Robert E. Davis
Director of Undergraduate Programs, Professor
The climate at any one location is determined by the temporal progression of synoptic-scale weather events. My research focuses on the temporal and spatial variability of these synoptic-scale systems and their impact upon various environmental parameters, such as air-quality and human health. Current research involves examining how weather and climate influence severe cases of respiratory distress, which can be related to both pollutants and aeroallergens as well as short-term changes in weather conditions. I also investigate the linkages between synoptic-scale and smaller spatial scale phenomena. This research has resulted in climatologies of deep-water waves, stability and long-range transport of pollutants, and severe weather. Finally, I am actively involved in the examination of climate change and variability in the context of synoptic-scale circulation.
Research
Biometeorology and bioclimatology: specifically interactions between weather/climate and human health, with an emphasis on heat mortality, respiratory morbidity and mortality, and possible linkages between climate and influenza. I also do some work on climate and viticulture (phenology and wine quality).
Synoptic climatology: specifically the climatology of large-scale weather systems, their variability and change, particularly in the United States.
Air quality: linkages between near-surface pollutants and synoptic-scale systems with an emphasis on impacts to human health.
Publications
- The impact of heat waves on emergency department visits in Roanoke, Virginia
Academic Emergency Medicine; Davis, R.E. | Houck, M. | Markle, E. | Windoloski, S. | Enfield, K. B. | Kang, H. | Balling Jr, R.C. | Kuehl, D.R. | Burton, J.H. | Farthing, W. | Rubio, E.R. | Novicoff, W.M | https://doi.org/10.1111/aecm.13919 - The effect of climate on Burgundy vintage quality rankings. 2019; OENO One, 53(1); Davis, R.E. | Dimon, R.A. | Jones, G.V. | Bois, B. | https://doi.org/1o0.20870/oeno-one.2019.53.1.2359
- Examining the diurnal temperature range enigma: why is human health related to the daily change in temperature? 2019; International Journal of Biometeorology, 1-11; Davis, R.E. | Hondula, D.M. | Sharif, H. | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-019-01825-8
- The impact of heat waves on emergency department admissions in Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S.A
2018; International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health; Davis, R.E. | Novicoff, W.M. - Respiratory hospital admissions and weather changes: a retrospective study in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
2018; International Journal of Biometeorology; Davis, R.E. | Enfield, K.B. - Relationship between air mass type and emergency department visits for migraine headache across the Triangle region of North Carolina
2017; International Journal of Biometeorology; Elcik, C. | Fuhrmann, C.M. | Mercer, A.E. | Davis, R.E. - Cold, dry air is associated with influenza and pneumonia mortality in Auckland, New Zealand
2016; Influenza and other Respiratory Viruses; Davis, R.E. | Dougherty, E. | McArthur, C. | Huang, Q.S. | Baker, M.G. - Temperature observation time and type influence estimates of heat-related mortality in seven U.S. cities
2016; Environmental Health Perspectives; Davis, R.E. | Hondula, D.M. | Patel, A.P. - Humidity: A review and primer on atmospheric moisture and human health
2016; Environmental Research; Davis, R.E. | McGregor, G.R. | Enfield, K.B. - Temporal variation in the synchrony of weather and its consequences for spatiotemporal population dynamics
2015; Ecology; Allstadt, A.J. | Liebhold, A.M. | Johnson, D.M. | Davis, R.E. | Haynes, K.J. - Temporal variation in the synchrony of weather and its consequences for spatiotemporal population dynamics
2015; Ecology; Allstadt, A.J. | Liebhold, A.M. | Johnson, D.M. | Davis, R.E. | Haynes, K.J. - Geographic dimensions of heat-related mortality in seven U.S. cities
2015; Environmental Research; Hondula, D.M. | Davis, R.E. | Saha, M.V. | Wegner, C.R. | Veazey, L.M. - Response of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) to seasonal changes in rainfall
2014; PLoS ONE; Garstang, M. | Davis, R.E. | Leggett, K. | Frauenfeld, O.W. | Greco, S. |...
Teaching
EVSC 1300—Earth's Weather and Climate (each spring semester)
EVSC 3300—Atmosphere and Weather (even-numbered fall semesters)
EVSC 4470—Introduction to Climatological Analysis (irregular)
EVSC 4340—Human Biometeorology (irregular)
EVAT 5300—Introduction to Climatology (irregular)
EVCS 7400—Multivariate Statistical Analysis in the Environmental Sciences (irregular)