July 22, 2025 (4-5 pm EST) | Foundational Concepts: Atmospheric Science Recording
Facilitator: Dr. Zhibo Zhang,
Professor, Department of Physics, UMBC
Co-Facilitator: Dr. Sudip Chakraborty,
Research Assistant Professor, iHARP, UMBC
July 29, 2025 (4-5 pm EST) | Foundational Concepts: Ocean Science Recording
Facilitator: Dr. Ratnaksha Lele,
Research Assistant Professor, iHARP, UMBC
Student Co-Facilitator: Sai V. Amaraneni,
PhD Student, iHARP, UMBC
August 5, 2025 (4-5 pm EST) | Foundational Concepts on Polar Science: Ice Sheets and Sea Ice Recording
In his presentation, Professor Holschuh provides an overview of the components of the Cryosphere and describes the processes that govern their size and distribution in a changing climate. This includes a description of the physics of glacier sliding and glacier calving, a breakdown of environmental differences between Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere ice sheets, and a description of sea ice dynamics.
Facilitator: Dr. Nick Holschuh,
Assistant Professor of Geology, Amherst College
August 19, 2025 (4-5 pm EST) | Reanalysis (ERA5), Data Simulation and Emulators Recording
This presentation, titled “Introduction to Climate Modeling, Reanalysis and Model Emulation,” provides an overview of how scientists use technology to understand and predict the Earth’s climate. It was presented at an iHARP Technical Workshop in August 2025.
Key Presentation Highlights
Defining Climate Models: The presentation describes climate models as “virtual laboratories” that use mathematical equations based on physics, fluid motion, and chemistry to simulate the Earth’s complex systems.
The Role of Reanalysis: It introduces “reanalysis,” a process that combines historical observations (like satellite data and ship logs) with modern physics models to create a consistent record of past weather and climate.
Emerging Technology: The slides highlight how Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are being integrated with traditional models to create “emulators” (like FourCastNet) that can predict extreme weather risks much faster than previous methods.
Real-World Impact: The data from these models serves as a critical foundation for international reports, such as those from the IPCC, which inform global climate policy and targets like the Paris Agreement.
Facilitator: Dr. Aneesh Subramanian,
Associate Professor, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder
Student Co-Facilitator: Ziqi Yin,
PhD Candidate, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder
Last updated February 27, 2026