Davis

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

Davis Google Scholar Link

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)