Regional models and observations have been broadly combined in geoscientific studies providing fundamental information to understand climate variability and helping us to construct numerical description of natural reservoirs. Currently, the climate scientific community is working to get improvements in coupled land-atmosphere-ocean models and adapting them to particular regions facing potential risks due to climate change. As part of a team directed by Dr James Jones (Distinguished Professor) in the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department(ABE) at the University of Florida (UFL), I carry out regional climate simulations and data analysis
for agricultural and hydrological applications in a framework planned by the Southeast Climate Consortium (SECC). We use climate models and meteorological station data in environmental studies at diverse temporal and spatial scales.
Long Term Regional Climate Simulations Applied to Water Resource Management
This research intends to present a framework for incorporating climate long term simulations into the regional water supply planning and decision-making activities. In this process we use a physically based climate model and dynamical downscaling. Thus a strategy will be provided for improving regional water management and planning. In order to meet this goal, climate variables that are relevant to the Tampa Bay region will be identified from hind-cast simulations taking reanalysis data and dynamical downscaling. Model output evaluation against rain gauge and meteorological records, application of bias correction techniques and special statistical analysis are fundamental for better climate predictions and planning.
Regional modeling and Sensitivity analysis in Central Florida: Decadal Land Use Change
We analyzed the sensitivity of near surface climate parameters to changes in land use characteristics in a decadal study period (1992-2006) in Central Florida. Model domains are set at 9Km, 3Km and 1Km resolutions with a fine lower atmospheric description under different physical configurations. We inspect changes in the patterns of atmospheric circulation close to the land surface and the energy budget at a daily scale. Model validation is carried out using hourly meteorological data. Particular attention is given to stations surrounded by urban areas exhibiting major land management changes during the decadal study period, like Tampa Bay area. Inland stations and coastal stations on the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic sides are comparatively explored regarding temporal and spatial climate variability.
High Performance regional modeling at UF
Computationally expensive climate numerical experiments like those involving long-term simulations under high spatial resolutions require massively parallel computer environments to get results in appropriate timeframes. After evaluating computational model performance at UF-HPC system, we have performed decadal climate simulations configured for Florida and Southeast US using state of the art regional models (WRF and MM5). The vision encompasses to analyze regional historical, current and future environmental conditions and craft climate change investigation at UF. Underway we are exploring the impact of land use changes at regional and sub-regional scales and we are supporting applications in water resources and decision making activities in western central Florida. The High Performance Computing Center at UF (HPC-UF) provides us important technical support to accomplish our goals in performing very expensive computational experiments. Scaleability tests have been accomplished to efficiently use the UF-HPC resources.