Category: Archive

Murtugudde published on how universities can support society in sustainability efforts

July 18, 2018

A paper co-authored by ESSIC-AOSC professor Raghu Murtugudde was recently published in the July 2018 edition of Nature Sustainability. The piece, titled “Bridging barriers to advance global sustainability”, is a discussion about how academic institutions can better support society’s efforts towards global sustainability. The authors call for new structures of fostering knowledge that are integrated across disciplines and produced alongside non-academic stakeholders. The article …

Zou and Tian published on size and intensity changes of Hurricanes Irma and Maria

July 18, 2018

An article by ESSIC/CICS-MD post-doctoral associate Xiaoxu Tian and by ESSIC/CICS-MD research professor Xiaolei Zou was recently accepted for publication in the American Meteorological Society’s Journal of Atmospheric Sciences. The piece, titled “Capturing Size and Intensity Changes of Hurricanes Irma and Maria (2017) from Polar-Orbiting Satellite Microwave Radiometers”, is an analysis into the temporal evolutions of the three-dimensional thermal structures of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and …

Nigam and Ruiz-Barradas published on Mekong River Basin precipitation and streamflow

July 16, 2018

A collaboration between AOSC/ESSIC professor Sumant Nigam and AOSC associate research professor Alfredo Ruiz-Barradas was published in the American Meteorological Society’s Journal of Hydrometeorology last May. The paper uses a simple hydrologic model driven by high-resolution precipitation of observations and forecasts to analyze precipitation and streamflow in the Mekong River Basin. It assesses the true origin of the water, revealing that China’s influence on the Mekong is likely …

GLM flash extent density product to be implemented at National Weather Service

July 16, 2018

The Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) flash extent density product is rolling out to all National Weather Service forecast offices beginning on Monday, July 16th. The GLM, a device aboard the GOES-16 satellite, is an instrument that maps lightning strikes across the Western Hemisphere. The flash extent density product represents the number of flashes that travel through an area over a given period of time. With this data, weather forecasters will be able to better predict extreme …

AOSC-ESSIC-JGCRI collaboration published on Paris Agreement’s effect on Latin America

July 12, 2018

A recent collaboration by researchers from the University of Maryland department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (AOSC), the Earth System Sciences Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC) and the Joint Global Change Research Institute (JGCRI), was published by the Inter-American Development Bank Water and Sanitation Division. The paper focuses on the intertwined energy, water, and land nexus (EWL) of Latin America and the potential pros and cons of the Paris Agreement Climate Mitigation …

Rudlosky interviewed on Weather Channel about using GLM to forecast storms

July 10, 2018

SCSB/STAR/NESDIS/NOAA scientist *Scott Rudlosky was a phone-in guest on the Weather Channel (WC) in a segment on using the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) to track lightning from space. Rudlosky spoke with three WC correspondentsabout emerging forecasting opportunities involving GLM. View the segment in two parts: part one and part two. * Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites-Maryland, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland…

An ESSIC scientist is creating a product to predict heat waves weeks in advance

July 9, 2018

ESSIC assistant research scientist Augustin Vintzileos has developed a new experimental product that provides global excessive heat outlooks two and three weeks in advance. Although still a pilot program, the outlook system could eventually be a vital early warning tool for relief agencies who respond to critical weather emergencies and disasters. For example, relief agencies could begin planning for extended operation of cooling centers and the reinforcement of drinking water supplies …

Murtugudde India Science Wire blog tackles biological resilience

July 2, 2018

ESSIC / AOSC Professor Raghu Murtugudde authored a new blog post on the India Science Wire called “How biological response may help avert another mass extinction of species.” Murtugudde notes that some species, like sea stars, have developed genes that make them more resilient against changing ocean temperatures or disease. The article ponders whether more species may be able to develop similar responses as they face human-induced mass extinction. …

Zhu and Kinter to publish on monsoon predictions in Climate Dynamics

June 29, 2018

An article by ESSIC / CICS-MD scientist Jieshun Zhu and CICS-MD consortium scientist James Kinter III was accepted on June 13 for publication in the journal Climate Dynamics. It describes the effects of the El Niño and the Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on Asian Summer Monsoon predictions. Zhu and Kinter are both at the National Weather Service, where Zhu is working to improve seasonal forecasts and Kinter is striving to extend weather predictions to reliable Week-3 and Week-4 forecasts. …

Murtugudde interviewed on Tech2 digital show