00America/New_YorkAmerica/New_Yorkdatetime2026-09-03 11:00:002026-09-03 12:00:00America/New_YorkAmerica/New_Yorkdatetime<![CDATA[]]>680958680958image<![CDATA[Muth Headshot]]>image/png17875803022026-08-24 14:05:0217875803022026-08-24 14:05:02<![CDATA[Profile - Muth]]><![CDATA[EAS Seminar Series - Dr. Douglas Brinkerhoff]]>36678 Machine-learning surrogates for ice dynamics are often motivated by thebhigh computational cost of traditional flow models. Here, I describe a somewhat unexpected outcome of pursuing that approach: attempting to buildneural-network emulators ultimately led back to classical numericalmethods—albeit with several ideas borrowed from modern machine learning.Initial work focused on graph-based neural operators and diffusion-style architectures designed to emulate shallow-shelf ice dynamics. These models emphasized properties that are also desirable in physical solvers: rotational and scale invariance, discretization independence, and information transport mechanisms that do not rely on fixed receptive fields. While such architectures produced promising emulators, the design process revealed strong parallels with well-established numerical techniques.These insights ultimately motivated the development of Glide, a GPU-accelerated ice-dynamics solver built around nonlinear geometric multigrid and discretization-invariant transport operators. Many structural features of modern neural architectures have direct numerical analogues:multigrid V-cycles resemble U-Net hierarchies, restriction and prolongationcorrespond to pooling and upsampling, and stencil-based flux operators actas physics-consistent convolutional layers. Unlike neural emulators, however, this approach preserves exact physical constraints, delivers predictable convergence properties, and is amenable to implicit time-stepping schemes. As with PINNs and surrogates, the model remains differentiable for inverse problems through adjoint methods, while being less expensive to differentiate through time because of the lack of hidden state.The resulting solver achieves orders-of-magnitude performance gains through GPU-native implementation while retaining the robustness of classical PDE methods. More broadly, this work suggests that the interaction between machine learning and scientific computing need not always produce neural surrogates—sometimes the most productive outcome is a re-examination of classical algorithms through the lens of modern ML architectures.
*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium
]]> tbuchanan9117859283282026-08-05 11:12:0817864575752026-08-11 14:12:5500eventMachine-learning surrogates for ice dynamics are often motivated by thebhigh computational cost of traditional flow models. Here, I describe a somewhat unexpected outcome of pursuing that approach: attempting to buildneural-network emulators ultimately led back to classical numericalmethods—albeit with several ideas borrowed from modern machine learning.Initial work focused on graph-based neural operators and diffusion-style architectures designed to emulate shallow-shelf ice dynamics. These models emphasized properties that are also desirable in physical solvers: rotational and scale invariance, discretization independence, and information transport mechanisms that do not rely on fixed receptive fields. While such architectures produced promising emulators, the design process revealed strong parallels with well-established numerical techniques.These insights ultimately motivated the development of Glide, a GPU-accelerated ice-dynamics solver built around nonlinear geometric multigrid and discretization-invariant transport operators. Many structural features of modern neural architectures have direct numerical analogues:multigrid V-cycles resemble U-Net hierarchies, restriction and prolongationcorrespond to pooling and upsampling, and stencil-based flux operators actas physics-consistent convolutional layers. Unlike neural emulators, however, this approach preserves exact physical constraints, delivers predictable convergence properties, and is amenable to implicit time-stepping schemes. As with PINNs and surrogates, the model remains differentiable for inverse problems through adjoint methods, while being less expensive to differentiate through time because of the lack of hidden state.The resulting solver achieves orders-of-magnitude performance gains through GPU-native implementation while retaining the robustness of classical PDE methods. More broadly, this work suggests that the interaction between machine learning and scientific computing need not always produce neural surrogates—sometimes the most productive outcome is a re-examination of classical algorithms through the lens of modern ML architectures.
*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium
]]>2026-12-03T11:00:00-05:002026-12-03T12:00:00-05:002026-12-03T12:00:00-05:002026-12-03 16:00:002026-12-03 17:00:002026-12-03 17:00:002026-12-03T11:00:00-05:002026-12-03T12:00:00-05:00America/New_YorkAmerica/New_Yorkdatetime2026-12-03 11:00:002026-12-03 12:00:00America/New_YorkAmerica/New_Yorkdatetime<![CDATA[]]>680795680795image<![CDATA[Brinkerhoff.jpg]]>image/jpeg17859383872026-08-05 13:59:4717859383872026-08-05 13:59:47<![CDATA[]]><![CDATA[EAS Seminar Series - Dr. Matthew Bilskie]]>36678 Coastal hazards result from interacting physical processes that span a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Accurately representing these processes remains a fundamental challenge for predicting coastal flooding and landscape response, particularly as the coastal environment and the hazards affecting it continue to change.
This seminar will present research that integrates numerical modeling, field observations, and remote sensing to improve understanding and prediction of coastal hazards and to inform resilience strategies. Examples from the southeastern United States will illustrate how process-based hydrodynamic models are being advanced toward high-resolution, probabilistic, and real-time predictions of coastal flooding. Field observations and UAV-based methods provide complementary measurements of coastal systems at scales that are difficult to resolve, helping investigate processes within marshes, barrier islands, and other dynamic coastal environments.
The seminar will also explore how these capabilities can be translated from hazard characterization into resilience design. Ongoing research integrates observations and models across scales to quantify the protective function of natural coastal systems and evaluate nature-based and hybrid solutions for flood and shoreline protection, including applications at coastal military installations. Taken together, this work illustrates opportunities to connect understanding of coastal processes, hazard prediction, and engineering implementation to support more resilient coastal systems.
*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium
]]> tbuchanan9117864488062026-08-11 11:46:4617864490922026-08-11 11:51:3200eventCoastal hazards result from interacting physical processes that span a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Accurately representing these processes remains a fundamental challenge for predicting coastal flooding and landscape response, particularly as the coastal environment and the hazards affecting it continue to change.
This seminar will present research that integrates numerical modeling, field observations, and remote sensing to improve understanding and prediction of coastal hazards and to inform resilience strategies. Examples from the southeastern United States will illustrate how process-based hydrodynamic models are being advanced toward high-resolution, probabilistic, and real-time predictions of coastal flooding. Field observations and UAV-based methods provide complementary measurements of coastal systems at scales that are difficult to resolve, helping investigate processes within marshes, barrier islands, and other dynamic coastal environments.
The seminar will also explore how these capabilities can be translated from hazard characterization into resilience design. Ongoing research integrates observations and models across scales to quantify the protective function of natural coastal systems and evaluate nature-based and hybrid solutions for flood and shoreline protection, including applications at coastal military installations. Taken together, this work illustrates opportunities to connect understanding of coastal processes, hazard prediction, and engineering implementation to support more resilient coastal systems.
*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium
]]>2026-09-10T11:00:00-04:002026-09-10T12:00:00-04:002026-09-10T12:00:00-04:002026-09-10 15:00:002026-09-10 16:00:002026-09-10 16:00:002026-09-10T11:00:00-04:002026-09-10T12:00:00-04:00America/New_YorkAmerica/New_Yorkdatetime2026-09-10 11:00:002026-09-10 12:00:00America/New_YorkAmerica/New_Yorkdatetime<![CDATA[]]>680835680835image<![CDATA[Headshot Bilskie]]>image/jpeg17864489442026-08-11 11:49:0417864489442026-08-11 11:49:04<![CDATA[]]><![CDATA[EAS Seminar Series - Dr. Uzonna Anyiam]]>36678 Subsurface fluids govern many of the Earth's most important geological processes and are central to the discovery, development, and sustainable management of energy and mineral resources. Whether exploring for hydrocarbons, geothermal energy, groundwater, critical minerals, or secure CO₂ storage reservoirs, accurately characterizing the occurrence, migration, and rock-fluid interactions of subsurface fluids is fundamental to reducing exploration risk, optimizing resource recovery, and protecting the environment. Although fossil fuels have fueled global economic growth and remain the world's dominant energy source, their continued use presents significant environmental challenges, particularly greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Achieving a resilient and sustainable energy future will therefore require a balanced strategy that expands renewable energy resources while reducing the carbon footprint of conventional energy systems through technologies such as carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). In this talk, I demonstrate how integrated basin analysis, advanced reservoir characterization, and geophysical imaging provide a unified framework for understanding subsurface fluid systems across diverse geological settings. Using case studies from the Gulf of America and the Niger Delta Basin, I illustrate how fluid migration pathways, reservoir architecture, and rock-fluid interactions govern hydrocarbon accumulation, reservoir performance, and the long-term integrity of geological CO₂ storage. I further discuss how these same geological principles can be applied to the exploration and sustainable development of geothermal resources. By integrating geological, geophysical, and reservoir-scale observations, this work highlights the pivotal role of subsurface fluid characterization in advancing hydrocarbon exploration, enabling secure carbon sequestration, and accelerating the transition toward cleaner, more sustainable energy systems. Understanding how fluids move through the Earth's subsurface is not only fundamental to geoscience; it is increasingly essential for meeting the world's future energy, environmental, and climate goals.
*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium
]]> tbuchanan9117860374202026-08-06 17:30:2017860381152026-08-06 17:41:5500eventSubsurface fluids govern many of the Earth's most important geological processes and are central to the discovery, development, and sustainable management of energy and mineral resources. Whether exploring for hydrocarbons, geothermal energy, groundwater, critical minerals, or secure CO₂ storage reservoirs, accurately characterizing the occurrence, migration, and rock-fluid interactions of subsurface fluids is fundamental to reducing exploration risk, optimizing resource recovery, and protecting the environment. Although fossil fuels have fueled global economic growth and remain the world's dominant energy source, their continued use presents significant environmental challenges, particularly greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Achieving a resilient and sustainable energy future will therefore require a balanced strategy that expands renewable energy resources while reducing the carbon footprint of conventional energy systems through technologies such as carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). In this talk, I demonstrate how integrated basin analysis, advanced reservoir characterization, and geophysical imaging provide a unified framework for understanding subsurface fluid systems across diverse geological settings. Using case studies from the Gulf of America and the Niger Delta Basin, I illustrate how fluid migration pathways, reservoir architecture, and rock-fluid interactions govern hydrocarbon accumulation, reservoir performance, and the long-term integrity of geological CO₂ storage. I further discuss how these same geological principles can be applied to the exploration and sustainable development of geothermal resources. By integrating geological, geophysical, and reservoir-scale observations, this work highlights the pivotal role of subsurface fluid characterization in advancing hydrocarbon exploration, enabling secure carbon sequestration, and accelerating the transition toward cleaner, more sustainable energy systems. Understanding how fluids move through the Earth's subsurface is not only fundamental to geoscience; it is increasingly essential for meeting the world's future energy, environmental, and climate goals.
*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium
]]>2026-10-29T11:00:00-04:002026-10-29T12:00:00-04:002026-10-29T12:00:00-04:002026-10-29 15:00:002026-10-29 16:00:002026-10-29 16:00:002026-10-29T11:00:00-04:002026-10-29T12:00:00-04:00America/New_YorkAmerica/New_Yorkdatetime2026-10-29 11:00:002026-10-29 12:00:00America/New_YorkAmerica/New_Yorkdatetime<![CDATA[]]>680803680803image<![CDATA[Anyiam Headshot]]>image/png17860380522026-08-06 17:40:5217860380522026-08-06 17:40:52<![CDATA[]]><![CDATA[EAS Seminar Series - Dr. Jacob Cohen]]>36678 Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are oceanic extreme events characterized by prolonged periods of unusually high sea surface temperatures. MHWs cause devastating effects on biological communities and marine ecosystems. MHW events can last from days to years and move across ocean basins. While MHWs have traditionally been studied across grid cells, recent work has explored the spatiotemporal representation of MHWs. Here, we use Ocetrac, a python package for identifying and tracking spatially connected MHWs, to study the spatiotemporal evolution of MHWs and to understand their drivers, impacts, and prediction. First, we evaluate drivers of large North Pacific MHWs in a large ensemble of climate simulations using the Community Earth System Model (CESM). We demonstrate that regional MHWs are controlled by different atmospheric drivers and are related to climate modes like the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and El Niño. Next, we investigate the biogeochemical impacts of the Blob 2.0, a consequential MHW that occurred in the Northeast Pacific in summer 2019. We use CESM and a set of observational datasets to show that warm temperature anomalies associated with the Blob 2.0 negatively correlate with dissolved inorganic carbon and dissolved oxygen. Finally, we evaluate global spatiotemporal forecasts of MHWs and develop intuitive metrics that demonstrate long-term forecast skill of MHW area, location, and intensity. Together, these studies improve our understanding of MHWs and advance our capabilities to plan for and respond to extreme ocean temperatures.
*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium
]]> tbuchanan9117860207262026-08-06 12:52:0617860209682026-08-06 12:56:0800eventMarine heatwaves (MHWs) are oceanic extreme events characterized by prolonged periods of unusually high sea surface temperatures. MHWs cause devastating effects on biological communities and marine ecosystems. MHW events can last from days to years and move across ocean basins. While MHWs have traditionally been studied across grid cells, recent work has explored the spatiotemporal representation of MHWs. Here, we use Ocetrac, a python package for identifying and tracking spatially connected MHWs, to study the spatiotemporal evolution of MHWs and to understand their drivers, impacts, and prediction. First, we evaluate drivers of large North Pacific MHWs in a large ensemble of climate simulations using the Community Earth System Model (CESM). We demonstrate that regional MHWs are controlled by different atmospheric drivers and are related to climate modes like the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and El Niño. Next, we investigate the biogeochemical impacts of the Blob 2.0, a consequential MHW that occurred in the Northeast Pacific in summer 2019. We use CESM and a set of observational datasets to show that warm temperature anomalies associated with the Blob 2.0 negatively correlate with dissolved inorganic carbon and dissolved oxygen. Finally, we evaluate global spatiotemporal forecasts of MHWs and develop intuitive metrics that demonstrate long-term forecast skill of MHW area, location, and intensity. Together, these studies improve our understanding of MHWs and advance our capabilities to plan for and respond to extreme ocean temperatures.
*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium
]]>2026-10-01T11:00:00-04:002026-10-01T12:00:00-04:002026-10-01T12:00:00-04:002026-10-01 15:00:002026-10-01 16:00:002026-10-01 16:00:002026-10-01T11:00:00-04:002026-10-01T12:00:00-04:00America/New_YorkAmerica/New_Yorkdatetime2026-10-01 11:00:002026-10-01 12:00:00America/New_YorkAmerica/New_Yorkdatetime<![CDATA[]]>680799680799image<![CDATA[Cohen Headshot]]>image/jpeg17860209192026-08-06 12:55:1917860209192026-08-06 12:55:19<![CDATA[]]><![CDATA[EAS Seminar Series - Dr. Jim Crawford]]>36678 Air quality research is in a period of rich, multi-perspective observations. The constellation of geostationary air quality satellites has dramatically expanded information from space, complementing the long-term record from instruments in low-earth orbit. Ground monitoring has expanded globally with greater investments in regulatory networks. The density of ground monitoring has also benefitted from the proliferation of small sensors that continue to improve in quality. These expanded observations provide unprecedented detail. They also enhance the potential for the integration of chemical observations and meteorological context.
Air quality outcomes depend heavily on synoptic conditions as well as local-scale dynamics related to land-sea breezes, mountain-valley circulations, and urban-rural contrasts. In addition to these influences, capturing the role of boundary layer meteorology remains one of the most critical elements in understanding air quality chemistry and the relationship between conditions aloft and impacts to surface air quality. Ground observations show clear temporal gradients related to boundary layer mixing, and aircraft profiles have consistently shown that large vertical gradients and even layering can exist in what is often assumed to be a well-mixed boundary layer.
Despite the strong relationship between air quality chemistry and meteorology, the deliberate sampling of chemistry and urban-scale dynamics with an intent to improve predictability of both is lacking. NASA’s B777 research aircraft opens new opportunities in remote sensing that enable concurrent measurements of chemistry and meteorology in previously untested combinations. Coupled with in situ sampling by a second profiling aircraft, the resulting observations would be able to constrain earth system models in ways that could more effectively isolate the chemical and dynamical factors affecting air quality and ask broader questions about the coupling between earth system components (e.g., land surface, atmosphere). The interpretation of satellite observations would also be expected to benefit from the improved prediction of gradients in the composition of the lower atmosphere. The resulting view from space combined with models will enable better assessment of the impact of megacities and urban settings across local, regional, and global scales. Examples from previous field studies and thoughts on future opportunities for expanded observations will be discussed.
*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium
]]> tbuchanan9117857626632026-08-03 13:11:0317857629142026-08-03 13:15:1400eventAir quality research is in a period of rich, multi-perspective observations. The constellation of geostationary air quality satellites has dramatically expanded information from space, complementing the long-term record from instruments in low-earth orbit. Ground monitoring has expanded globally with greater investments in regulatory networks. The density of ground monitoring has also benefitted from the proliferation of small sensors that continue to improve in quality. These expanded observations provide unprecedented detail. They also enhance the potential for the integration of chemical observations and meteorological context.
Air quality outcomes depend heavily on synoptic conditions as well as local-scale dynamics related to land-sea breezes, mountain-valley circulations, and urban-rural contrasts. In addition to these influences, capturing the role of boundary layer meteorology remains one of the most critical elements in understanding air quality chemistry and the relationship between conditions aloft and impacts to surface air quality. Ground observations show clear temporal gradients related to boundary layer mixing, and aircraft profiles have consistently shown that large vertical gradients and even layering can exist in what is often assumed to be a well-mixed boundary layer.
Despite the strong relationship between air quality chemistry and meteorology, the deliberate sampling of chemistry and urban-scale dynamics with an intent to improve predictability of both is lacking. NASA’s B777 research aircraft opens new opportunities in remote sensing that enable concurrent measurements of chemistry and meteorology in previously untested combinations. Coupled with in situ sampling by a second profiling aircraft, the resulting observations would be able to constrain earth system models in ways that could more effectively isolate the chemical and dynamical factors affecting air quality and ask broader questions about the coupling between earth system components (e.g., land surface, atmosphere). The interpretation of satellite observations would also be expected to benefit from the improved prediction of gradients in the composition of the lower atmosphere. The resulting view from space combined with models will enable better assessment of the impact of megacities and urban settings across local, regional, and global scales. Examples from previous field studies and thoughts on future opportunities for expanded observations will be discussed.
*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium
]]>2026-11-05T11:00:00-05:002026-11-05T12:00:00-05:002026-11-05T12:00:00-05:002026-11-05 16:00:002026-11-05 17:00:002026-11-05 17:00:002026-11-05T11:00:00-05:002026-11-05T12:00:00-05:00America/New_YorkAmerica/New_Yorkdatetime2026-11-05 11:00:002026-11-05 12:00:00America/New_YorkAmerica/New_Yorkdatetime<![CDATA[]]>680750680750image<![CDATA[Crawford Headshot]]>image/jpeg17857628252026-08-03 13:13:4517857628252026-08-03 13:13:45<![CDATA[]]><![CDATA[EAS Seminar Series - Dr. Donghui Xu]]>36678 Earth System Models (ESMs) are essential tools for simulating global water and energy cycles and supporting water resource assessments. However, the accuracy of their hydrologic simulations is often limited by parametric uncertainties and process simplifications. In this presentation, I will present my research efforts to enhance the representation of hydrologic and hydrodynamic processes in a fully coupled ESM. However, its coarse resolution (e.g., 50 km – 100 km) further limits their ability to simulate urban flooding dynamics at the scale relevant to human activities and infrastructure. To address this challenge, I contributed to the development of a new river dynamics core that solves two-dimensional shallow water equations, enabling efficient high-fidelity hydrodynamic simulations (e.g., 30m) at large scales. I will demonstrate this new capability using a case study of compound flooding driven by Hurricane Irene. By coupling with a regionally refined atmospheric model, a two-dimensional barotropic ocean model, and a high-resolution land surface model within an ESM, the multi-scale modeling framework captures unprecedented details of flooding processes in complex urban environments. Despite these advances, such actionable-scale flooding simulations remain computationally infeasible for real-time forecasting. To further improve the model efficiency, I proposed a real-time flooding forecast framework based on a machine learning based surrogate model trained on outputs from the physical flooding model prior to flood events. During an event, the surrogate model can rapidly predict flooding extent using forecasted precipitation within seconds on a low-end computer, while also quantifying uncertainties associated with precipitation forecasts.
*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium
]]> tbuchanan9117855069282026-07-31 14:08:4817855078752026-07-31 14:24:3500eventEarth System Models (ESMs) are essential tools for simulating global water and energy cycles and supporting water resource assessments. However, the accuracy of their hydrologic simulations is often limited by parametric uncertainties and process simplifications. In this presentation, I will present my research efforts to enhance the representation of hydrologic and hydrodynamic processes in a fully coupled ESM. However, its coarse resolution (e.g., 50 km – 100 km) further limits their ability to simulate urban flooding dynamics at the scale relevant to human activities and infrastructure. To address this challenge, I contributed to the development of a new river dynamics core that solves two-dimensional shallow water equations, enabling efficient high-fidelity hydrodynamic simulations (e.g., 30m) at large scales. I will demonstrate this new capability using a case study of compound flooding driven by Hurricane Irene. By coupling with a regionally refined atmospheric model, a two-dimensional barotropic ocean model, and a high-resolution land surface model within an ESM, the multi-scale modeling framework captures unprecedented details of flooding processes in complex urban environments. Despite these advances, such actionable-scale flooding simulations remain computationally infeasible for real-time forecasting. To further improve the model efficiency, I proposed a real-time flooding forecast framework based on a machine learning based surrogate model trained on outputs from the physical flooding model prior to flood events. During an event, the surrogate model can rapidly predict flooding extent using forecasted precipitation within seconds on a low-end computer, while also quantifying uncertainties associated with precipitation forecasts.
*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium
]]>2026-09-17T11:00:00-04:002026-09-17T12:00:00-04:002026-09-17T12:00:00-04:002026-09-17 15:00:002026-09-17 16:00:002026-09-17 16:00:002026-09-17T11:00:00-04:002026-09-17T12:00:00-04:00America/New_YorkAmerica/New_Yorkdatetime2026-09-17 11:00:002026-09-17 12:00:00America/New_YorkAmerica/New_Yorkdatetime<![CDATA[]]>680737680737image<![CDATA[Xu Headshot]]>image/jpeg17855071542026-07-31 14:12:3417855071542026-07-31 14:12:34<![CDATA[]]><![CDATA[EAS Seminar Series - Dr. Ignacio Sepulveda]]>36678 The seminar will highlight three research efforts developed in Chile during my stay in 2025. First, through collaborations with private organizations, we measured the Kamchatka tsunami as it entered the Valdivia River Estuary in Chile. These unique ADCP measurements included currents and water levels, providing rare observations of tsunami-river-tide interactions. Building on the success of this deployment, we installed two permanent monitoring stations in the Valdivia River to continuously measure water levels, waves, temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen.
Second, I introduce the TRIDENT model (Tides and Rivers Influencing the Dynamic Evolution of Nearshore Tsunamis), a modeling framework designed to simulate the coupling between tsunamis, tides, and river flows. The coupled model is designed for estuaries, tidal channels, and fjords, and it addresses key challenges when simulating these interactions.
Finally, I will present results from a study that links dispersive tsunami wave trains visible in satellite imagery to near-trench earthquake rupture. By analyzing tsunami dispersion in the near-source wave field, this approach provides a new observational footprint for constraining source processes that improves resolving power near the trench compared with traditional seismic, geodetic, and tsunami sensing technologies.
Collectively, these studies demonstrate complementary advances, from field deployment to coupled modeling for hazard prediction to remote-sensing-based discovery, that expand the toolkit for understanding and assessing tsunami hazards and risks.
*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium
]]> tbuchanan9117855064292026-07-31 14:00:2917855068822026-07-31 14:08:0200eventThe seminar will highlight three research efforts developed in Chile during my stay in 2025. First, through collaborations with private organizations, we measured the Kamchatka tsunami as it entered the Valdivia River Estuary in Chile. These unique ADCP measurements included currents and water levels, providing rare observations of tsunami-river-tide interactions. Building on the success of this deployment, we installed two permanent monitoring stations in the Valdivia River to continuously measure water levels, waves, temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen.
Second, I introduce the TRIDENT model (Tides and Rivers Influencing the Dynamic Evolution of Nearshore Tsunamis), a modeling framework designed to simulate the coupling between tsunamis, tides, and river flows. The coupled model is designed for estuaries, tidal channels, and fjords, and it addresses key challenges when simulating these interactions.
Finally, I will present results from a study that links dispersive tsunami wave trains visible in satellite imagery to near-trench earthquake rupture. By analyzing tsunami dispersion in the near-source wave field, this approach provides a new observational footprint for constraining source processes that improves resolving power near the trench compared with traditional seismic, geodetic, and tsunami sensing technologies.
Collectively, these studies demonstrate complementary advances, from field deployment to coupled modeling for hazard prediction to remote-sensing-based discovery, that expand the toolkit for understanding and assessing tsunami hazards and risks.
*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium
]]>2026-09-24T11:00:00-04:002026-09-24T12:00:00-04:002026-09-24T12:00:00-04:002026-09-24 15:00:002026-09-24 16:00:002026-09-24 16:00:002026-09-24T11:00:00-04:002026-09-24T12:00:00-04:00America/New_YorkAmerica/New_Yorkdatetime2026-09-24 11:00:002026-09-24 12:00:00America/New_YorkAmerica/New_Yorkdatetime<![CDATA[]]>680736680736image<![CDATA[Sepulveda Headshot]]>image/png17855068002026-07-31 14:06:4017855068002026-07-31 14:06:40<![CDATA[]]><![CDATA[EAS Seminar Series - Dr. Guillaume Liniger]]>36678 The Southern Ocean plays an outsized role in Earth's climate system, absorbing a disproportionate share of anthropogenic CO2 and heat, driving global nutrient cycles, and sustaining some of the most productive marine ecosystems on the planet. Yet its remoteness and harsh conditions have long made systematic observation a formidable challenge, until recently. The maturation of the BGC-Argo float program, and the decade of autonomous, depth-resolved measurements it has generated across the Southern Ocean, is transforming our ability to monitor this critical basin at seasonal to decadal timescales. In this talk, I present a research program that exploits this emerging observational capacity: combining satellite remote sensing, BGC-Argo floats, and machine learning to track how Southern Ocean biogeochemistry and carbon cycling are changing, from the scale of individual coastal polynyas to the basin-scale perspective.
*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium
]]> tbuchanan9117855059222026-07-31 13:52:0217855061302026-07-31 13:55:3000eventThe Southern Ocean plays an outsized role in Earth's climate system, absorbing a disproportionate share of anthropogenic CO2 and heat, driving global nutrient cycles, and sustaining some of the most productive marine ecosystems on the planet. Yet its remoteness and harsh conditions have long made systematic observation a formidable challenge, until recently. The maturation of the BGC-Argo float program, and the decade of autonomous, depth-resolved measurements it has generated across the Southern Ocean, is transforming our ability to monitor this critical basin at seasonal to decadal timescales. In this talk, I present a research program that exploits this emerging observational capacity: combining satellite remote sensing, BGC-Argo floats, and machine learning to track how Southern Ocean biogeochemistry and carbon cycling are changing, from the scale of individual coastal polynyas to the basin-scale perspective.