Biography

My research focuses on the nexus of climate modeling and remote sensing. I develop algorithms that allow for the direct comparison of climate models with satellite instrument observations of shortwave and longwave spectra and use this information to ask questions such as how long of an observational record is needed to detect changes in the climate system and whether or not that record can be used to differentiate between the results of climate models with varying forcing and feedback strengths. I am also interested in analyzing existing decadal-length, high-quality satellite observations and observations from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility (ACRF) to understand low-cloud and carbon-climate feedbacks, and to provide radiative closure in order to reduce uncertainty in climate projections. In pursuit of these interests, I am the Principal Investigator of the Surface Atmosphere Integrated Field Laboratory (SAIL) Campaign and I lead efforts along with surface and subsurface hydrologists (https://watershed.lbl.gov) to develop atmosphere-through-bedrock observations and models to support improved prediction of mountainous hydrology.