Climate and Precipitation
Collage of images of glacier coming down mountain, stand alone ice, and a satellite

Conducting research on climate and precipitation-related topics is imperative for helping society adapt and manage our resources sustainably for the future. SAFL has researchers who look to understand past climates and landscape evolution (including during the last glacial maximum), recent and ongoing shifts in precipitation patterns and landscape evolution, and developing new techniques for mapping and quantifying changes in precipitation patterns at both local and global scales.

Affiliated Faculty
Ardeshir Ebtehaj
Efi Foufoula-Georgiou
Xue Feng
John Gulliver

SAFL Researchers
Bill Herb

Filter "Climate and Precipitation Projects" below to learn more about specific projects. 

Image of the wind turbulence over breaking waves simulation
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Deltas and Oceans, Multiphase Interactions, Turbulence

A numerical simulation of wind turbulence over breaking waves

Posted

Researchers studied the effect of waves breaking on the airflow above the waves. Research like this regarding wind and wave interactions can be used to improve ocean-atmosphere interaction models.

Photo of the experiment in the SAFL delta basins, showing a model delta with barrier islands forming along the delta coast
Climate and Precipitation, Deltas and Oceans

Mapping the evolution of barrier islands: Nature’s original coastline defense

Posted

Barrier islands act as natural barriers between the ocean and the mainland by blocking waves and resisting storm winds, giving protection to inland areas which are ecologically rich as well as economic hubs. As sea levels continue to rise with climate change, there is much concern about how rising seas will impact the ongoing evolution of barrier islands and the level of protection they afford inland coastlines.