<![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 14:00:2917895735792026-09-16 15:46:1900eventThe 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. Alexis Exley]]>36678 Iceland-Scotland Overflow Water (ISOW), a dense water mass formed in the Nordic Seas, spills into the Iceland Basin through the Iceland-Faroe Ridge and Faroe Shetland Channel before propagating southwestward along the eastern flank of the Reykjanes Ridge as a deep boundary current, contributing to the lower limb of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. Recent work has demonstrated that pathways of ISOW out of the Iceland Basin are complex and variability has not been explored on interannual and longer timescales. In this study, we use the basin-scale, eddy-rich, 40-year Atlantic Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) simulation to investigate the variability in ISOW export pathways. Simulated Lagrangian particles are released within the ISOW layer at two locations along the eastern flank of the Reykjanes Ridge and classified according to their export pathway: over the Reykjanes Ridge, through the Charlie Gibbs Fracture Zone (CGFZ) or into the Western European Basin (WEB). We show that export over the Reykjanes Ridge exhibits variability on timescales from 2.5 years to decadal and is strongly correlated with mid-depth northward transport into the Iceland Basin forced by fluctuations in the North Atlantic Current (NAC), suggesting a link to large-scale gyre dynamics. Export through the CGFZ is characterized by variability of 2.5 – 5 years and is influenced by the meridional position of the eastward-flowing NAC within the CGFZ, which can block ISOW export and divert particles into the WEB. Export pathways are shown to exhibit a significant depth-dependence such that shallower layers are more strongly impacted by the surface circulation while deeper layers are more subject to topographic steering, results that are corroborated by utilizing observations from RAFOS floats deployed during the OSNAP campaign. Together, these findings illustrate the high-degree of variability in pathways of ISOW export and contributes to the growing body of evidence that challenges the notion of a single, dominant pathway out of the Iceland Basin.
*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium
]]> tbuchanan9117891414662026-09-11 15:44:2617891416452026-09-11 15:47:2500eventIceland-Scotland Overflow Water (ISOW), a dense water mass formed in the Nordic Seas, spills into the Iceland Basin through the Iceland-Faroe Ridge and Faroe Shetland Channel before propagating southwestward along the eastern flank of the Reykjanes Ridge as a deep boundary current, contributing to the lower limb of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. Recent work has demonstrated that pathways of ISOW out of the Iceland Basin are complex and variability has not been explored on interannual and longer timescales. In this study, we use the basin-scale, eddy-rich, 40-year Atlantic Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) simulation to investigate the variability in ISOW export pathways. Simulated Lagrangian particles are released within the ISOW layer at two locations along the eastern flank of the Reykjanes Ridge and classified according to their export pathway: over the Reykjanes Ridge, through the Charlie Gibbs Fracture Zone (CGFZ) or into the Western European Basin (WEB). We show that export over the Reykjanes Ridge exhibits variability on timescales from 2.5 years to decadal and is strongly correlated with mid-depth northward transport into the Iceland Basin forced by fluctuations in the North Atlantic Current (NAC), suggesting a link to large-scale gyre dynamics. Export through the CGFZ is characterized by variability of 2.5 – 5 years and is influenced by the meridional position of the eastward-flowing NAC within the CGFZ, which can block ISOW export and divert particles into the WEB. Export pathways are shown to exhibit a significant depth-dependence such that shallower layers are more strongly impacted by the surface circulation while deeper layers are more subject to topographic steering, results that are corroborated by utilizing observations from RAFOS floats deployed during the OSNAP campaign. Together, these findings illustrate the high-degree of variability in pathways of ISOW export and contributes to the growing body of evidence that challenges the notion of a single, dominant pathway out of the Iceland Basin.
*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium
]]>2026-11-12T11:00:00-05:002026-11-12T12:00:00-05:002026-11-12T12:00:00-05:002026-11-12 16:00:002026-11-12 17:00:002026-11-12 17:00:002026-11-12T11:00:00-05:002026-11-12T12:00:00-05:00America/New_YorkAmerica/New_Yorkdatetime2026-11-12 11:00:002026-11-12 12:00:00America/New_YorkAmerica/New_Yorkdatetime<![CDATA[]]>681138681138image<![CDATA[Exley Headshot]]>image/jpeg17891415982026-09-11 15:46:3817891415982026-09-11 15:46:38<![CDATA[]]><![CDATA[EAS Graduate Alumni Engagement Seminar Series - Dr. Chris Bartley]]>36678 For EAS students who want to take a career path outside of an academic setting, the possible avenues for a professional scientist are quite varied. I will discuss my professional journey from EAS graduate student to Principal consultant at a national firm, highlighting key decisions, opportunities, and lessons learned. We will cover what a professional environmental consulting practice looks like as we walk through a mock site assessment and look at real-world examples of the types of environmental challenges my clients face. We will discuss brownfields, contaminated site assessment, groundwater systems, emerging contaminants, environmental risk, data interpretation, and remedial strategies, as well as adjacent topics like environmental regulations, business development, project management, and the realities of consulting practice.]]> tbuchanan9117890589412026-09-10 16:49:0117891336872026-09-11 13:34:4700eventFor EAS students who want to take a career path outside of an academic setting, the possible avenues for a professional scientist are quite varied. I will discuss my professional journey from EAS graduate student to Principal consultant at a national firm, highlighting key decisions, opportunities, and lessons learned. We will cover what a professional environmental consulting practice looks like as we walk through a mock site assessment and look at real-world examples of the types of environmental challenges my clients face. We will discuss brownfields, contaminated site assessment, groundwater systems, emerging contaminants, environmental risk, data interpretation, and remedial strategies, as well as adjacent topics like environmental regulations, business development, project management, and the realities of consulting practice.]]>2026-09-22T11:00:00-04:002026-09-22T12:00:00-04:002026-09-22T12:00:00-04:002026-09-22 15:00:002026-09-22 16:00:002026-09-22 16:00:002026-09-22T11:00:00-04:002026-09-22T12:00:00-04:00America/New_YorkAmerica/New_Yorkdatetime2026-09-22 11:00:002026-09-22 12:00:00America/New_YorkAmerica/New_Yorkdatetime<![CDATA[]]>681130681130image<![CDATA[Bartley Headshot]]>image/jpeg17890592492026-09-10 16:54:0917890592492026-09-10 16:54:09<![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. Those include a differentiable river component to enable efficient spatial optimization and representation of pluvial inundation process to capture surface water dynamics. However, its coarse resolution (e.g., 50 km – 100 km) further limits their ability to simulate 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 (RDycore) 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 compound flooding processes in complex coastal urban environments.
*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium
]]> tbuchanan9117855069282026-07-31 14:08:4817891245882026-09-11 11:03:0800eventEarth 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. Those include a differentiable river component to enable efficient spatial optimization and representation of pluvial inundation process to capture surface water dynamics. However, its coarse resolution (e.g., 50 km – 100 km) further limits their ability to simulate 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 (RDycore) 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 compound flooding processes in complex coastal urban environments.
*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. 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. 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. 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.