NASA's Earth observations provide an unprecedented body of data for monitoring and understanding environmental phenomena that directly impact human health and ecosystem dynamics. These freely accessible datasets offer unique opportunities to track extreme weather events and their cascading effects across spatial (local to global) and temporal (sub-daily to multi-decadal) scales, advancing a holistic understanding of the Earth system.
In this Science Talk, Dr. Dezfuli will present several applications of NASA's products that he has led at the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO). The first case study demonstrates how atmospheric rivers can cause widespread floods and dust storms across the Middle East. Large-scale weather drivers of regional wildfires in tropical Africa will be examined next. The presentation will explore links between synoptic-scale weather phenomena such as Rossby waves and continental-scale bird migration over North America. Compounding effects of hot-dry conditions in recent years over the U.S. and the Middle East will also be shown. Finally, Dr. Dezfuli will present ongoing research on extreme weather impacts on human health. These applications demonstrate the potential for developing early warning systems and supporting public health preparedness for various regions.
Speaker
Dr. Amin Dezfuli
Associate Research Professor, Atmospheric Sciences and Climatology
