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Atmospheric Sciences Master's Defense

February 28, 8:30am - 12:00pm
Mānoa Campus, IPRC Conference Room, POST 414

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THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN DROUGHT SEVERITY, PRECIPITATION AND AEROSOL IN CALIFORNIA DURING THE 2012-2014 DROUGHT

Ms. Jessica Gartzke
Atmospheric Sciences M.S. Candidate
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, S.O.E.S.T.
University of Hawaii at Manoa

Date: Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Time: 8:30am
Location: IPRC Conference Room, POST 414

Abstract:
The 2012-2014 severe drought in California was notably destructive due to especially high temperatures and precipitation amounts lower than climatological means. This drought caused calamitous and far reaching effects for the environment, economy and public health. Unlike previous periods of drought, understanding the causes of the most recent drought can now be accomplished through satellite based measurements. Satellites offer global measurements of precipitation, temperature and aerosol; all of which can be used to estimate drought severity and impact. This study offers a 14-year climatology of precipitation, the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) and aerosol. The NCDC computes the monthly averaged PDSI for the state of California. Using this climatology of drought severity and MODIS Level 3 aerosol optical depth we can evaluate the impact drought intensity has on atmospheric aerosol loading. Increased aerosol has significant regional impacts including effects that directly impact communities, such as air quality and visibility, as well as impacts on the regional hydrological cycle by impacting cloud microphysical characteristics and precipitation. Precipitation observations from TRMM and GPCP are also analyzed in relation to PDSI. The type of precipitation, its intensity, and duration are all important for determining drought severity and are considered here. The findings suggest a strong correlation between drought and aerosol, meaning that periods in severe drought tend to also correspond to high levels of aerosol. We will also demonstrate precipitation and drought trends over the last 14 years.

Event Sponsor
SOEST Atmospheric Sciences, Mānoa Campus

More Information
(808) 956-8775, SEE FLYER (PDF)

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Wednesday, February 28
8:30am	Atmospheric Sciences Master's Defense Mānoa Campus, IPRC Conference Room, POST 414
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9:30am	Data Governance & Information Security at 91¾«Æ·ºÚÁϳԹÏ: How it Impacts YOU Mānoa Campus, Campus Center Ballroom
10:30am	Qualify for SNAP with SP@M Mānoa Campus, Campus Center
10:30am	Architecture Final Oral Mānoa Campus, ARCH 201BA
11:00am	CCB Constituency Day: Get Healthy Mānoa Campus, Campus Center Courtyard
11:00am	Critical Thinking: Teaching, Learning, and Assessing (Workshop) Mānoa Campus, Sinclair Library Learning Arena 1
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1:00pm	Nutrition Final Oral Mānoa Campus, AgSci 202
2:30pm	10 Steps to Making a Great Impression at the Career Fair Mānoa Campus, Queen Liliuokalani Center for Student Services Rm. 212
3:00pm	Public Lecture by Dr. Robert Campbell, Director-General of NIJL Mānoa Campus, Hamilton Library Room 301
3:00pm	Graduate Student Resource Panel Mānoa Campus, Spalding 155
3:30pm	Film Screening Ekipazh (2016) by Nikolai Lebedev Mānoa Campus, Moore 252
3:30pm	Atmospheric Sciences Seminar Mānoa Campus, MSB 100
3:30pm	Russian Club Spring 2018 Mānoa Campus, Moore Hall 252
5:00pm	Whose Streets? film screening Mānoa Campus, George Hall 301
6:00pm	Moonlight Film Screening & Discussion Mānoa Campus, Art Auditorium