Land Surface-Atmosphere Interactions (Midwest summer climate
predictability project)
Our research in this area
focuses on the role of the
land surface as drivers of weather and climate. We seek to
understand how natural and human-induced landscape spatial
heterogeneity affect hydro-climatic processes and the scaling
(spatial and temporal) characteristics of the process controls on
these interactions. We explore these questions using a variety of
observational systems, satellite remote sensing, climate diagnostic
tools, regional climate models and various geo-computational
techniques at local to regional scales. Specifically, our work
addresses complexities that arise in integrating multiple sensor,
multi-scale satellite data with other types of conventional data for
land surface-climate interaction
studies
including developing methods to improve land surface representation
and parametization in regional climate models. Two
interconnected issues engage our attention: the direct influence of
surface representation in regional atmospheric models using high
resolution satellite products; and the feedbacks and interactions
between the land surface and various physical components that are
triggered by the land surface representation in the models.
Environmental Remote Sensing
and GIS
Applications (Niger Delta Project).
Many
regions
of the world such are undergoing tremendous physical, political and
socio-economic changes with major environmental consequences.
Our Environmental Impacts research explores the nature of these
pressures; the driving forces behind them; their immediate
consequences on sensitive ecosystems; and the complex interactions
between these drivers and the socio-economic fabric of the affected
communities. Niger Delta is a prime example of a resource-rich
environment under tremendous pressure and the region is the focus of
our environmental change research program. The specific objectives
of the research project include the following: (1) To conduct
satellite based assessment of changes in Mangrove vegetation areal
extent using a detailed and systematic sampling protocol; (2) To
determine the socio-economic benefits of Mangroves to the local
inhabitants; and (3) To document the impact of coastal ecosystem
degradation on the livelihoods of coastal communities within the
Niger Delta.
Urban Meteorology
(KC-FLUXMEX).
Urban centers have been cited as priority areas for
understanding the impacts of large-scale land use change on coupled
water-energy-carbon cycling in a number of national and
international reports. Natural and anthropogenic land use and land
cover (LU/LC) changes are major factors of landscape modification,
affecting regional climates and hydrologic regimes; ecosystem
productivity and biogeochemical cycles. Rapid urbanization is a
prime example of human-induced phenomena that can have significant
impact on people, the environment, and regional resources.
Our urban meteorology research
investigates the effects
that various land use changes have on heat waves and ambient air
pollution within the Kansas City area. Understanding this
topic is critical because as cities continue to grow larger and
larger, there is greater potential for increase in heat waves
and concentration of ambient pollutants. As part of this work, LCAM
conducted micro-meteorological field measurements of solar radiation
and energy fluxes during the summers of 2004 and 2005.
The field measurement
projects were focused on understanding the controls on sensible
heat, latent heat and momentum exchanges from vegetated and
non-vegetated areas within the Kansas City urban/suburban land-cover
mosaic.
Ozone Project:
This project was implemented as a partnership between the Laboratory
of Climate Analysis and Modeling (LCAM), Department of Geosciences,
UMKC, the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) Environmental Programs
Office, and Citizen Volunteers in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area.
This partnership complemented and advanced ongoing air quality and
ozone reduction regional initiatives such as the AirQ Clean Air
Action Plan, currently being implemented under the direction of
MARC’s Air Quality Working Group.
We used a multi-site neighborhood scale air quality sampling pilot
study during the 2005 ozone season (April to September) focusing on
the Kansas City urban core. We deployed 20 passive air quality
sampling devices (PSDs) at various Kansas City neighborhoods and at
the 2 operational ozone measuring stations within Jackson County to
sample integrated concentrations of ground level ozone for 12 weeks
at the peak of the Ozone season. Community volunteers played a
crucial part in this project. The PSDs were located in secure areas
on the properties of the volunteers and they were trained to
retrieve samples from the PSDs once per day. We utilized MARC’s
extensive network in the Kansas City Metro area to identify and
recruit suitable volunteers for this effort. The volunteer training
sessions were conducted at MARC’s premises with the assistance of
MARC’s Air Quality Program staff. Three UMKC students (one graduate
student and 2 undergraduate students) were engaged as research
assistants during the winter semester and summer of 2005.
The graduate
student supervised the undergrad interns and was responsible for
shipping samples for analysis, ensured data quality and maintained a
database of project data at LCAM. The undergrads were trained on the
sampling protocols and also assisted in the installation of
the PSDs devices at the measurement sites. In addition, they were
responsible for making weekly visits to the measurement sites to
retrieve samples. These samples were then carefully packaged at LCAM
and shipped on a weekly basis to the laboratory contracted to
analyze PSD samples for the project. Also, the undergrads had the
opportunity to be engaged as interns with MARC’s Air Quality Program
during their involvement with the project. The data collected over
the 12 week period was used to develop a GIS database for generating
maps depicting concentration levels of Ozone for Jackson County
neighborhoods. These maps, for the first time, enabled us to
characterize urban air quality and citizen ozone exposure levels at
very detailed spatial scales. The data was also critical for
validating ongoing urban air quality assessment using photochemical
models recently initiated by MARC. Additionally, the data enabled us
to assess ozone concentration across horizontal gradients to
determine concentration levels at detailed spatial scales.
Researchers interested in studying the nexus between urban air
quality; environmental justice questions implied by disparities in
exposure across communities; and the respiratory health of Kansas
City residents will, for the first time, have the “ammunition” to
advance research in this important area .