Author: Travis Swaim

ESSIC Associate Research Scientist Can Li is the lead author of a newly published study in the journal Scientific Reports study titled, “India Is Overtaking China as the World’s Largest Emitter of Anthropogenic Sulfur Dioxide.” While both China and India are dependent on coal-based energy, the study finds that China’s sulfur dioxide emissions dropped significantly in the last decade while India’s did the opposite.  Co-authors of the collaborative piece …

UMD Geographical Sciences doctoral student Raúl Muñoz Castillo is the lead author of a recent article published  in Sustainability titled, “Uncovering the Green, Blue, and Grey Water Footprint and Virtual Water of Biofuel Production in Brazil: A Nexus Perspective."  The article evaluates the amount of water Brazil uses in different methods of biofuel production in order to recommend environmentally conscious practices. ESSIC interim director and professor, …

ESSIC post-doctoral associate Michael Peterson and ESSIC visiting assistant research scientist Scott Rudlosky recently provided the first formal presentation on the new the Science on a Sphere (SOS) display at the NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction in College Park.  SOS is a globe upon which planetary data and animations can be projected. The presentation featured new imagery from the active Atlantic hurricane season.  The technology displayed high-speed lightning …

Building relationships with the public and forecasting early and accurately is critical in preparing the U.S. for dangerous weather events, National Weather Service (NWS) director Louis Uccellini emphasized at a University of Maryland (UMD) Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (AOSC) weekly seminar on Oct. 19. Scientific advancements in forecasting have little effect if communities are not prepared to take the necessary steps to respond to extreme weather, he said. The NWS is investing in …

Two University of Maryland social scientists are embarking on a two-year research project that investigates how meteorologists in the U.S. Southeast communicate tornado warnings and watches. Brooke Liu and Anita Atwell Seate will complete observational studies of forecasters in three different states to understand the decision making process as well as conduct general and longitudinal surveys. The project is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and is part …

ESSIC/AOSC Professor Raghu Murtugudde authored a new Huffington Post India Edition article titled “India’s Switch To Electric Vehicles Can Be A Global Role Model For Climate Actions.” The article responds to the Indian transportation minister’s announcement that the country will fully transition to electric vehicles by 2030. Murtugudde evaluates how realistic the goal is by anticipating associated challenges while suggesting steps the nation should take to reach the …

ESSIC research professor Xiaolei Zou recently published an article in a special issue of the Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology on the Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) about her work to reduce striping on the GPM Microwave Imager (GMI). GMI was found to have striping noise in two water vapor sounding channels, and Zhou’s destriping method mitigates that issue allowing for accurate interpretation of the data. View the article here….