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Climate Dynamics Seminar: Dr. Jane Baldwin, "Bridging the Gaps between Projection of Climate and Impacts"

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Please join us for a special seminar presented by Jane Baldwin, Ph.D. The seminar will help build the research community in Climate Dynamics in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.

 

Jane Baldwin, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Earth System Science

University of California, Irvine


Thursday, January 30, 2025

12:00 – 1:00 PM

Y2E2 299

 

“Bridging the Gaps between Projection of Climate and Impacts”

 

Dynamical climate models, once a tool primarily for basic science research, are now used to project a range of climate change impacts and frame adaptation decisions. Unfortunately, there is often a large gap between the temporal and spatial scales at which climate change is confidently understood, and the scales relevant for people and environmental management decisions. In this seminar Dr. Baldwin will describe two different areas of her research focused on bridging the gaps between climate projections and impacts. First, Dr. Baldwin will examine pervasive and persistent biases in Global Climate Models, particularly around simulation of regional circulation and precipitation features. Dr. Baldwin will argue that poor resolution of mountains, especially in the western U.S. and eastern Pacific, has an ongoing role in driving biases that limit confidence in future climate projection. Second, Dr. Baldwin will examine the challenges that arise when utilizing existing physical climate projections for impacts assessment. Here Dr. Baldwin will focus on two societally impactful extreme events: tropical cyclones and heat waves. Dr. Baldwin will demonstrate that both data limitations and deep scientific uncertainties regarding societal vulnerability critically limit current ability to generate useable projections of these extreme events. Dr. Baldwin will discuss some fruitful areas where interdisciplinary collaboration is closing these gaps, and argue that robust engagement between climate dynamics expertise and social science, health, and engineering disciplines is critical to yield appropriate adaptation solutions in the face of climate change.

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