Emily’s research is largely focused on improving our understanding of meso- through synoptic scale processes and mechanisms modulating local and regional scale responses to potential change in extreme weather and climate events under warming. Accessibility of water resources greatly depends on the spatiotemporal distribution of precipitation. With change already underway, it’s imperative that we develop a process-based and dynamical understanding of precipitation characteristics and the associated hydrometeorology communicable at impact-relevant scales.
Emily received her MS and PhD from Portland State University in July 2021 under the advisement of Dr. Paul Loikith and joined the Center for Climate Science in August 2021. Her dissertation focused on the spatiotemporal variability of extreme precipitation and atmospheric rivers across the contiguous US in past, present, and future climates. This work was carried out in part during her internship at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) alongside collaborators supported by a NASA award contributing to the continuing efforts of the US National Climate Assessment. During this time, she also led a process-oriented study examining the role of large-scale lift in orographically enhanced atmospheric river precipitation as a contribution to the US Army Corps of Engineers Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) effort.