Numerical modeling Sensitivity Studies Interdisciplinary Project

This project is part of theme 2 which is focused on predicting and simulating regional climate change. The Hawaiian islands have experienced ecohydrological changes over time. Some of these changes have been connected to large-scale patterns like the PDO (Pacific Decadal Oscillation) cycle, while others are hypothesized to result from land-use changes or climate-change-related shifts in environmental conditions. Numerical models provide a tool for understanding how variations in atmospheric and land surface conditions influence weather processes. The objectives of this research project are to determine how variations in atmospheric and land surface conditions influence weather processes affecting clouds and rainfall in the Hawaiian Islands and to determine possible decreases in cloud water interception and shifts in rainfall patterns across climate change projections.