Computer Modeling of the Global Climate System

• 1. Dargan M. W. Frierson
  Department of Atmospheric Sciences
  Computer Modeling of the Global Climate System
  

2. About Me
Home town: Wilmington, NC
Wilmington, NC
Hurricane Floyd, 1999
3. About Me
Home town: Wilmington, NC
Wilmington, NC
Hurricane Bonnie, 1998
4. About Me
Home town: Wilmington, NC
Wilmington, NC
Hurricane Bertha, 1996
5. About Me
Home town: Wilmington, NC
Wilmington, NC
Hurricane Diana, 1984
6. About Me
Undergraduate: North Carolina State, Raleigh, NC
Raleigh, NC
Total precipitation from Hurricane Fran, 1996 (my freshman year)
7. Undergraduate
Majored in Math/Physics
Freshman year took Astrophysics on a whim
Discovered computational science
8. Undergraduate Research
Did research for Prof. John Blondin
Best college job ever!
Published results in Blondin,
Chevalier, and Frierson
(Astrophysical Journal, 2001)
9. Graduate School
Wanted to switch to science thats more applicable to our everyday life
Grad school at Princeton focusing on atmospheric modeling
At UW since 2007
But enough about me
10. Climate Science
Studying the patterns of rainfall, weather systems, ocean currents, sea ice, etc
Seasonal changes in surface color from satellite data
Albedo: how much sunlight is reflected off of a surface
11. Weather vs Climate
Many weather phenomena add up to create the climate
12. Main Motivation for My Research
How will climate features change with global warming?
Current rainfall
distribution
Projected change with global warming
DrierWetter
13. Climate Model
Computer representation of the atmosphere and ocean
Contains weather phenomena
We only have one Earth to observe
You can make up all kinds of imaginary planets to help understand how the climate really works!
Ex: Really hot or really cold worlds
14. Midlatitude Storms
The Pacific storm track in a climate model
These storms are predicted to shift polewardand
havemore rainfall with
global warming
15. Tropical Rainfall
Tropical rain follows the warmth
Big event in 1960s-1980s: drought in northern tropical Africa
New discovery by Ting Hwang: air pollution in 1960s-70s caused some of this drying
Temporarily cooled the Northern Hemispherewhile the SH was experiencingsteady global warming
16. UW Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences
#1 ranked in the country
Based on Thompson Scientific citation rankings and other metrics
18 faculty in weather, climate, and atmospheric chemistry
Dedication to research and teaching
Around 15 undergraduates per year
3 degree tracks: Climate, weather and air quality
Many opportunities for undergraduate research
I have an ad going out today for 2 new undergrad assistants
17. Flying in the Eye of Katrina
Research flight of Professor Houze, UW AtmosSci
Photo by Dr. Deanna Hence
18. A scientific research team on sea ice
Prof Cecilia Bitz, world expert on sea ice modeling
19. Atmospheric Chemistry
Prof Becky Alexander: chemistry and climate change
Ion chromatograph
20. 100 Level Classes in ATM S
ATM S 101: Weather & ATM S 111: Global Warming
Global Warming: Im teaching this in the spring
Weather
21. 200 Level Classes in ATM S
ATM S 211: Climate and Climate Change
ATM S 212: Air Pollution: From Urban Smog to the Ozone Hole
Both 211 and 212 are offered in the winter as well!
And all sorts of interesting classes at the 300/400 level for those whove taken MATH 124, 125, 126 and PHY 121, 122, 123
22. Summer Research Jobs
Summer research opportunities in the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program
I did one on astronomy in Arecibo, Puerto Rico
We have a program here, also Oregon State,WSU, Oklahoma, NYC, Princeton, Boulder, etc
E-mail me or Sam for info about research opportunities here
23. Student Chapter of American Meteorological Society
Meets every month or so in ATG
Next meeting: 10/27, 4:30 PM, ATG 610
E-mail: [email protected]