| NSF Org: |
AGS Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | July 5, 2019 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | July 5, 2019 |
| Award Number: | 1903377 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
David Verardo
AGS Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences GEO Directorate for Geosciences |
| Start Date: | September 1, 2019 |
| End Date: | August 31, 2022 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $61,835.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $61,835.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
6100 MAIN ST Houston TX US 77005-1827 (713)348-4820 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
6100 Main Street Houston TX US 77005-1827 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | Paleoclimate |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.050 |
ABSTRACT
This project aims to develop a proxy-model assimilation framework for the Holocene period by combining proxy data and model simulations. The developed framework will allow to address critical questions about the temperature trends during the Holocene which show a discrepancy between observations and models. In addition, the climate dynamics underlying major hydrological changes-Drying- in western North America and Northern Africa will be investigated. To improve the model-data comparison, the researchers will use a proxy-system modeling approach in order to improve the interpretation of the climate signal recorded in the Holocene proxy-records, including seasonality of temperature and precipitation.
The potential Broader Impacts include a greater understanding of the Holocene climate dynamics, investigating the mismatch between model simulations and observation of temperature trends during the Holocene; and major hydroclimate shifts in northwestern US and North Africa. A Holocene multi-variable reconstruction at annual resolution and a curated Holocene proxy-record database will be developed and made available for the broader climate community. Two workshops on paleoclimate data assimilation will be organized for graduate students and early career scientists to train the next generation of paleoclimate scientists. The project will support three early career scientists and a graduate student.
The Holocene multi-variables reconstruction and proxy-network will be useful products that will benefit the paleoclimate community at large.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
This project was designed to better understand Holocene climate change and evolution. To do this, we used data assimilation, which is a method of synthesizing two sources of information: 1. climate data from proxy records and 2. estimates of typical climate system interactions from climate model output. We compiled a vast library of proxy data spanning the last 12,000 years, which was made available to the scientific community in the form of easily reusable files.
We then developed and tested a data assimilation methodology that can synthesize this proxy database together with climate model output to create a multi-variable reconstruction of spatial and temporal climate variability over the past 12,000 years (Figure 1). This time period, known as the Holocene, is especially relevant for study because it represents a relatively long period of Earth's history with a climate similar to the present day, and much proxy data exists for this time period.
Our Holocene reconstruction is now available to the scientific community for further use in climate research. (https://cp.copernicus.org/articles/18/2599/2022/).
In companion research, we are using this proxy network and Holocene reconstruction to investigate a variety of important scientific topics, as follows:
1. Explore Holocene temperature trends in proxies and models to investigate the "Holocene conundrum," in which proxies and models show different signs of temperature change since the mid-Holocene.
2. Explore the impact of different forcings on climate throughout the Holocene.
3. Quantify and investigate hydroclimate changes, especially in North America and sub-Saharan Africa, over the Holocene.
Our work also incorporates physically-based proxy system models for Ice Cores, Speleothems, and Lake Sediments to test the impacts of proxy processes on reconstructed temperatures.
Our broader impacts included training for a graduate student, Chris Hancock, and 3 early-career PIs.
PI Dee ran a Girl Scout Climate Challenge at Rice University in October 2022, which helped teach 100 K-12-aged girls about the causes, impacts, and solutions of climate change (Figure 2). Girls completed workshops about urban heat island effects, global temperature changes, climate modeling, and biodiversity in urban environments. PI Dee plans to run the Girl Scout Climate Challenge with the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto, TX (Houston chapter) in perpetuity!
Last Modified: 01/03/2023
Modified by: Sylvia G Dee
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